Michigan to play in 2013 Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Title says it all. Field includes VCU, Florida State, Auburn, Charlotte, Georgetown, Kansas State and Long Beach State
November 16th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
Awesome! some interesting matchup possibilities
November 16th, 2012 at 6:14 PM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
Hopefully the 2013 Puerto Rico FInals will be a rematch of this year's pre-season NIT final --- UM v. K-St.
I'd like Georgetown in the semis... they beat UM a couple years ago (IIRC - one of our early season losses for our pre-season #15 team that tanked and missed the tourney)
November 16th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
Not a bad field, we should certainly be the favorite though.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^
I got so used to being the OTHER team in these preseason events. The one that COULD upset the favorite, but probably wouldn't.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:19 PM ^
Agreed, isn't Georgetown one of the schools that could be in trouble for the new "the NCAA takes academics very seriously now" graduation requirements? Although I'm sure their rates will look pretty decent compared to UConn's 11% graduation rate.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^
The numbers I could find were from 2011 and calculated the six year graduation rate for basketball players entering in 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.
G'town had a 78% graduation rate for its basketball players and 75% for its Af-Am players, which is on the high end of the NCAA tournament field. On another site I found their APR, which ranges between 936 and 970 between 2004 and 2011. In short, they're nowhere near in danger of receiving the academic sanctions that UConn did.
Michigan, by comparison, was at 36% and 33%, (the numbers are for the Ellerbe's last class and Amaker's first three). Michigan's basketball APR has steadily improved from its nadir in 2006-7 to 1000 in 2010-11. Full credit to Amaker and Belein for turning around a pretty poor academic culture in the basketball program.
The overall bottom in the 2011 study was UAB, with 25% overall and 18% for its black players. Notable, though was Akron, for graduating all of its white players and none of its black players, for an overall rate of 38%.
http://www.tidesport.org/grad%20rates/2011_mens_bball_final.pdf
APR numbers can be found here
http://web1.ncaa.org/maps/aprRelease.jsp
November 16th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^
If Wiggins ends up at FSU they are going to be very good and they already have one of his teammates committed for next year.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
Yeah, FSU should be our toughest competition there, even without Wiggins. With him, though, and they'll give us a real run.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:26 PM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 2:47 PM ^
Anybody been to PR? Worth it?
November 16th, 2012 at 4:24 PM ^
Im Puerto Rican and you may think my opinion is biased but its worth it! You can usually find a roundtrip ticket for a few hundred $ from Chicago, not sure how much it would be from Detroit. Either way being in PR, temp in the mid 80s, sun, beautiful women, great drinks/food, and plenty to do. Theres obviously the beaches and golf resorts but also the rain forest, bioluminescent bay, Old San Juan, El Morro, Vieques/Culebra islands, Arecibo Space Observatory, Bacardi factory, shopping, and tons of sites to see.
A plus side...no passport needed, they use US money, and most of the residents especially the younger ones speak Spanish and English.
I might have to think about hitting up the 2013 PR tip off and visit some family while I'm down there.
November 16th, 2012 at 4:26 PM ^
It helps if you speak Spanish (obviously) but most people there can speak English.
They have America's only rainforest, you can eat iguanas (!), great tropical weather, interesting latino culture which is decidedly different from Mexico, snorkeling, and loads of historical stuff (Founded in the 1500s, yo).
IE, 'tis a cool place to go. Also, The Babes Man.
November 16th, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^
Yeah, the babes. Love those boricuas bonitas.
November 16th, 2012 at 5:34 PM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 11:43 PM ^
November 17th, 2012 at 11:43 AM ^
The only tropical rainforest within the United States.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
Yeah it's worth it.
I'm a Starwood junkie, so stayed at the Sheraton Convention Center for a night, then a long weekend at the W Vieques over July 4th.
Old town is great; very picturesque 1500s fort overlooking both the city, in addition to the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Casinos, rum, friendly people, what's not to love? Si puede hablar espanol ayurdarlo.
Great food, mofongo is delicious (mashed fried plantains topped with stewed pork).
Vieques reminded me of Belize; very laid back, much more isolated, friendly people, great food. Some beautiful beaches (supposedly some of the best in the Carribean) but we were too busy diving to hit them. You need to take a 30 minute puddle-jumper from San Juan to get there, tho.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
Unfortunately, scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago...
In related news, I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this thread.
November 16th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
Last time Michigan was in a Early Season tournament in Puerto Rico was in 1997*. Michigan won the tournament with ease. Beat murray state 76-53*, American Puerto Rico 94-49* and Syracuse 93-61* in the final.