OT-Robin Benzing
Not to add to the number of dong punches, but Robin Benzing is getting possible first round consideration after entering his name into the NBA draft.
Most scouts have him going in the early second round. It would be interesting if the Pistons drafted him, because then I would actually get to see him play.
Also, apparently he has been lighting up the European under 20 league. He is considered the most freakish athlete of the bunch, due to the fact that he is 6-10, but moves like a guard.
At the under 20 championships he averaged:
22.2ppg, 5rpg, 2apg
Here's a link to a scouting report of Benzing from the U-20 league.
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2009-U-20-European-Championship-Rev…
It seems that he compares favorably to Yi Jianlian, except with a much higher basketball IQ. Obviously Yi has had an up and down (with more downs) career in the NBA, but it would have been nice for U of M, had they been able to get Benzing to qualify.
The Benzing story to me is on one hand a missed opportunity for U-M but on the other confirmation of Beilein's ability to evaluate talent.
I agree.
I've been critical of Beilein's offensive scheme, but I don't question his ability to recruit, nor do I question his ability to evaluate talent.
I'm hoping that the Benzing situation, at the very least, gives the university experience with dealing with signing overseas players and getting them to qualify. Teaching the university the necessary steps they must take and all of the various issues they must address or make sure to have checked out, so that in the future we can bring solid foreign players into the program.
April 17th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
The reason Benzing didn't attend UM was because he played for a team on which some players were paid, making him ineligible by NCAA rules of the time. This rule has since been changed. If by "getting them to qualify" you imply that Benzing didn't qualify academically, that didn't happen.
Brian referred to this on 1/27/2010:
http://mgoblog.com/category/post-type/angry-michigan-blank-hating-god
I wouldn't mind if Beilein recruited another foreign player. He seemed to do a really good job while scouting Benzig. Maybe we can find a 7'0" C from Australia in the next class?
Gotta think that part of the reason Beilein wants to take the team on an overseas trip is to do some scouting.
High BBall IQ is one thing. SAT IQ is another. Too bad the BBall IQ Test can't get you through admissions.
aren't the reason why Benzing was ruled ineligible. The fact that he played oversea professional basketball league is what made him ineligible which is stupid IMO. NCAA changed the rule a year later. Talk about bad timing.
Benzing was a question short on his SAT, that's why he never made it to Ann Arbor. He might have had to serve some sort of suspension for amateurism but that had never been decided b/c he didn't make it.
April 17th, 2010 at 12:04 AM ^
class, SFHP 196.06 at Ohio State. Five times, as a matter of fact.
At Ohio State, football players can repeat Buckeyes Coach Jim Tressel's two-hour course -- SFHP 196.06 or "Varsity Football" -- as many as five times for a total of 10 credits. Last fall, 91 student-athletes were enrolled in the course, and all received "satisfactory" grades, Ohio State records show. Ohio State's online registrar showed 90 of 100 seats are taken for Tressel's class this coming fall quarter.
offer it online?
It sucks that Robin Benzing is, in fact, OT.
Oh MABW, how you cut to the core of me.
Seriously, there was something you said the other day that was spot-on. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was great and I salute you.
Seriously, if this doesn't stop I won't be able to have soul kids. Which means my eventual children will be gingers.
dong punches:
April 17th, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
I watched the replay of UM/Seton Hall during the final four, and Seton Hall did pretty well with Ramon Ramos from PR and Andrew Gaze from Australia. I can't imagine them getting to the title game without either of those players.
I would love to see JB pick up one or two bigs with experience.