Sam Webb: MBB still looking at wings in the 2016 class
Very interesting tidbit dropped by Sam Webb on WTKA this morning. Webb assumed like almost everyone else that with Ibi Watson in the fold the coaches would only be looking at PGs in the 2016 class. However, Sam said he looked into that and Michigan is apparently still pursuing wings for the 2016 class. And it doesn't sound like they're pursuing wings in case they whiff on their PG options or someone drops out of the 2016 class. He seemed to indicate that Michigan appears willing to take both another wing and a PG in the class.
Speculate away.
These guys might know a thing or two about addressing issues with wings. Maybe they can help.
Logged in just to upvote this. How does this post not have more?
Do you think some of these offers are expressly conditional on having space?
Austin Davis' prep year would make room for Winston. To take another wing and a PG, there would have to be attrition.
Beilein is the VERY odd duck in CBB coaching circles in that he doesn't oversign. Ever. So, unless he knows that someone is gone, he won't take a commitment from someone to fill that spot. Obviously they continually recruit guys, but they don't make offers without a spot readily available. This makes me think they know something we don't.
Maybe Zak Irvin is planning on heading to the NBA regardless of what happens this year. I dunno.
get drafted at 1st round. If he steps up this season, he is as good as gone. He'll be a junior and senior generally don't get drafted at 1st round unless they have a Kaminsky like season.
People seem to be in denial that it is more likely than not that Irvin is gone after this year. I think that's related to his struggles (relative to expectations last year). Worth keeping in mind context when comparing sophomore break-throughs like Trey and Nik -- those guys had tremendous supporting cast, veteran bigs, and were surrounded by NBA talent. Last year, Zak was...not.
Zak is an elite shooter, physically mature, and just needs to round out his defense and/or ball-handling and we're talking about a guy who can go in the second half of round 1.
The other thing people are sleeping on is Walton going pro. Yes, he's short. No, he's never going to be a lottery pick. With Caris and Zak around he's not going to put up 20 ppg. But he's absolutely an NBA caliber talent and at some point the 'what do I have to gain from coming back' question will be asked.
And, of course, one downside of depth is the minutes crunch and the potential unhappiness that ensues.
So, stop worrying about scholarship numbers and attrition and just trust the coaches to recruit the best kids they can. Enjoy the season -- it should be a very good one where we have 3 guys who are NBA-caliber talents, Spike, Aubrey, etc.
Either planning on Irvin going pro, or that there will likely be one of the current Sophomores who decide to bounce?
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I believe it's possible for people to re-evaluate their stance after an event as likely frustrating as the Battle/Langford situation was.
Sam's own words include "I was wrong" but I assume there's a little bit of both...things aren't exactly how he thought, but part of that is becuase things have also evolved (unsurprising...recruiting).
That's kind of my point about Beilein and staff screwing said pooch. When two five stars want to commit, you take them both and assume attrition/prep years/whatever happened between then and now. According to Sam UM had two top 20 wings that wanted to commit and now they have zero and are scrambling to find one. This does not look good on the basketball the staff.
My only complaint about Beilein since he has been here, is that he recruits a little too conservatively.
Battle and Langford as a backcourt duo, besides a hopefully returning Walton, or even MAAR in a pinch would have been fine. Better a less than 50/50 shot at Winston.
If this staff is to be blamed for any of this stuff it's the approach for Langford.
Davis reclassifying only allows you to take your PG in 2016. Then I think you start looking at an expectation that someone is going pro after this season (likely Irvin). Going to be interesting beyond that.
That said, I'm all for taking another wing in 2016 if it means we can get Coffey or Bridges.
Perhaps they are pursuing wings in order to impress the PG recruits and keep the current 2016 guys in the fold?
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I'm pretty sure they run a special on boneless wings on Thursdays.
The Ibi Watson take makes a lot more sense now. You take a guy who you know will commit NOW, and then keep the pokers in the fire for the bigger fish. If those guys don't work out, you aren't left with your pants down, and as noted, Ibi is no consolation prize. He likely will develop over a couple years, and you might be able to get a classmate who can play immediately. The easy comparison would be Caris Leverts role to GRIII or Nik. He got to wait his turn, and was good in year two and a potential star in years three and four.
Very far from the truth. Towns was always a Harvard lean and was projected to go there for 2 seasons. They did a local news story on him here in Cbus where he and his family went on and on about Harvard and it being his dream school, his career after basketball etc. This was indicated to Beilin and all other cbb coaches very early. Also Ohio red had 3 kids the coaches were constantly looking at. M backing off had nothing to do with his choice to go to Harvard. It was them vs. the field since his sophomore year.
If Bridges decides on M obviously we will find room; same with Coffee. Casius is down to MSU and M regardless what anyone says. Irving goes pro and Donnal or Chatman transfers. Means we may have room for 2. Ciao
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and apparently the staff wasn't either. To me he seems pretty redundant on the current roster.
We've seen Michigan run its offense through Manny Harris and Nik Stauskas in the past. MAAR has demonstrated skills here already. We don't HAVE to have a traditional PG if our wings are versatile enough to create offense. Moreover, with Walton (hopefully) back in '16-17 you can get your PG in '17 if things don't workout in '16.
The best case scenario, of course, is to lock down Winston today. But if Michigan can nab two wings and wait for things to play out for Winston, using Davis as an 'option' -- that could be a wise path as well.