Too early but interesting too: SI's new Top 25 basketball (UM #5)
The SI writer compared the April too-soon ranking to this July too-soon-ish ranking.
Michigan at #5 (#2 in April), joined by 5 other Big Ten teams.
"Also considered": Michigan State. Is that like a participation trophy?
https://www.si.com/college/2021/07/22/ncaa-basketball-top-25-summer-reset-gonzaga
Michigan Football has fallen so far that I know longer follow the program. It is sad to say that I couldn’t name the starting QB next year, starting OL, running back….probably for the first time in 30 years of following the team.
But thank you to a coach Howard for building on Coach Beilein’s success and building an amazing program that is truly enjoyable to watch and follow.
For what it's worth, I do follow the football program. I can't however name the starting QB, the starting OL, or running back. I have some educated guesses. Maybe you should change your avatar to something basketball related if you BPONE is overwhelming your loyalty (or nostalgia for the Woodson days).
You can’t name the 22 starters on a team you don’t follow? Weird.
What's weird is that I don't think Harbaugh knows any of those except Haskins for next season yet.
God forbid there be a basketball thread without someone shitting on the football team.
6 Years of meh results leaves a fan base salty to say the least. Good thing you are one of the optimists.
What does being a optimist have to do with NOT shitting on the FB team in a Basketball thread?
I should have figured that, while I thought was posting about basketball, my post was actually about football.
Nonsense. We had a setback after being right there. Brown is gone and now we have a good QB. Things are looking good again to make a run.
"Michigan Football has fallen so far that I know longer follow the program."
So you're a front runner. I mean, suit yourself, I'm sure you're fun at parties. Probably talk about your fav programs - you know, the Alabama's, Clemson's, OSU's of the world...
I am excited to see what the freshman bring...however, during Beilein's era, there would always be some guys that made big leaps in their sophomore year. There a good chance, imo, that at least one of Howard, Jackson or Williams makes a jump forward to become a solid contributor in production and minutes.
I think Jones will be better than Mike Smith (or at least equal), Hunter will be better, Eli is back...so the big questions are who replaces Franz and Isaiah... probably Johns Jr and Houstan?
Michigan has Williams, Howard, Diabate, Barnes, Bufkin and Tschetter as guys that could fill those roles or at least soak up minutes.
the big questions are who replaces Franz and Isaiah... probably Johns Jr and Houstan?
Johns, Houstan, Diabate. This team is definitely going to have less shooting than it did this past season. I think we're going to have to be more dominant inside and get Houstan and Brooks some good kick out looks. I'm hoping Zeb Jackson can step up as a shooter and Jones has a similar trajectory that Chaundee Brown did this past season with his shooting
I like our finalized team much more now than I did with so many unknowns back in April. I guess a few other teams improved more to have us drop a few spots.
I just don’t see Texas as the number 2 team. I can see several other teams that should be better than them.
Not at all. Juzang is the man. They're quite good.
They “were” quite good…for 5 games on a hot streak at the end of the year. Sneaking into the tournament as the 11 seed play-in game after losing 4 straight to end the regular season does not make you a good team. It means you started playing well at the exact time you needed to.
If you think Juzang is going to continue playing how did he in the tourney for all of next season then I want what you're smoking
If UCLA had lost to any of MSU, BYU, Bama or Michigan and returned the same roster, they'd be a random top 25 team. But because Juzang got hot and carried them, MSU blew a 10 point lead, BYU shot uncharacteristically bad from 3, Bama shot 50% from FT, and we choked down the stretch, they're a top 5 team
It took a near half court shot for the Zags to beat them in the Final Four. Win games against good teams and you shoot up the rankings. They pull that same streak out during the regular season they would jump up to the top 5 as well.
This ranking doesn't do much for me one way or another. We should be in contention for the conference title at minimum, and we'll have to see how the team develops. If development proceeds as expected, we'll be one of the top teams headed into the tournament, and that's a fantastic feeling to have as a fan!
Thanks Juwan, for coming here, working hard, and giving us a team for whom the sky is the limit!
How are Texas and UCLA both ranked above Michigan? Whatever.