Burke Departure: Possible Comment Count

Brian

Trey-Burke[1]Untitled-1[1]

Trey Burke may have said he'd be back next year in the immediate aftermath of Michigan's ouster from the NCAA tourney, but those things are always subject to change once the emotion of a tough loss wears off.

It has, and now Burke's dad is saying stuff like this:

"We figured we had to at least see what's going on," Benji said. "That's where we're at. We're wanting to see where we're at and go from there.

"Trey just got to Ann Arbor. We just got here, and now we're talking about him leaving. It's just tough, it's a tough decision but hopefully we'll be back in Crisler this year. ... As of now, we're coming back. But anything can change. We're open."

That AnnArbor.com article is headlined "Burke to look into NBA draft stock, still leaning towards staying." The analogous article at the Free Press is of course titled "Trey Burke strongly considering leaving Michigan for NBA draft," because obviously. Pick your probability from amongst options.

Burke's dad says he's had reports that Trey could go anywhere from 18-24th overall. That is greatly divergent from draft boards maintained by Chad Ford (where he ranks 72nd) and Draft Express (not in the top 100, last pick of the first round in their 2013 mock) and could be agents trying to get a kid to sign; that's why they have advisory boards.

I don't think Burke's in a situation like Darius Morris, who left with full knowledge he probably wouldn't be a first-rounder, but at this point any Michigan fan who's assuming is doing the understandable thing.

If Burke does end up declaring Michigan is of course totally boned. At this point the #2 PG is either a walk-on or a 6'6" shooting guard who isn't even on campus yet. They'd probably get a transfer or late commit or something given the obvious opportunity but Trey Burkes don't grow on trees. With the NCAA moving up the withdrawal date over and over again at least we won't have to wait long to know: Burke is in or out by April 10th.

Comments

True Blue Grit

March 21st, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^

both for Michigan AND for Burke.  Like Morris, he isn't ready for the NBA.  Too many holes in his game that need developing.  Sure, he has NBA potential, but it's just that right now.  I'd really, really love to see the rule changed for eligibility for the draft to match football in terms of age.  This is getting ridiculous.  

bluebrains98

March 21st, 2012 at 6:51 PM ^

The state of NCAA basketball is such that there is incentive to root against your best players. I, and I presume most UM fans, are quietly glad THJ had an off year so we can get him back again. And, we now all know that if Trey does return, he is as good as gone next year if he repeats his 2011-2012 performance. So, we need to either rely on JB bringing in classes every year like he has lined up for the next two, or we need more guys who don't project well to the NBA but are college stars. Seems like there may be something to the Coach K strategy after all. (NOTE: It pains me to give dook credit for anything)

El Jeffe

March 21st, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^

Dear Trey:

It's me, El Jeffe. Allow me to jog your memory via Wikipedia about another young man in a similar situation as you. Pay particular attention to the last paragraph.

Enjoy!

Love,

El Jeffe

Marcus Taylor (born November 25, 1981 in Lansing, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player.

He was a Naismith All-American, McDonald's All-American, two-time Parade All-American and USA Today 1st-team All-American. He also went on to win Mr. Basketball of Michigan Award in 2000. He attended Michigan State University, where he played for Tom Izzo for two seasons. In just his sophomore season he became only the second player in Big Ten history to lead the league in scoring and assists, and the first in MSU history. He won a gold medal on the FIBA Under-21 World Championship in Saitama, Japan.

Marcus was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves(NBA) in 2002.[1] Since then he has played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA), ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne (France), MENT Vassilakis (Greece), the Southern Crescent Lightning (WBA), the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (NBDL), the Tulsa 66ers (NBDL), TBB Trier (Germany), and the Anaheim Arsenal (NBDL).

Wave83

March 21st, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^

At the risk of appearing to be stalking, I do happen to follow Nick Stauskas as well as Trey Burke on twitter.  Nick just tweeted to Burke a few minutes ago:  "bro don't leave us. We got a chip to win!"

Hope Nick is persuasive.

Dailysportseditor

March 21st, 2012 at 7:26 PM ^

Three guys transferring, now this.  And it all follows a very dismal end to the season.  The Athletic Dept. administrators need to examine what is going on in the basketball program.  Either something negative has been happening behind the scenes or we're just not recruiting the right people.

CLord

March 21st, 2012 at 7:35 PM ^

May have been answered already somewhere else but, is what we're seeing here common in the BiG?  3 players including an important starter transferring and a freshman PG star looking to jump like this?  How come this doesn't happen to MSU or does it and I just don't notice?

Neg me if this has been covered already and apologies if that is the case, but I'm trying to see where this stands relative to the norm in the BiG.

Brick

March 22nd, 2012 at 1:03 AM ^

MSU lost Lucious, Allen and Sherman the last two years.

The 10-13 players on B10 rosters are always a risk to transfer for more PT. Anyone who gets a first round NBA draft grade is also a risk to leave. Smotrycz is the only unexpected development today.

snoopblue

March 21st, 2012 at 7:47 PM ^

So say Burke leaves, at least we'll have the Spring Game 4 days after on April 14th to feel better about it.

On an unrelated point, I am considering rooting for Michigan State to win the NCAA Tournament. If they do, I think Izzo would strongly consider retiring and going out on top. And that would be very good for us.

Don

March 21st, 2012 at 8:09 PM ^

Red Berenson. He's had a bucketful of guys leave before their senior season, and more than a couple have ended up riding buses in the minors.

bronxblue

March 21st, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^

I'd be amazed if he went to the pros, as he is still an undersized PG at a position that looks pretty loaded in this draft.  I thought Morris made a mistake when he left last year, and Burke would be doing the same if he decided to leave this year as well.  That said, I wish him the best if he does leave.

UMFanStuckInIA

March 21st, 2012 at 8:59 PM ^

This is the worst consecutive front page posts I can remember in a long time.  What a shitty day.  Should be fun to explain to a 6 and 4 year old that the player the followed every minute of the season was stolen away by the almighty dollar.  The NBA sucks....

Maximinus Thrax

March 22nd, 2012 at 7:10 AM ^

College basketball also sucks. It seems as if the moment a player shows a little sparkle, he's gone.  What the hell is it about the players here?  It seems like we have been dong punched so many times by guys with questionable professional prospects.  None of them (Manny, Morris, Burke) have been really lights out players that showed they could dominate any and all competition (see Rose, Derrick and Wall, John).  They are good, and I guess they feel that maybe giving scouts more time to evaluate game film will hurt their draft prospects?  I don't get it.  They were all in need of more developmnent.  THis was the consensus here, and it has been supported by their performance in the NBA. 

UMMAN83

March 21st, 2012 at 9:12 PM ^

Of your life for the NBA. Go figure. Maybe a solid career to boot. Too early to tell. Go figure. $ isn't life.

The Denarding

March 21st, 2012 at 10:34 PM ^

He's not going anywhere.  He will go in the first round next year - this year he is second round at best likely not to be drafted at worst.

This is the reality of running a top flight program.  You will get some great players who will want to leave early.  This is life to be honest.

I know we are getting bent out of shape but would you rather Beiliein recruit players who suck.  Burke won't go - they will do well next year.  Smotrycz leaving on the other hand really, really hurts....

And if Burke leaves we will figure it out.  This program under Beilein just has....

coastal blue

March 22nd, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^

The problem I have with this is simple: At Kentucky or North Carolina - real top flight programs - the guys who are leaving early are leaving because they are going to be picked in the first 15-20 picks or at least first round. The guys who have left Michigan early (Manny and Darius) went undrafted and drafted late, late second round. Trey would - probably at best - be drafted late in the second round.

If its really all about money, then thats fine. But someone needs to sit down with them and explain the massive difference between a lottery contract and an undrafted rookie contract. 

StuDouglas01

March 21st, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^

You guys are thinking negative, I mean yes Trey Burke is a great basketball player, but we have Mitch McGary who dominated and will show it in the college level also, we have Vogrich coming back which will defianetly be very good this coming year, still have Morgan still have Hardaway Jr. And we are getting two 4 star point guards for this coming year. We will be a young team but we won't be bad at all, I see us doing good without Trey Burke, but if we did have them we almost have an automatic B1G win! Let's just hope Trey comes back to have another great season.

StuDouglas01

March 21st, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^

But this also wouldn't be his fault. He tried and so did Zack, it's not their fault that Michigan is losing those players. They did everything they could. We'll just have to wait and see what happens

OysterMonkey

March 21st, 2012 at 11:13 PM ^

If the height numbers are trustworthy at espn's draft history pages, there have been less than one PGs under six foot in the last five years. I won't tell you how many, but it's zero.

Yinka Double Dare

March 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 AM ^

And is arguably the fastest and quickest player in the NBA.  And was a good college defensive player by that point.  And had much better shooting percentages than Trey.  And he STILL didn't go until 18th in the first round because of his height.

Yinka Double Dare

March 22nd, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^

And if Michigan lists him at 5'11", he's either that height or shorter.  He's definitely not 6'1". 

I love the guy as a college point guard, but his comparables either didn't get drafted at all, didn't get drafted in the first round, or best case scenario went in the latter half of the first round after staying several years and having great college careers.  Jameer Nelson's actually a decent comp for what Trey could turn out to be, but Nelson stayed 4 years, led a smaller school to within a shot of the Final Four (amusingly, KO'd by a shot from another dinky point guard, John Lucas III, who for the first time this year is actually getting some run with an NBA team and contributing, and only getting that shot due to injuries), and won several National Player of the Year awards his last season.  And still didn't get drafted until the 20th slot, because he's a 6' point guard.     

I think this will all be moot because the advisory board is likely going to tell him he's got no shot at the first round and will tell him to stay in school.  And to work on 1) his defense (for things he can do without team practice, workouts to try to improve his agility and quickness would help there), and 2) his shot.

Away Goal

March 22nd, 2012 at 12:21 AM ^

I feel like the NFL and NBA draft advisory boards tell about 60 - 70 kids each year they "could" be a first round pick, and then many go late or undrafted.  Major sham.

Roachgoblue

March 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 AM ^

Why would he wait? Don't say to make more coin, because that is not likely if he doesn't grow rapidly. He could also get hurt or have a bad season. If I was him I would wait, but I am over 20. I wouldn't trade a great education, experience, and maybe a possibility to move up a round.

In reply to by Roachgoblue

FatGuyLittleCoat

March 22nd, 2012 at 1:20 AM ^

It's much harder to turn down the money for these younger kids. If I were 19-20, I would probably take my chances and leave to. If true, this is unfortunate for Michigan, but I wish him well-whatever bs does.

Drbogue

March 22nd, 2012 at 6:43 AM ^

Education = Guaranteed

NBA = Play bench warmer, average 1.2 pt's/game, get dropped in 2 seasons.



Just because you get drafted doesn't mean a 20 yr career, A degree gives you security for employment if things don't workout. Then again, I didn't grow up thinking that playing a professional sport was my "ticket" to success