#3 will be in the rafters.
He's up there, but Ricky Green is in that conversation. too.
http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/baskmen/baskmaa/greenaa.htm
Green is. But there are snobs that don't think Green deserves to have his number in the rafters because he was a JUCO transfer. Which is lame.
I don't care that he was a JUCO. My question is if he graduated or not. I think that should be part of the deal.
The days of elite players from national programs staying to graduate are past us. I don't fault Trey or other contemporary players for leaving early if their draft stock is at or near peak. Now if you mean if he ever graduates, i.e., he fulfilles graduation requirements after leaving a la Juwan Howard, then perhaps I can agree with you.
I think in this case he's referring to Green, who spent 4 years in college (2 at JUCO, 2 at UM). In that case if the guy isn't walking away with the sheepskin it doesn't look all that great. I think for a guy like Burke or someone else leaving early the question for jmblue would be "Are you on track to graduate?" or like you said, "Did you come back and finish your degree in the offseason or at the end of your playing career?"
Now if you mean if he ever graduates, i.e., he fulfilles graduation requirements after leaving a la Juwan Howard, then perhaps I can agree with you.
This is what I mean. I don't expect athletes to necessarily graduate in four years. I know that's hard for even a lot of non-athletes to do. But they should eventually graduate. I know Howard and Rose did from the Fab Five, and I'm in favor of raising both of their jerseys.
That has long been Michigan's policy for honoring jerseys. One must graduate before it can be done, whether when 22 or 52.
Every year a few players who could have plausibly been lottery picks decide to stay for their senior year. Mason Plumlee probably was a lottery pick at the end of his second year, but stuck around an extra two years. Not saying it's good or bad... but it's not as rare as you're implying. Most of the examples I can mention are from either UNC or Duke though.
I don't know. Green averaged 20 ppg without the benefit of a 3-point line. Like Burke, he led Michigan to a Big Ten title and national championship game in his two years. He was runner-up for NPOY his senior year behind Marques Johnson of UCLA, who was unreal at this level (and back then, UCLA was like Duke now - their best player was automatically in the running for NPOY). I don't know if Burke had any competitors for the award this year that were as good as Johnson that year.
He also went on to be a 5-time all-star in the NBA. Not sure there is anybody that good in this year's college/draft class.
Not to mention that IU team that beat them in the title game was a monster. 32-0, 4 first round draft picks (all in the top 11), 5 guys who had an NBA career.
The eras were definitely different.
Ricky Green is in the conversation, but it doesn't take long to put him at #2.
Green was really, really good. He also played in a more competitive era overall. In the 1970s you weren't even allowed to go pro unless you could prove "financial hardship" to a committee from the NBA.
I think Burke was an amazing player and am proud to have been able to cheer him on, but I wouldn't write off the guys before him. We have a much better basketball history than people realize. We've been to the national championship game six times. We just happen to have lost five of them. If a few of those had gone the other way, we'd be considered basketball royalty.
Good Luck Trey!!! Ill never forget your 2 years here gave us some of the best memories ill ever have.
GO BLUE!!
Thanks Trey, for all your hard work. Good Luck in the NBA... we'll be rooting for you.
Would have killed to see him come back and not win it all. Good choice, young man. Godspeed!
Don't forget to buy us shots at Ricks when you return to campus
If his work outs go well(which they will) he could be drafted in the top 3.
One more year would've been great, but going to the NBA now was probably the best decision for him. Thank you for the memories, Trey, and for being a great representative of the Michigan program.
Best of luck to him. He's going to be the first M player in quite a while who is not a fringe NBA guy and I look forward to seeing him play in the NBA. As much as I would love to see him play in a Michigan uniform again, this is clearly the best decision for Trey.
If Walton turns out to be a good college player, I hope he follows Trey's footsteps and doesn't leave a year too early like Morris did.
Looking forward to a great NBA career
and best of luck in the NBA
Can't be mad at him. He's done a lot for Michigan and I wish him the best of luck. Hopefully we don't lose anymore though.
Wait wait, no i won't. I be forced to see it seven hundred times in ESPN for the week following.
Go number 1 Burke. I really don't want to watch any more of the draft then I have to.
Burke's stock has exploded in the past couple weeks, he might not even last long enough for the Pistons (who will most likely draft between 5-7) to take him. I really hope the Pistons get him though, Burke + Drummond pick and roll would be awesome and Knight seems more like a sg at this point. Can't wait to root for him in the NBA regardless of what team he plays for though. Good luck Trey!
Your team needs a real shooting guard. Having to give 28 minutes a game to Kyle Singler is brutal. If Knight "was a SG at this point" the Pistons would be starting Calderon and Knight instead of Singler and Knight....
Calderon is going to be demanding $10M plus and may be too steep for the pistons to commit too. If they decide not to resign Jose then pistons will go Burke. However Detroit desperately needs a SF
Thank you Trey! I love the way you play the game. Best of luck in the NBA and continue to show the nay-sayers how it's done!
He'll go down as one of the best ever to wear a Michigan basketball uniform. Good decision on his part, and very wise decision not to leave after his freshman year.
Charlotte's best player is Kemba Walker. They're going to take a big man.
He doesn't get my good luck wishes because he doesn't need it. His talent is obvious, and he's going to crush in the league.
Me, personally, I am saving all my luck for Jordan Morgan et al. to make NBA squads.
Here's some Derrick Walton film for you guys. Hopefully it will instill confidence in you regarding the post-Trey era of Michigan basketball.