2014-2015 MBB - how good can it be?
Never count your chickens, right.. .but the "NBA early entries" talk this week -- meaning, "we might not have any this year" -- immediately raises the question: How good can this team be next season?
How reasonable is it to assume no one leaves early for the NFB. Nik - can't play D and will be outmuscled (a problem THJ is having). GRIII - need to, um, find game. Mitch - could be viewed as a major risk if he comes out this year. And this is supposedly a very deep class for the NBA generally, so as a player it's not a good class to "take a flier" on.
And assuming no one goes early -- which of the most likely recruits (incoming freshman) are likely to play, and what positions. I have no clue on this.
So project the entire team (sans Jordan, although, that's legitimately half a big loss) comes back, plus Mitch playing full time, plus Donnel joining the lineup, plus whatever freshman will contribute... Is there even available minutes for everyone to play?
February 12th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
How about you enjoy this season and worry about next year once we know who is staying/going.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
I knew this post was coming and I hate it.
Relax. We're fans. We can enjoy the present and be excited about the future. And our looking ahead won't cause the basketball team to lose the Wisconsin or MSU games. Trust me.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
Maybe not post it? I hate the topic much more than you hate my response.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
The topic could be interesting and fun. Whether it will be is TBD, depending mostly on whether it's overrun by 25 people making the same (ridiculous, in my opinion) "How about we focus on this year?" point. Often, that kind of thing crowds out discussion that others would like to have.
February 12th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^
That the "you can't talk about next year until next year" thing isn't a real rule.
What I WOULD say is that there are just way too many unknowns for next year (see: McGary, GRIII, Stauskas) to really be able to gauge anything. If they all come back, WOO PARTY TIME. If they all leave, less party time. If it is one of the other 6 combinations (a likelihood, I'd say), it'll be somewhere in the middle.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
double post
February 12th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
While my responses weren't as well written as this, there are so many competely unknown variables to make this even a interesting topic of discusison.
These are as entertaining as the topic that will show up next September about 2015 depth charts.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
I mean, think about it, during the football season, we HAD to look forward to next year because 2013 was absolutely lousy with seam-bursting bags filled with dicks that it was sucking.
Just because for BB, 2014 seems to be, for the most part, going surprisingly well, doesn't mean you can't daydream a little.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^
Beilein and the coaches are doing a fine job focusing on each game AND planning the future rosters. No reason us fans cannot do the same.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:09 PM ^
And I hate you more than both of those things.
February 12th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
Co-signed.
Speaking generally I hate nearly all things. This "you" person is one of them.
February 12th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
what else are we going to do with our day? Work??
February 12th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
You do realize he didn't post it, right?
Also...congrats on your new role as arbiter of what is interesting for everyone else that is not you! Big job, big responsibility, but you seem to be taking it quite seriously.
February 12th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
This please.
February 12th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
I love this blog but the attitude of some posters around here makes it hard to enjoy sometimes. If you don't like the post, DON'T READ IT! Some people are interested to discuss this topic and many other topics, however there always seem to be these sassy, butt-hurt posters who seem to have nothing better to do with their time than complain about "non-worthy" topics, usually of which have directly to do with Michigan Athletics and thus are very relevant content for this site.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Disagree. Michi85 couldn't be more right. It's important that we have responsible moderators such as he to keep anonymous internet Michigan fans in check so that we not post or discuss anything beyond the next 7 days for a number of reasons:
1. So much could change in a week, let alone next year, thus making such discussion a futile waste of precious time Michigan fans and alums should instead devote either to current Michigan sports activity, or to work and family. Wives and children nationwide thank Michi85.
2. Moderating speculative topics about that ethereal, unpredictable "future" is an important part of minimizing forum topic clutter because no internet reader worth a lick can be expected to actually, you know, "not read" a topic that enters his/her line of vision. Ron Burgundy and the teleprompter if you will...
3. Topics that draw attention from the here and now harm the success of the team itself, because everyone knows every Michigan varsity athlete approaches each practice and game with an attitude shaped by what they read from anonymous internet posters here at MGoBlog in the days leading up to the big game, and getting their minds off into dreamland about the possibilities of next year as opposed to the X's and O's of Wisconsin this weekend will be extremely damaging. Thanks to Michi85's timely intervention, I anticipate he's saved the MBB team 2 or 3 missed shots and a half dozen defensive rebounds. God bless him!
February 12th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Exactly. Great points
February 12th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
F*ck you San Diego!
February 12th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
hmm I wonder how good 2030-2031 will be. can someone tell me I cant stop thinking about it.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
/s
February 12th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
A good instance of when the /s tag was definitely needed. For a minute there, I thought you actually wanted Michigan to start offering kids that are still pooping in their diapers.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
Still better than coolers...
February 12th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^
If you shit your pants quite a bit.
It seems that coolers fit my agenda better than loaded drawers.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
so says Najeh Davenport
February 12th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^
BB's scouting reports are good, but I have no clue how he'd be in a position to ask such a thing talking to recruits nowadays.
"So, tell me...are you thoroughly potty trained?"
February 12th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
I can't decide if your post would have been funnier or less funny if you added a /s at the end of it.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Replacing 3 starters won't be easy for this young squad in 2030, but our new robot coach will find a way to get us to 23 wins.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
Won't we be one over the scholly limit if everyone comes back?
February 12th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
I think that all depends on where Austin Hatch's scholarship comes from. Just to venture a guess, I would assume if all 3 of our potential NBA prospects return for next year, Austin's scholarship will be coming from somewhere outside of the basketball program.
February 12th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
Well that stinks, but makes perfect sense. Teams would obviously be using academic schollies all the time to skirt scholarship limits. So essentially either someone is going to be encourage to go to the NBA a little earlier than maybe they should, or Austin doesn't get to be a part of the team...
February 12th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
Maybe it'll be good enough to not have people post about it in the middle of a Big Ten run? Seriously, the day after the season ends I'd be all up to discuss this at length, but I think this team is in the middle of such a great run, they deserve to have the focus be completely on them.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
Can someone explain the scholarship situation for next year? My memory is that Beilein recruited under the assumption that McGary and/or Robinson would leave early. Does that leave us with too many guys, potentially?
February 12th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
Thanks (to each of you who posted this).
Sorry, one more question... We haven't heard a final answer on Hatch's status yet, have we?
February 12th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
Credit where credit is due I do believe we'd be one over the limit if everyone came back.
http://www.umhoops.com/recruiting/scholarship-breakdown/
February 12th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
went and found the answer
February 12th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
But please enlighten us further.
I wish I could multiple pos-bang that post.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
I dislike posts like these because we should be cheering for our players to go to the NBA if they are evaluated at that level instead of selishly hoping they'll be back for our entertainment.
I hope Stauskas has an awesome finish to the year and is able to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA. Same with GR3 and MM.
But even that aside, it is highly unlikely they all come back which makes any analysis or predictions of future PT an exercise in futility.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
Lol Stauskas's race has literally nothing to do with how good his game is. He's athletic enough to constantly get the "not just a shooter" reference and he's #12 on Goodman's Big Board right now. And if that's where he's projected, he absolutely should go.
February 12th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
February 12th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
I saw this coming. You can focus on the racist appearance on the surface of the comment or see the truth of it. There are hardly any white North American contributors in the NBA. There's a stigma associated with them even if they are great athletes. They have a tougher hill to climb to prove themselves because of it. Look at guys like JJ Redick and Jimmer Fredette. Very similar skill set to Stauskas but were NPOY winners,and both stayed for 4 years. Both are role players in the NBA. The NBA wants guys that are the complete package or that can jump through the roof. If GR3 and Stauskas both go to the pros and both have underwhelming years, you can bet your ass GR3 sticks around longer, for that very reason. I don't like it, and I don't like the NBA at all in fact, but that's the way it is. When did Stauskas have bad games this year? Against superior athletes at Duke and MSU. That's a red flag for NBA scouts.
February 12th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Funny I remember the MSU game as Stauskas going off for 19 pts on 7/12 shooting w/ 4 AST to 1 TO with an NBA lottery pick guarding him. If you wanted to argue your point here, that there is a stigma against white North American players, then that would be plausible. Instead you just said he's not really athletic. You could also argue the stigma is more against 4 year guys than white players since regardless of race, those types are generally frowned upon. Bottom line is guys with way more connections seem to think he's a first round pick even after this "slump" which really includes one bad game.