Mitch to NBA
According to Yahoo Sport's Dan Wetzel Mitch to the NBA after testing positive for marijuana which netted him a YEAR LONG BAN from the NCAA
EDIT: Because some people aren't reading the article:
- Mitch failed an NCAA administered test during the tournament - schools test during the year
- The NCAA has harsher policies than schools do. Had Mitch failed a Michigan adminstered test it would have been 1-2 week suspension
- Mitch dressing did not affect his test. Had Mitch been in street clothes or in AA he could have been tested by the NCAA during the tournament
- Mitch passed 8 tests during his 2 years at Michigan, this was his only failure
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mitch-mcgary-heading-to-nba-after-positive…
Mitch McGary took a deep breath. He wanted to tell the story of why he smoked marijuana one night in March, why the NCAA suspended him for a year because of it and why the confluence of those events is helping lead him to declare for June's NBA draft. It wasn't easy, so he started at the beginning. For months, McGary had struggled to come to terms with the back injury that limited him to just eight games for the University of Michigan this season, none after mid-December.
EDIT 2: Quotes from Mitch and Beilien from mgoblue.com:
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042514aaa.html
"My family and I want to thank everyone for giving us privacy and the time to make this decision," said McGary. "As you know, it was important for us to weigh all the factors that go into something like this. With that being said, I am ready to move on to the next stage in my life and enter the NBA Draft. "Being a part of a program that values integrity, it is important to let everyone know of a poor decision I recently made. I tested positive for marijuana during the NCAA Tournament. We were notified of that result after the Final Four. I regret thoroughly disappointing my family, coaches and administration. Despite all of this they have been understanding and helpful over the last couple of weeks. "I take full responsibility for this poor choice and want to apologize to everyone, especially those I have grown close to during my fabulous two years at the University of Michigan. "I love the University of Michigan and all it has allowed me to do. I have had my ups and downs, especially with my injury this season. I want to thank all the fans for embracing me. This has been the best two years of my life and I have some unbelievable memories. I know that I will be a Wolverine forever. Go Blue."
Embarrassing.
That's the bottom line. It's embarrassing for the school and the program no matter how lame the rule is.
It's also embarrassing for the NCAA that they have to basically throw one of the country's premier players out of school for nothing.
April 25th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
Only the bluest of the blue hairs are going to go "Pot?! My stars!". Everyone avid college fan is going to say "Wait Michigan had a player suspended a year for smoking pot? Thats some bullsh*t - tons of players smoke pot. Glad it didn't happen to us"
Fuck the NCAA, burn that shit to the ground. Such a complete joke of an institution, just pathetic. Way to go, Emmert, I want to kick you in the face.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
Yes. Did Mitch make a bad decision? Yes.
I played Division III basketball and everyone knew if we make the NCAA tourney there's a chance we could get drug tested. So those of us who dabbled in the ganja knew that come February, we had to stop until the season was over.
I agree that a one year ban for a first time offense is a joke, but there's no way Mitch didn't know an NCAA drug test could be coming if UM made the NCAA tourney.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
I feel let down by Mitch McGary...what a way to end his carreer...Kids make Bad choices and Hes no different.....I feel like this really hurts Him, the School, the fans and his NBA Chances..You have a couple of good games in a NCAA Tournament and suddenly your a NBA Superstar?...who feeds this crap to the Kids?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
I feel let down that a someone of my species could string words together in such a way to communicate something so idiotic.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
Please go home and think about how terrible of a person you are
April 25th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
I'm usally somewhat reserved on here, but not right now: FUCK the NCAA.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
think this is reasonable, ask yourself if all those players started using when they got to the NBA. I tend to think they got away with it in college.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
Wubaluba dub dub
April 25th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
Somewhere a bunch of NCAA cronies are getting high and drafting more stupid rules for people to get pissed about...
April 25th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
FUCK
April 25th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^
The NCAA is slightly less useful than Play-Doh, no offense to Play-Doh.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
I'd be willing to bet it happens multiple times each year, but nobody ever says anything about it. There can't be 50 kids each year who really think that they are going to be first round picks and leave school completely on the up-and-up. At least Mitch owned up to it.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
Chances are this has happened many times before, we just never hear about it because as the article points out, nobody has to say anything. Mitch chose to, and I respect that in him. Ever wonder about some of those kids who seemed to jump a year or so too early? And didn't even get drafted, or not nearly as high as they might have later? Bet this was the case at least a few times in recent years.
This sucks, but Mitch will be OK in the end, he's got a ton of potential, if he works hard he'll get what he wants.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
Actually, this is kind of fantastic when seen like this. Mitch chose to come forward. "Ban me for a year for consuming marijuana (lol, performance enhancing) and i'll call you out on it."
The gallup poll shows that the majority of American's support legalization
http://www.gallup.com/poll/165539/first-time-americans-favor-legalizing…
while 38% say they've tried it (thats a LOT of people).
http://www.gallup.com/poll/163835/tried-marijuana-little-changed-80s.as…
Getting busted for smoking weed by the ncaa isn't some sort of badge of shame, at least not for the player. This whole situation just makes the ncaa look dated and draconian.
Furthermore, what does this do for attitudes at a school like Michigan? Fans don't like it at all, that's obvious. What about faculty and staff. This is a student who's losing out on scholarship. He's also a high $$$ prospect, he makes the college money.
Keep shooting yourself in the foot NCAA. Believe it or not, no one needs you.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
Why isn't this on the front page? Are Brian and company trying to decide what the opposite of muppets are?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
Emo cats.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
It's been like an hour.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^
your only response should be "scoreboard"
April 25th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
1) It's pot.
2) It's nobody elses business.
3) Anyone that doesnt agree with 2 doesnt know the truth about pot.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
Stupid decision to put his college basketball career on the line, as well as how NBA teams percieve him, by smoking. However, it's also a stupid decision by the NCAA to be so strict on this matter. One year ban for 1 failed test when he's had 8 clean ones? Give me a fucking break. I haven't touched the stuff since college and don't necessarily advocate rampant recreational use of the stuff, but the way marijuana use is treated by authorities is blown completely out of proportion. It's not an evil "drug."
Anyways, thanks for the memories, Mitch. We'll always have your incredible tourney performance and eccentric bench antics!
April 25th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
whose gonna be our big man next year. Thats all I care about now. We cant go far without one. Period.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
Great start to the weekend...still waiting for someone to say APRIL FOOLS!! This is as bitter of a Michigan exit as Jamal Crawford's exit from Michigan.
Does this mean a HELLO: post for Cole Huff imminent?
April 25th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^
This sucks
April 25th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
I think Denver may want his skills, and he may want their laws.
Does anyone else think that a positive marijuana test receiving a mandated 1 year ban is kinda harsh when a conviction for a DUI is considered a "violation of team rules" and is punished per team discretion? The death throws of common sense continue.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 10:54 AM ^
The police have to catch you in the act in order to be charged with anything. I think....
April 25th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
It's largely because UMDPS officers are deputized by the Washtenaw County Sherriff.
If you get caught in AA, by an AAPD officer - it's a fine.
If you get caught by State/County boys - you'll be charged under state law.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
Yes, but if you get caught having smoked it while attempting to play basketball, they send you to Guantonimo prison because it's just so much worse.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
that this isn't an appealable matter---reducing the suspension--by alot.
Now you say "but its the NCAA"---I say "point taken".
The article says UM appealed, and it looks like Mitch waited until the appeal was decided to announce anything.
April 25th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
April 25th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Beilein will just tweek his offense to his roster. Beilfelt might get a look at 5 ( i know thats scary) but if he can just do what JMO did half of his time on the court we will be ok. Donnal, while untested, was killing our bigs in practice, Chatman and Wilson are niiiiiice, spike provides quality leadership, Levert Irvin and Walton ar straight. We will still finish top 4. Did anyone think we had a chance at the conference in 2012? Granted we had senior leadership, but much less talent than this roster. No redshirt for Doyle, lets see how it goes...
April 25th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^
I think we will struggle next year but I'm OK with that. No program is immune to it when so many starters depart early.
Thanks to Beilein & Co., a "down year" will now likely mean not being in the B10 race but still no lower than 4th or 5th in conference, definitely above .500 and maybe seeded 7-10 in the NCAA tourney. "Down year" will probably not mean being under .500, getting crushed by anybody decent, relegated to the NIT tourney, etc.
To some degree our inexperience from 4-5 will be mitigated by superior play from 1-3, which should be enough to keep us reasonably competitive.
The important thing is that our coach, staff, and facilities give us very good reason to believe that the up-and-down cycles will favor us over time. Hopefully Beilein is having fun, enjoys living in Ann Arbor, and stays for many more years to come.
April 25th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^