Manny Harris Out Today Comment Count

Brian

In case you missed it in Tim's preview, this happened:

"Manny has made great strides both on and off the court over the last three years," Beilein said in a release. "Unfortunately he used poor judgment on Friday. It is best for Manny's future if he stays home and sits out this Purdue game. We will meet with Manny and the team again when we return to determine if he has learned enough from this suspension to rejoin the team for Tuesday's game. I am confident that this learning experience will be valuable in the future to both Manny and our basketball program."

Punch thrown? I can't think of much else that would warrant a suspension. Maybe Chris Kramer snuck into practice and Harris gave him a flaming elbow drop.

This reinforces my opinion on Harris's potential departure: he's not likely to go in the first round, but he's probably going to leave anyway. He and Beilein are not on the same page, it appears.

Comments

ypsituckyboy

January 23rd, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

Not everyone hates their disciplinarian. Manny is a smart kid (Academic All Big Ten, I think), so hopefully he knows that discipline is a good thing when wielded wisely. Beilein really looks out for these kids' best interests, and I'm sure he is very careful when taking action like this. I think Manny is smart enough to know that (a) it's a great idea to get your degree; (b) Beilein genuinely cares about him; and (c) his game isn't 1st round quality yet.

I have a sneaking suspicion Manny will be back next year.

Duncan

January 23rd, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

a feeling he'll be back next year also. Obviously no other reason than a guess. There's still a few areas that he needs to work on (in my opinion):

More consistent outside shot (range)
Strength when finishing. He's quite impressive at getting to the basket, just needs to finish stronger to gather more 3 pt play opportunities.

Whether or not that matters to him, may think his game could improve more outside of Beilein.

Gus_possessive…

January 23rd, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^

Totally disagree with your assessment of Manny's weaknesses.

His strength IS finishing. His weakness is actually getting to the rim more efficiently (i.e. more frequently and with less turnovers in the process). When he actually does get near the rim without turning the ball over he's a magical finisher. Magical.

His dribbling has improved moderately this season. His elbow placement on his jumper is still awkwardly wide. He still has a great sense of where he is on the court, which leads to so many of his rebounds.

Jinxed

January 23rd, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^

He would be able to get to the rim more efficiently if he improved his awkward jump shot. At this point, defenders don't respect his ability to shoot and simply keep their distance while cramping his right side.

If he improves his jumper.. he instantly becomes a triple threat and then you have to worry about him passing, shooting, or driving at any one time. It makes defending him a lot more challenging.

He also needs extensive work on his dribbling... He'll never be an elite defender because he lacks length...

In any case, I'm not sure that he can improve much at this point. I honestly think that what you see is what you get and I think he'll have trouble making an NBA team.

Gus_possessive…

January 23rd, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^

I spoke with Ms. Harris after the Michigan-Wisconsin game in Madison last season and inquired whether Manny would be back another year (as in this year) and she answered, "Manny'll be back for 2 more years. He really wants to get his degree."

Of course most parents are going to say that about their children with pro potential, so I took it with a grain of salt. But I'm starting to wonder if maybe that's the case. And, FTR, I asked that question as somewhat of a compliment, because I knew at the time that Manny was not ready for the NBA. He's nearer now, but still not quite there.

VictorsValiant09

January 23rd, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^

Yeah, I agree he'll be back. For one, his decision-making skills with the basketball are not good.

Way too many ill-advised turnovers this year.

This really hurts our chances for a win Saturday.

chitownblue2

January 23rd, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^

If your guess about what he did is right (a punch thrown, or something similar), how does that reflect on his relationship with Beilein (unless the punch was thrown at Beilein)?

M-Wolverine

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^

If they don't see eye to eye on what's acceptable or not, there's a split there. It could be pulled together, but in a sport where people are much more likely to jump to the pros, and we can ill afford to lose anyone who can actually play, because we don't have many who can, it's a problem. You could say anybody could get frustrated and throw a punch, if that's what happened, but the fact is no one else has under Beilein. Manny has been benched for a crucial game, suspended by the Big Ten (erroneously, in my opinion, but still), and now this. No one else has that track record under this regime.

DoubleMs

January 23rd, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^

Manny benched for discipline may be a positive for the team in several ways. Not only will it teach him a lesson, but Novak and Douglass tend to like having a great reason to step up. I think we'll see a hell of a game against Purdue, with Novak and Douglass doing their best accurate-shooter impressions.

jamiemac

January 23rd, 2010 at 2:08 PM ^

So are we taking odds on which Wolverine has a shiner today from a practice?

Gotta think Novak is the leader in the clubhouse. Maybe Morris was checking him too closely. Or did CJ Lee come back and annoy him into a double elbow. I dont know all good choices.

Anyway, line has gone up to Purdue -13.5

bronxblue

January 23rd, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^

AP said it was for unsportsmanlike conduct at practice, which probably means either fight or some other physical altercation, or he really mouthed off to a coach. Either way, I am not ready to declare Harris gone and the rift between him and coach B too great to traverse. This suspension may actually beneficial in the sense that it (a) maybe forces Manny to reevaluate his game a bit and why he has struggled recently, and (b) tells the rest of the team that who you are doesn't supersede how this team will play. That type of message will probably stick and, hopefully, give them a spark today.

Blue boy johnson

January 23rd, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^

Belien is just doing this do drive up the ratings and get some publicity so he can become a bad boy recruiter like Kiffin.

Also Belien is playing the good cop bad cop like a pro, which is the reason he is bringing Grady back to the team. What a Maestro

Captain Obvious

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^

If there was a fight, the other participant would likely be out as well unless he just stood there and took the punch without retaliating, etc. My guess is talking back to the coaches or being a (verbal) dick to his teammates. Every possibility surprises me because he seems like such a calm, even person.

jsquigg

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^

I love that Beilein doesn't let his stars dictate how he coaches. I know other coaches would cover up and play Manny anyway. As to him coming back, I don't see it, but hopefully the lesson is learned by other players as well as by Manny.

M-Wolverine

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^

...in the NIT. This just looks bad, for recruiting far more than this season. How do you think other Detroit kids are looking at this? Or frankly, any prospects with any talent. Maybe Manny's more of a troublemaker than we think, but I haven't gotten that impression. But in any regard, programs around the country seem to have lots of big time talents, and not have their most talented player continually get into trouble with the coach. I imagine Izzo is licking his chops not at the prospect that Manny might not play them (because I doubt he was very worried either way), but the long term ramifications.

This is bad...and not just because it's going to affect the final score today. I don't blame Beilein for instituting discipline where needed. I wonder why he hasn't been able to get his star player in line with his views after almost 3 years. And none of it looks like a positive for recruiting, which is where he's going to live or die.

chitownblue2

January 23rd, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^

WHAT DOES PUNCHING SOMEONE IN PRACTICE HAVE TO DO WITH HARRIS NOT SEEING EYE TO EYE WITH BEILEIN?

"Unsportsmanlike Conduct in Practice" is a fight. I'm sure if he got in a fight, he understand he can't do that, but lost temper. I'm sure that he doesn't feel that he can punch people without consequence. How is this a "continuing" issue as you described? He was benched for 5 minutes last year. That's it. Stop being a pollyana.

zlionsfan

January 24th, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^

does it look bad, besides one-and-done kids? Players who expect to come in and tell their coaches what to do?

I'm not sure why you don't have the impression that Manny is more of a troublemaker than we think ... clearly Beilein doesn't do this with the entire team. Most players seem to be able to stay out of the doghouse.

FWIW, I doubt Izzo needs to concern himself right now with long-term ramifications of anything in Ann Arbor. Sure, if it were possible that only certain star recruits would consider a Michigan school, and the chances of MSU landing one depended directly on whether or not Michigan was interested, then maybe this would be a factor for a few of them, but there's really no reason for Izzo to worry at all about what Beilein does or doesn't do.

If anything, this is a positive for Michigan, not a negative. It sends a message to other players and to recruits that no matter who you are, you don't get away with crap here. Players that are looking for less discipline probably aren't looking to Michigan anyway ... perhaps they are looking somewhere a bit south of Ann Arbor.

AlwaysBlue

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^

Manny is a tough guy to figure. I thought after the Penn State game he might have finally found the kind of swagger needed to both lead and maximize his game. Unfortunately it looks like the next place it showed up was at practice.

Tater

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^

My first reaction to this is that the last thing JB or anyone associated with the UM wants to risk is Manny popping Chris Kramer in the nose today. JB is sending a message that you don't do things that way if you are going to play for the University of Michigan. Congrats to JB.

On the bright side, it was benching Manny that led to the "hot streak" at the end of last year. Also, the team gets a head start of what it will be like to play BT games without him. This looks like a "crossroads" event; I hope it takes a turn that we all like at the end of the season.

Jon Benke

January 23rd, 2010 at 3:43 PM ^

He's not a first round talent, and in the NBA, if you are not a first round talent, you return to where you came from. Lets hope, for both Manny and the program, that he has a Chris Perry like lightbulb moment, and decides to comeback and listen to whatever his coach says...

Kilgore Trout

January 23rd, 2010 at 4:04 PM ^

So is this real or not? UMHoops has it mentioned and links back to mgoblog, but that thread seems to have been deleted and a search of Kelvin Grady brings up nothing but old football news.

jb

January 23rd, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^

Deshawn Sims is putting on a clinic!!! 11 points before the first tv timeout, DAMN!

Even if we lose this game - that sucka came to play today!

burtcomma

January 23rd, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^

The kind of coach we want to have at Michigan and let's not be too quick to hassle Manny because any male under the age of 30 ought to be given some room to grow.

gobluefan474

January 23rd, 2010 at 5:32 PM ^

Manny is a passionate player always wanting to win never scared.But he needs to learn people make mistakes in life.i hope Manny and the team can redeem themselfs Tuesday when they play the spartys.Finally its not all about one guy you lways need to be picking some one up and getting them back on their feet.THE TEAM THE TEAM THE TEAM

NJWolverine

January 23rd, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^

Granted, he's far better than Anthony Wright, but when he runs the system he's ineffective against good defenses. NBA scouts aren't going to care about what you did against poor teams, they care about how you do against good defenders and good teams. Harris can't create his own shot and is a turnover machine against good competition. He needs the entire offense to set up lanes for him to drive after his defender is off balance. That's the only way he can score and draw fouls. His mid-range game is almost nonexistent. He takes too long to take a jump shot and his 3 point shooting hasn't improved. He's just limited as a player. I never understood the hype with him. He's at best a 2nd round prospect and won't make a NBA team. Maybe he realizes this and that's why he's frustrated.

On a side note, Sims has done a nice job improving his NBA stock. Although undersized, he has a knack for scoring around the basket and has developed a midrange and even a 3 point game. He has improved his quickness and scoring under Beilein and if he does make the NBA he has only Beilein to thank. I don't know if Harris just isn't listening or if he's really just not a good player, but I still believe in Beilein's ability to develop players.

jb

January 23rd, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^

What if UM beats Wisc. the other night and Harris plays today.

AND UCONN DOES THEIR DAMN JOB AND BEATS TEXAS. How come a plan never comes together????

Steve in PA

January 23rd, 2010 at 11:32 PM ^

Because that's all the pro ball he'll play next year. I mentioned that the other day and I firmly believe it.

Manny has gotten the team this far from what it was. But, just like Moses he'll never see the promised land with this team. He really isn't a good fit for JB's offense. He's a dribble-drive player and JB's offense demands a level of defense and offensive patience that Manny isn't capable of providing.

The last few (2?) games Manny has looked like a petulant child on the floor and the offense actually runs JB's offense better without him. Sims has picked up his game tremendously and has actually lived up to his potential.

Sims has made his game fit JB's system and it has paid dividends. Manny would be wise to do likewise.

chitownblue2

January 24th, 2010 at 9:06 AM ^

I mean, I agree that Manny has his problems. He's a poor jump-shooter. His handle on drives leaves something to be desired. He rarely just pulls the trigger on an open jumper, but waits to take a jab step or two before launching one with a defender in his face. He can be a lackadaisical defender. He probably wouldn't score as much if he wasn't our go-to free-throw shooter when we try to ice the game.

But, we run Beilein's system better without him? Did you see the game yesterday? We started out going into Sims, who, IME, has been our best player this season. Sims scored efficiently. Eventually, the defense adapted, and basically just converged on Sims...and nobody on our team could even find a shot for themselves. When Sims got taken away, we were left with everyone else passing the ball along the perimeter until there were 4 or 5 seconds left on the clock (if we hadn't turned it over at that point), at which point they failed to drive and lost their handle, or launched an ineffective jumper. Admittedly, Novak got a few buckets in the second half, but Purdue's defensive effort was sleeping on a pillow-top mattress at midcourt by then. Without Harris, this team lacks almost anyone with the inclination or ability to pull the trigger.