ESPN's 2016-2017 College Basketball Early Top 25

Submitted by Maizen on

Michigan nowhere to be found. Hard not to feel like next year isn't a huge season for Beielin. He's due to make 3.37 million dollars in 2016. Only Coach K, John Calipari, Bill Self, Rick Pitino, and Tom Izzo will make more. Also of note is that 10 of the last 15 national champions started the year in the preseason top 5.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15123601/duke-blue-devils-kentucky-wildcats-college-basketball-top-25-2016-2017

bronxblue

April 5th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^

Oh, I know the talent they are bringing in, but Izzo is not known for being a great curator of young talent, and a decent number of these kids (including Jackson) are 1-and-dones.  Heck, I've read that Davis is already planning on going pro, and that was going to be one of the better players they would have returning.

Izzo isn't like a Coach K or Calipari in that he can win with young kids; his whole system relies on guys understanding their defensive assignments, rebounding duties, and (recently) the offensive flow.  I've never seen him consistently mentor 1-year players well, which is what he's getting.  AND they are going to have to replace a POY-level player.

Nobody Likes a…

April 5th, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^

ah here we have it, a reason for the Beilein skeptics to get the conversation started even earlier. Can we please just get some OT topics going before we start rehashing arguments made before the selection show

Erik_in_Dayton

April 5th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^

...damaged this program.  Michigan was going to the Final Four every other year until he came along, and now look where they are.  He has systematically - and purposefully, I believe - weakened or completely erased every positivie aspect of Michigan men's basketball. 

And he is doing this to torture us - not just collectively but as individuals.  Such is his devilry. 

BraveWolverine730

April 5th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^

I guess the most frustrating thing to me in these constant arguments is the seeming misunderstanding about how far in the future recruiting is. Beilein talked about needing more shot blocking after the Kentucky 2014 game and went out and grabbed a couple big, tall C as soon as he could (the 2016 class).

The 2016 class didn't go ideally to plan, but still grabbed a top 50 PG and a possible Caris Levert 2.0. The 2017 class already has a top 60 player who is a perfect fit for Beilein's system. You add one more elite player to that and you're talking about an great class. Does Beilein need to recruit better than the 2014-2015 classes? Yes. Do we have evidence that it is better? I'd argue yes, and we've all seen what JB can do with talented teams. 

 

cbs650

April 5th, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^

All people are saying with regard to future recruiting is don't wait until they come to campus to offer a prospect. I'm sure the relationships are built way before that but if 5-8 schools have already offered you and Michigan has not, then no matter the relationship it's only natural to feel more wanted by those other schools.

WindyCityBlue

April 5th, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^

...that I didn't think needs a separate post.

What is the role of this "ethics committee" that JB heads-up?  I ask this because a lot of people seem to excuse some of JB's shortcomings because he is so clean and that college basketball (expecially recruiting) is unethical.  It seems to me that the ethics committee is the very team that should lead the charge to improve the ethical envrionment of college bball.  However, it seems like it gets worse every year (or at least stays the same).

So, do the members of the ethics committee just sit around and talk ethics, or do they actively try and change things? 

ijohnb

April 5th, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^

to denigrate the "position" but I doubt very much that it is very much more than a ceremonial one.  I doubt they are meeting every week to ethics the shit ouf of things, and how long is he going to chair this committee?  Is there every any turnover?  My guess is that he was appointed the special something in charge of something for one year and it just stuck because he is a clean, ethical guy. 

Ty Butterfield

April 5th, 2016 at 4:53 PM ^

Staee is bringing in a lot of talent and I fully expect them to land Jackson. As usual, Hollis will make sure they are in the easiest bracket.

SpaceDad

April 6th, 2016 at 1:43 AM ^

You just posted a far-fetched ESPN way-to-early poll and twisted it into another reason to spew poorly-constructed arguments about why Michigan’s coach should be on the hot seat. The amazing thing is that some others actually agree with you. Good luck with your efforts.