Doctored Schedules or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The F-Bomb

Woodstock '99, the original Fecal Festival

Back in mid-September, the NCAA pushed back the start of college basketball season to November 25th, allowing programs time to adjust to a reduced schedule while figuring out what games can be safely played during a pandemic. Let's see how that's going.

Here are some of the responses I received from College basketball schedulers when asked to describe the current state of scheduling: pic.twitter.com/3jbot4kP1X

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) October 30, 2020

Ah, well.

Michigan doesn't have a 2020-21 schedule posted on their official site; there isn't even a page for it. Most of the neutral-site tournaments have been canceled. For whatever it's worth, ESPN went ahead and announced the ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups, which are scheduled for December 8th and 9th. Michigan is set to host N.C. State, Torvik's #46 squad last year and projected #49 team this season, on the latter date.

According to a more-frustrated-than-usual Tom Izzo, the Big Ten's plans are still fluid:

As for the Big Ten conference schedule, that also remains in flux. Izzo said the 14 Big Ten coaches were on a video call Thursday morning and have been meeting twice a week with Big Ten staff to work through scenarios, possibilities and feasibilities. He believes the league could expand by two to a 22-game schedule this winter to limit travel, which is the difference between seeking five and seven nonconference opponents. He said creative solutions such as running a Big Ten bubble or working together in pods of four teams have been mentioned but not fully explored.

At this point, expanding the conference schedule as much as possible seems like the best plan. It's going to be difficult to secure venues and teams in such a short time period while also putting in proper COVID precautions that are uniform (or close enough) across conferences.

Given the direction both scheduling and the pandemic are headed, I wouldn't be surprised if the season is eventually reduced to conference-only play in the regular season anyway. Football ended up in the same place despite having far fewer teams and conferences. While it's going to be difficult to figure out the NCAA Tournament field, maintaining a more controlled environment for the programs and minimizing travel should be the priority.

[Hit THE JUMP for commit updates, the big reveal for Chaundee Brown, and more.]

2021 Might Be Good, Y'All

Hoo buddy I wish I could copy and paste all the quotes new commit (read Matt's Hello post, thanks) Caleb Houstan's coach gave Brendan Quinn in this article. I'll settle for the one that makes it sound like Michigan is getting the Miami Heat version of Duncan Robinson:

“He’s got really good feet running in either direction when catching it and getting into his shot,” Boyle said. “So he’s got potential to develop into not just a great open shooter, but a great shooter on shot fakes, and a great shooter off of actions, and off of screens. At his size, I think he’ll be really unique in the college game and eventually in the professional game. He’s a guy who can be a high-level, top-seven or top-10 guy in college and in the NBA at being able to do that. It’s a skill that’s much rarer than people realize. Most great shooters are spot-up shooters. But fewer guys can go get their shot and have such good feet on the run that they can catch and shoot on the run and going either direction. He can do all that at a high, high level.”

Houstan already has the reputation of a tremendously dangerous shooter off the catch, even when he's not at a standstill. As his coach notes later, the next step—one he's already working on—is to become a reliable shooting threat as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. If he can do that, he's going to be an awesome college scorer.

With Houstan's commitment, Michigan has the #1-ranked 2021 recruiting class, and yet they could be poised to add some points in the recruiting standings after top-100 wing Kobe Bufkin stood out to multiple onlookers at the Wootten Top 150 camp in Texas. 247's Eric Bossi says he's in support of a move up the rankings:

Michigan has got a really good one on the way in Kobe Bufkin who ranks No. 65 in the Composite and No. 89 in the 247Sports rankings. At 6-foot-5 or so he’s a rangy ball handler that can play the one or the two and he makes lots of things happen off the dribble. He’s dangerous in pick and roll action but also creative enough that you can just get out of his way and let him go. I really like this kid and his long-term potential and he’s one I’d be in favor of bumping up the rankings a bit.

Tobias Bass of ZagsBlog listed Bufkin first when naming his eight standouts from the event:

Bufkin is an all-around SG but showed his ability to a guy who can run an offense effectively. The 6-foot-4 Grand Rapids native is committed to Michigan. On day 1 of the camp, he was by far the best player, in my opinion, his ability to get in the lane and create shots for himself and others is uncanny. However, what stood out to me was his tenacity as a defender. Bufkin gets over every screen, active hands, and is a tremendous shot blocker at the guard position. Juwan Howard has a star in the making on his hands.

Shades of Dwyane Wade with the downhill offensive approach and shot-blocking acumen as an off-guard.

You Can Play, The Moment

Newly eligible wing Chaundee Brown posted the video of Juwan Howard informing the team his transfer waiver had been granted:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAIVER CLEARED✅Let’s do this〽️??? “Since my arrival in Ann Arbor, I have been welcomed with open arms. I was ready to do whatever I could to help us succeed either on or off the court. All I know is I cannot wait to put that Maize and Blue jersey on and play with this group of guys."〽️?? Thank you Lord??

A post shared by Chaundee Brown Jr. (@chaundeebrown_23) on Oct 30, 2020 at 5:02pm PDT

I, too, am excited.

Buzzer Beaters

I appreciate the enthusiasm of the 2020 class but that nickname is definitely taken. Pete Thamel on the NCAA's slow enforcement process giving coaches every reason to violate their stupid rules.