WTKA Roundtable 3/21/2024: I'm Going Where Eli's Pointing
Things Discussed:
- Favorite basketball candidates. Craig has some off-the-wall ideas (Cornell's HC, Eli Brooks) but we have four we're mostly focused on, plus a pipe dream. Lavall Jordan: no, but floated the idea (Sam's) of Beilein doing a year with Lavall as AHC. Seth: don't like that. Let's get a coach in and start building a program, because that's a long-term deal.
- The four gettables (in probable order):
- May: We may be competing with L'ville? Downside is you'd like to see it go longer.
- Medved: Seth & Brian like. Efficient from 2 vs Virginia: that's coaching.
- Devries: Comes with his best player (his son). Has been doing more with less a long time.
- Abdur-Rahim. Think he's an interesting idea, but after Devries, which is the "You can get that guy" line.
- McDermott? Sam thinks you kick the tires, make him say no. Seth & Brian: Okay, and then he'll say no. But maybe not says Sam.
- A fifth: Jerome Tang.
- Our brackets: Seth likes Creighton, Brian thinks Purdue breaks through (that's what happens when you lose to a 16 seed right?), Sam hasn't made his picks yet, Craig believes in McNeese State.
[Hit the JUMP for the player, and video and stuff]
You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream.
Segment 2 is here. You can watch the video here:
The Usual Links:
- Helpful iTunes subscribe link
- General podcast feed link
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Direct download link (right-click/save as)
- What's with the theme music?
The Devil said he's not taking any more Michigan basketball for football championship trades. It's like when he stopped letting Ohio State fans sell their souls for wins against Michigan; the value's not the same for you people.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:51 AM ^
I must admit that “Craig has some off-the-wall ideas (Cornell's HC, Eli Brooks)” had me googling Cornell basketball thinking “damn impressive, Eli is already a college head coach.”
March 21st, 2024 at 11:11 AM ^
one of the weirdest roundtables
It definitely lived up to the Very Visual Podcast moniker.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:15 AM ^
The only good idea Craig has presented for head coach is Will Wade. The thing he got fired for is not only ok now it is literally a necessity for the position.
As far as Sam's JB+LaVall take: LaVall Jordan was Beilein's right hand man for a long time, what is one more year going to accomplish? Jordan would be a catastrophically bad hire.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
He already had a show cause in his career. He's not an option for Michigan and Michigan tends to stay away from coaches with this in their resume
March 21st, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
I know Michigan won't hire him but he would be a good hire. As I said the thing he got in trouble for is legal now. This isn't a coach with a criminal past like a Chris Beard.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:17 PM ^
You keep saying that, but isn't Pay-for-Play still technically against the rules?
I mean, certainly a lesser violation than Cheeseburgers, but still a rule on the books...🤷♂️
Due to the Tennessee suit the NCAA isn't enforcing any of it's NIL rules and given the way that suit is likely to go they never will be able to again.
No its not against the rules.
Only Michigan fans have been brainwashed into thinking that.
No other fan base even talks like that.
I thought it was funny and had to make a meme:
Unfortunately, we can't make it 2016 again through science or magic.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:22 AM ^
Re: Tang, I believe Brian already mentioned this, but I would be concerned about the difference between running a program at KSU and doing that at Michigan. KSU is not exactly picky about its athletes' qualifications.
March 21st, 2024 at 11:23 AM ^
i'm with craig. i took mcneese state for a couple of rounds, too.
March 21st, 2024 at 10:18 PM ^
I bought into the Medved hype & did the same with Colorado St.
Oh well...
March 21st, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
My top 2 candidates are Dusty May and Amir Abdul-Rahim. Both would be great fit for Michigan. They can recruit, build program and knows their stuff in X's and O's.
March 21st, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
No strong opinions here but I am also not very sold on May. Wouldn’t turn my nose up at him, though.
I also support the idea of bringing in a staff of Eli, Novak, Morgan, Matthews, MAAR, and Livers.
This is a great summary of May: https://umhoops.com/?p=147133
There is a reason why he's likely #1 on both Louisville and Michigan list.
It’s paywalled but I will take your word for it.
I would not be unhappy with Dusty May, but Brian's reasoning behind Medved's more sustained success / track record has me on board with Medved as #1 and May as #2.
I love Sam's optimism but Greg McDermott, really? I'd be absolutely shocked if he came here, moreso than Shaka Smart even. Kick the tires cuz you have to, but that feels as likely as Urban Meyer coming on as our new DL coach.
I like Rahk and May over Medved because they actually have experience in recruiting higher level recruits, not sure how well Medved could work D2 and D3 transfers here. Any of those 3 I'd be quite happy with, although Medved is 3rd for me. Probably end up being someone entirely different.
Who exactly has May landed that piques your interest? Is the CUSA/AAC really a higher level than the MWC these days?
May's recruiting classes since 2020 have been: 179, 107, 103 and 129 per the 247 composite. That doesn't look like higher level recruiting to me.
Medved has brought in: 126, 128, 138 and 129 in that span. Looks like 2023 was a tie in rankings? Those look basically the same to me as far as recruiting levels at schools that are not power schools or in power conferences.
Medved also has twice the experience as May - that gives him the nod in my book.
Would not be upset with either of them though, but right now May just feels like the popular choice based off one year, a Final Four is nothing to slouch at but other than he hasn't done much. Abdur-Rahim feels like too much of an up and comer to me. We're not an elite hoops school but I think we can get an established guy. I'd go Medved, May and then Devries.
is Craig ok?
Lord willing, he is recovering.
My top likes from the list are Medved, Mays and Devries. I was intrigued by Nedved after Brian's article but after seeing what his team did against Virginia I'm sold on what he is doing. Mays and Devries while having less than desired tenures also have a high ceiling. I think with the basketball program swing for the fences and see what happens, sometimes you might get a Juwan, sometimes you might get a Beilein. I would be thrilled with any of these 3 guys for sure.
Is “Nedved” a joke that is going over my head? I’ve seen his name spelled Nedved almost as frequently as Medved.
how different would basketball story be if UM admissions had let in Terrance Shannon (big10 tournament most outstanding player), Caleb Love (Pac12 player of the year), papa kante (pit), and the other few important guys they turned away? new coach is not going to fix this. they all find homes elsewhere... why not with us??
1. May - Rising star, EMU history, recruiter, developer, coach....make it happen.
2. AAR - Love every interview I've read, rising star, fun, recruiter....mostly in the south
3. Medved - Like his coaching & development...not sure he can recruit - lower ceiling
4. DeVries - High floor, low ceiling
5. Tang - I think his resume is built on a house of cards
Was Craig Ross drunk this morning?
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