Basketball Team Leaves for Europe Today; Juwan Keeping it All Secret
The basketball team leaves for Europe today, a trip that will include three games against teams in France and Greece. For some reason, Juwan is keeping all details of the trip and games secret. No fans will be admitted to the games and I'm assuming there will be no videos available, either. I can't remember if this is standard procedure for our European trips, but I hope SOME details leak out.
One thing that did come out is that Youssef Khayat will be joining the team (and meeting his teammates) in France.
August 16th, 2022 at 10:12 AM ^
I love this!
Question though - didn't the NCAA come down on the Football team for their trips or am I mistaken? I thought that was why they took a tour of Michigan this year vs. International travel?
If so, curious how its ok for the BB team but not FB.
August 16th, 2022 at 10:16 AM ^
i thought that was just satellite camps.
I thought we stopped travel because of COVID.
Tough to keep up with all the things that Saban and Co decide are "unfair"
August 16th, 2022 at 11:28 AM ^
COVID is likely in play. Some countries have open travel (UK, where we just visited) while others (France) have vax and testing requirements. Don't want to get in one of the countries and have a population of the team get stuck there due to a positive test.
August 16th, 2022 at 12:22 PM ^
France has dropped those requirements now.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:47 PM ^
Norway dropped theirs, too. One week after we returned from the UK (where we were supposed to visit Norway!)
August 16th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
Those are apples and oranges. The football team was not going on trips for practice and games so there no NCAA "rule" against it. They stopped/paused those for Covid related travel issues.
In basketball the NCAA allows you to take one overseas trip every four years and gives you 10 extra practices because of it. Thus this trip falls within the rules.
The fact that no information about who we are playing, when/where the games are, the lack of video/streams/stats, and we're putting up the Blue Wall is self inflicted by Juwan. I understand he doesn't want scouting reports to leak out and doesn't want people to over-react if we struggle. But I think this is dumb. This is an opportunity to drum up positive support from the fans and media and help rebuild Juwan's reputation and instead we're going dark on this trip. There's a pretty easy way to control most of the narrative and spoon feed the information you want out there to the BTN or Athletic or ESPN even without streaming these games/scrimmages, etc.
August 16th, 2022 at 11:23 AM ^
Appreciate the NCAA rules clarifications.
On your point about the lack of publicity, I'd agree about scouting as not a good reason to be "in the submarine". But I think the lack of distraction for the team can make it much more of a bonding opportunity. I didn't play a sport where anyone would've put a camera in my face, but I bet it is both refreshing, provides opportunity to relax and reflect, and focus on team.
August 16th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
There's a segment of the fans who have their beauty home permanents mussed over Juwan's decision to just travel in peace and without fanfare. Given that we don't know his reasoning. . . getting annoyed. . . well, that's always people's option. But I'm with the poster above who suggests it just might be great to relax, remove the limelight, and bond. One thing I assume most thinking people can agree about is that it's probably the result of some thoughtful decision-making. . .
August 16th, 2022 at 12:49 PM ^
The NCAA didn't come down on this, but you probably heard a lot of outsiders criticizing it because the Harbaugh hate is more baked in than the Juwan hate right now.
August 16th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^
I'm hearing Hunter Dickinson put on 75lbs of muscle and is shooting 3's at what can only be described as Steph Curry levels in practice. Don't want the competition to game plan for that.
August 16th, 2022 at 10:22 AM ^
I heard he cloned himself, taught each clone to perfect each position on the floor and we're playing a five-out, all center lineup. His NIL value is skyrocketing.
August 16th, 2022 at 10:37 AM ^
I ran into him at the art fair and he looks like he’s leaner. He may have put on muscle but he’s also cut out some bad weight (not that there was much to begin with)
August 16th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^
For him, leaner is the way to go. Leaner and more nimble.
August 16th, 2022 at 7:59 PM ^
That was my thinking as well
August 16th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
i heard he and ziyah holman have been training together. he's going to run the 400 next year between hoops practices.
August 16th, 2022 at 10:26 AM ^
I've seen enough movies to know what's happening here.
They're all—shhhhh—spies!
August 16th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
I'm on it
August 16th, 2022 at 11:09 AM ^
It appears Juwan has procured a submarine for the hoops squad. It might be a “mini” attack sub, based on the size of the team and coaching staff.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:39 PM ^
Something about a b-ball team is allowed a foreign trip every 4-5 years... .. I think belein didn’t it twice... a good thing when you have a young team and what them to jell
August 16th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
He could probably set a few games versus former UofM players over there. The lineups would certainly be competitive.
August 16th, 2022 at 5:36 PM ^
I just hope none of them are bringing cannabis vapes with them.
August 16th, 2022 at 9:49 PM ^
If they aren’t going to Russia, it probably won’t be too big of a problem.
August 19th, 2022 at 1:08 AM ^
Too bad there won't be game footage but at least the video of Yo-yo meeting everyone today was great.
August 19th, 2022 at 1:09 AM ^
I guess the world is very different than it was pre-2020, but it's still wild this is his first time meeting the team in person.
August 19th, 2022 at 1:11 AM ^
Of course, travel now is much easier in than it was decades ago, so who knows. Just curious how big societal changes have affected recruiting.