Mitch McGary Running - Post season comeback has not been ruled out.

Submitted by BlueCube on

Per update on Scout - Mitch McGary is trying to get back for the post season and is currently running.

I also liked the quotes about Beilein not allowing hang heads, moping, etc.

Link

BlueCube

March 10th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^

it would be nice to have another big body to get a big rebound or whatever he is able to do.

I'd also assume if he is able to contribute, it makes it less likely he will be back next year. I'll take a National Championship run in exchange any day. I know it won't happen unless he is healthy enough. Michigan is not going to take a chance.

Spontaneous Co…

March 10th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^

That makes me very happy for Mitch.  However, the only way I would want him playing is if he totally bought into 10-15 minutes of chaos time, where his sole goal was to rebound and defend, which I think he would happily do.  I do not want to try to alter the team's offensive sets to accomodate him.  It's too late in the season for that. 

LordGrantham

March 10th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^

Eh I dunno if this would be such a great thing.  The tournament is not really the time to retinroduce guys who haven't played with the team in months.

jcouz

March 10th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^

Kyrie's Duke team was 3-points away from losing to an over-achieving Michigan team in the round of 32 before getting rolled by Arizona in the sweet 16.  I wouldn't say that Duke got what they wanted from bringing him back early.  Kyrie got what he wanted though (getting picked #1).

mgobaran

March 10th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

Come on people. The season is done in 1 month. He is running. But hasn't been practicing. As much as I would love to have him back, 1 month is not enough to get you 100% in game shape. And this is the wrong time of the year to put someone in as a trial to get him back up to game speed.

 

THAT BEING SAID! I am super happy that he is up and running. Whether it be here or in the NBA, I can't wait to see the big puppy flying around the court again!

umumum

March 10th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^

I think he could cover Horford's minutes and (reduced of late) role.  I trust Beilein to find the right role and not screw up team chemistry. 

On the other hand, if Mitch does return, it likely decreases the prospect of his coming back next year.

Bluemandew

March 10th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^

Im not sure how I feel about this. Obviously its great for Mitch I'm very happy for Mitch that he is getting better and can run. Mitch is a great talent amazing player seems to be a great team guy. But does this upset team chemestry for the tournament if he comes back? He only played what 6 games this year?  I hope he makes it back but how does this affect the team?

ijohnb

March 10th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^

I am going to go ahead and pretend I did not see this.  This team could win a National Championship this year.  They are playing at a really high level and there would be a major adjustment involved with this.  I want Mitch to return to full health ASAP, but I would be much happier if I saw "Mitch McGary running, determined to return in 2014-2015 to lead team to back to back Big Ten championships." 

BigCat14

March 10th, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^

I am thinking that The cake and Icing would be 2014 NCAA tourney champs and the 'eating it too' part would be McGary plays well in 2014 to help team win the Naty and announces he is not ready to make the NBA jump decides to come back for his junior year.  

having our cake and eating it too!

 

 

Go Blue

Yinka Double Dare

March 10th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^

Hey, if he can make it back to be there if either 1) both Morgan and Horford get in foul trouble, or 2) if the team clearly needs an energy boost and Beilein feels like sending in the Berserker to shake things up, it'd only help.  I'd trust the staff to not put him in too much, he'd obviously be in no shape to play anything resembling significant minutes, and Morgan has frankly earned the right to start.  But it would be nice to have him available even if he could only play 5-10 minutes, a few small bursts of energy to give the others a rest and cause some chaos as he usually does.

True Blue Grit

March 10th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^

return this season, I just can't see it happening.  Running is one thing, but if he said he was shooting, dribbling, and playing some light b-ball, I'd be a lot more optimistic.  He should NOT return unless he can play effectively without a signifiant risk of re-injuring his back.  Anything short of that, and I say, don't play him.  

LSAClassOf2000

March 10th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^

I know in another story he was asked about where he needed to be in order to possibly return, and McGary said that he wasn't really sure, so to me that means that there's still some question as to any clear timetable. That being said, his mobility being at the point of running is great news and at least means that the trend is positive for Mitch.

What's great is that he's been there when possible, cheeing his team on in a suit on the bench - he's a team first guy and although I am sure he wants desperately to be out there, I have no doubt that he is elated to see this team perform as it has. 

denardogasm

March 10th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^

Running is not really much relative to what it takes to play basketball at a high level. He's going to have to bang around with some big dudes in the paint and make just about every motion a back can make, against resistance. Running isn't that hard on the back relative to this, and we don't even know if by running he actually means jogging.

CLord

March 10th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^

This is 75% distraction, 25% useful going into the post-season.  Mitch is a beast, but basketball isn't like riding a bike.  You need game time reps to get back in the groove.  We'd get about 25% of the real Mitch if he game back this season.

Lucky Socks

March 10th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^

Even 25% Mitch is an asset. In a one and done scenario, you want as many bullets as possible. He won't play 30 minutes a game. He won't be in midseason form. Hell, he might barely play. He said himself he's a team guy and JMo and Horford have won the job and earned their role.



However, let's say we face Kansas in the Elite 8. Wouldn't you want three proven big bodies to hang with Embid? Or Syracuse, a defense that he's tailor made to exploit. Or if Jmo or Horford get dinged. Or just to have another option if we're flat or being handled on the glass. Any McGary contributions are great.



Distraction? This team has enough poise to deal with it. I tend to believe Mitch is humble enough to know he's not going to be the alpha dog from the start and will accept a reduced role with grace. Id love the distraction if he can be back by a potential Sweet 16

Ty Butterfield

March 10th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^

The team has adjusted to playing without him. I hope Mitch gets better and can keep playing basketball, be it here or in the NBA. At this point in the season I think it is better to stick with the current roster.

Maize and Luke

March 10th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^

It's great news but we need to curb our expectations.  Personally I think there's a good possiblity he could mess up team chemistry which is at an ultimate high right now.  If he were to play I think the best thing he could do is perform his best Mortford impersonation and let the other 4 players on the court make things happen.  Collect rebounds, take advantage of missed assignments, and score those opportunistic baskets.  Don't try to force things into him just because he's the legendary Mitch McGary.

Eastside Maize

March 10th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^

If he can come give Morford a breather for solid minutes I'm all for it. As long as McGary is completely healthy. If this happens I think all 3 (Stauskas,GR3,McGary) will enter the draft.

uofmdds96

March 10th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^

Keep it top secret.  Have him in a tear away dress suit and have him come off of the bench. 

Ok, now for real, wait until next year.  We need his coaching to "Win The Game".

bronxblue

March 10th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^

Crazy if he came back, but I'm not counting on it.  It would definitely add another layer to the offense, especially in the tournament when teams shorten their benches and you have less time to prepare for wrinkles.

blueblueblue

March 10th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^

For this team: If it ain't broke...

For MItch: I think McGary is running more toward the NBA than the NCAA. Right now, his health has more implications for where he goes next season than this season. 

Nitro

March 10th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^

Well, I'd take 30 minutes/game of McGary in the Morford role over Morford any day of the week.

But if he comes back and then starts trying to play the point and dribble-drive in the halfcourt offense again like he was at the beginning of the season, then no thanks.

Wolvie3758

March 10th, 2014 at 2:10 PM ^

under ANY Circumstances...situational....I hope it happens..I know he wont play alot but any

contribution will be nice

 

Cold War

March 10th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^

Mitch is simply a better big man than anyone else we have. It's not at all difficult to imagine him giving us a big boost off the bench. If he has some good games off the bench early on, I wouldn't be surprised if he were starting by the end of the tournament.

The talk about team chemistry is being way overdone. It would be nice if he'd been there all along, but the nature of our schemes is such that he can pretty much step in and perform at a higher level than Morford. And personality wise, he's been hanging around all along, is well liked,  and clearly won't be an issue.

My only concern is he be able to do so reasonably certain he won't reinjure himself.

Michigania

March 10th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^

Watching the 89 team documentary recently, it was bittersweet because the thought hit me, the near need of having a big like Terry Mills all through the the tournament to win it all.  Alot was made of Robinson, Rice, Higgins,  but there was Mills too, and it feels like McGary, if he comes back, would be this years Mills, for a true run of six games. And without him, it'll be more difficult to win six straight.. Not saying it cannot or wont happen, but if we don't make it, it'll feel to me that that was the reason.

sadeto

March 10th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^

The 89 team also had Loy Vaught, a big presence inside. He was a true center, Mills was a power forward on that team. That tandem was important, as it would be to have McGary teaming with Morgan on the inside, to stop bigger teams. 

Michigania

March 10th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^

Agreed...and I didnt mean to exclude Vaught at all.. he did great..    was trying to point out that to win the entire thing, we needed contributions from everyone, which included bigs, in the likelihood that somewhere along the run, we will play a big team, and that McGary symbolically Im associating with Mills right now, and that we could use him.  I hope Morgan and Horford can pull it off.

umchicago

March 10th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^

If he is healthy enough, he isna huge asset. Hell zetterberg had back surgery and is expected back in 8 weeks...and thats hockey. I doubt beilein takes any chances with his health.

Don

March 10th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^

Put him out there on a fast break after Izzo has started edging his way further and further out onto the court.

BLAM.

Irresistible force meets highly movable object.