Nimari Burnett Returning to MBB
https://x.com/umichbball/status/1785343764447269172?s=46
Title says it all
April 30th, 2024 at 12:34 PM ^
Excellent, I'm excited to see what he can do with more creators around him and playing off the ball more. I also think his defense will improve since individual defense is dependent on defense as a whole unit, I expect him to be a lock down guy with his athleticism. I think he is a great rotational piece, let's get a PF from Duke and call it good!
April 30th, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
Is Khani Rooths still considering UofM? Is TJ Power visiting or is it just wishful thinking?
April 30th, 2024 at 12:48 PM ^
Sounds like Rooths has re-opened his recruitment, I'm hoping for Power over the other Duke PF due to his shooting ability but don't know if he is visiting. Rob has been pretty informed, anyone got updates? I'm guessing McNeeley is a no go...
April 30th, 2024 at 12:55 PM ^
Other poster beat me to it. Nm.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:55 PM ^
The interests on their side has faded.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:35 PM ^
Good news. This roster is shaping up nicely. Just one more piece and it will be the most complete roster in quite some time. Perhaps it already is.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:36 PM ^
Yaycheer.jpg
April 30th, 2024 at 12:39 PM ^
Very glad to have him back. I thought his offensive game was better than expected last year, and we could hope/expect his defense to come back around with an actual coaching structure and philosophy in place
April 30th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
That' great. I really like his game. Floor spacer with the potential for some big scoring games. His biggest weakness on offense is playmaking/handles, but now that we have more than one other person who can fill that role, he will be even more effective.
Interesting that he says 'one more year' though. He has a COVID redshirt and missed a year due to injury. So he technically has two years of eligibility left. I hope he ends up using both.
Injury redshirts have to be granted... so until he applies and the NCAA grants a waiver, he doesn't get an extra year for the injury.
I think that is only true if they've already used one (non-COVID) redshirt year. His first redshirt year can be for any reason, depth-chart related or injury. But I may be wrong.
Pre-COVID, the rule was you had 5 years to play 4 seasons. You can use the redshirt season at any point during those 5 years (most obviously use it the first year because they're not ready to contribute as freshman). Once that redshirt year is used, you have to petition the NCAA for an extra year if you missed another season (or majority of the season) due to injury.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
Funny isnt it that we've apparently "solved" our men's basketball NIL problem, seemingly overnight.
I mean if I didnt know better I'd swear that for many players an excellent HC with a long-term contract, surrounded by an excellent group of assistants, playing for an elite program (and yes, despite recent evidence to the contrary we ARE an elite basketball program) means more than getting the last NIL dollar on the table.
Imagine that.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:44 PM ^
For what it's worth, Sam Webb mentioned on the last roundtable that May has drummed up quite a bit of NIL through going out and talking to boosters, etc. Not enough to get UM to the level of many others in CBB, but enough to make an impact.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:49 PM ^
FWIW I believe that's true. My post was mostly aimed at the posters here who complained during the exodus of players when Juwan was let go that the main reason they were going (and the main reason we had so few recruits) was due to the lack of NIL dollars available.
Posters like me, for example.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:57 PM ^
Exodus and Juwan in the same sentence is so relevant.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:50 PM ^
Face time, actively going out to meet people (vs. waiting for them to come to you), having a vision, etc. - Dusty is clearly an upgrade across the board.
Love Juwan for what he did as a player and his passion for UM while a coach - but he is far more reticent than Dusty. I think Juwan will get back into a successful role in the NBA where is it always about the players and no need for the NIL, portal, etc.
Also, Warde is probably smelling the coffee and waking up to the NIL needs.
"Also, Warde is probably smelling the coffee and waking up to the NIL needs."
HAHAHAHAAAAA!!!! You're funny!! Where is your gig scheduled? I'll buy a ticket!
I'd be happy if Warde became this guy in regards to NIL
April 30th, 2024 at 12:49 PM ^
Juwan himself said he should have been shaking more hands and attending more events, May was talking to donors immediately after his introductory press conference.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:57 PM ^
Juwan's more private personality may have worked in past years, but the NIL needs a coach who does what you said. That's why I was so happy to hear that Dusty spent somewhere around 35% of his time working on NIL and meeting with donors. Bringing in any money for a former hoops desert (FAU) was a great way to practice what he'll need to do at UM.
Juwan also seemed to get even more invisible the last two years (he went 2 years w/o a 1-on-1 interview) - it was more than just his heart issue. Some people go off the grid personally when under pressure. Contrast that with JH when he retooled the staff and then in Summer 2021 said he'd beat Ohio or die trying. Well, he's still thriving!
Nope... even before NIL, coaches have had to glad-hand boosters to be successful. It's just part of being a college coach.
I think Juwan has proven that he can handle some adversity under pressure. The guy played bball at a pretty high level for a hundred years. Personality, though, can very well differ from what we saw on the court. He's never really been the outgoing talker that the other Fab Five'rs were. He let Chris and Jalen handle those chores...
Yes sir, today's game requires a coach/business man/politician.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
There also have been injunctions that perhaps change the NIL game, and now with the announcement that Profit sharing could be coming sooner rather than later, it is a slightly different landscape than it was even a few months ago.
“Solved” in terms of getting quality players with good experience behind a reputable coach is a good start but there’s hopefully the motivation with a new regime to not let the past mistakes or missed opportunities haunt you.
I hate to pile on Juwan but there’s an obvious feeling that May’s previous HC experience and roster strategy is on full display and he’s making the right moves with a plan. Juwan got screwed on a few prospects and maybe didn’t jump fully into NIL due to health concerns but May appears ready.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:42 PM ^
Are we only waiting on Jace now?
This should leave 1 spot open that was created when George Washington crossed the Delaware River again. Maybe 2 if Jace doesn't return?
Or is that spot already taken by Vlad?
April 30th, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
Regardless of Jace decision, Michigan only has one open scholarship due to GW3 entering the portal
April 30th, 2024 at 12:59 PM ^
No, I think you're right. 1 open slot now, 2 if Jace doesn't return or stays as a walk-on. This is based on the basketball depth chart by class and a max of 13 scholarships per roster.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:42 PM ^
He's a better fit for this roster than last season roster. He'll be a backup SG/SF and just be a 3 and D player. His defense wasn't great last year, but I wonder if he can get back to Bama level of defense. Either way, it's nice to see him back in AA for his final season.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
This is great news.
He can be a really solid 6th/7th/8th man off the bench.
Still need a high-scoring wing at the 3/4.
Considering what May has done after taking over last years 8 win debacle just to have a perceived "need" has raised the floor so high in such a short amount of time. Although we have a ways to go this is just wild.
Need maybe but the options are dwindling. I'd almost rather roll with who we have committed right now. Chances are a guy like Rooths or a "high scoring wing" isn't going to like the depth chart nor are the guys currently on said depth chart going to like their minutes potentially being taken.
Exactly right, IMO. Let's not get greedy. We got Wolf and Walters and they deserve to play, as does Tschetter. Last thing we need is a 5 star coming in to play because the stars demand it.
April 30th, 2024 at 12:57 PM ^
The coaches are waiting until 11:59pm tonight to see who will enter their name into the portal at the last minute. There may be more players for May to recruit for the open scholarship spot (GW3 spot). I prefer that he'll recruit a 4 who can play defense and rebound because the frontcourt is lacking on defense IMO.
Names actually might come out later than that. Players have to submit paperwork by tonight, but the school doesn't have to submit the portal info for 2 days. It's possible someone submits today but isn't visible in the portal until Thursday (Friday for football, bc grads have until May 1 to submit paperwork).
Echoing same from other posters, Nimari is a good player who was stuck on a bad team playing outside of his role. Looking forward to seeing him contribute to a winning team this coming season. Go Blue
Not wholly unexpected but glad he's back. I think with a more coherent roster and role he could flourish. A big weakness IMO was his handle late in the shot clock, and if he's asked to be more of an off ball shooter and cutter he's got the athleticism to pull that off as well as be a good defender.
He fits in pretty well as the 7th man in our rotation.
Im not sure there are many options left in the portal or among unsigned high school graduates, but I still think the team could use a wing player with more upside to round out the roster a bit. Hopefully some more options emerge before the portal closes later this week.
Let's play some of the freshmen in the deep rotation. It's not like it's been proven that freshmen can't contribute in college basketball. Au contraire. We don't need another portal transfer. We've got size. We've got rebounding. We've got defense. We've got shooting. We've got ball handling. Let's go!
I think that some people are underestimating just how significant of a player Nimari can be. He was a high-level recruit and has shown flashes of his potential. Unfortunately, as Michigan fans, we only got to see Nimari playing on perhaps one of the most dysfunctional teams in recent memory. Surrounded by other ball handlers and scoring options, and playing in a functional system with decent coaching, Nimari could be a very good player.
This is awesome. I thought he was the lone bright spot last season and am glad he'll get a chance to go out on a higher note.
I love this!!!
He's either a starter or the 6th man. He'll get plenty of minutes.
C: Goldin (25 mpg)
2. Wolf (18 mpg)
F: Walters (24 mpg)
2. Tschetter (18 mpg)
3. ????? (redshirt)
G: Gayle (28 mpg)
2. Burnett/Jones (23 mpg)
3. Howard (0 mpg)
G: Jones/Burnett (27 mpg)
2. Pippen (redshirt)
PG: Donaldson (27 mpg)
2. Brooks (10 mpg)
3. Cason (redshirt)
*I'd love to see Michigan add another big who can take next year to mature.
**Michigan could add another transfer (or freshman) and make Howard a walk-on, but at this point it might be better to use it on Howard, knowing you get it back next year.
Phat Phat isn't playing over Cason or Pippen