MMBB: Who returns next year?
I think we get Jones and Diabete back with Diabete, T Will, Howard, Bufkin, Jones in the starting lineup. Frankie plus transfers and maybe another sophomore provide a nice bench. What do you think?
I don’t see a pro player on this team right now, but I guess that’s not how it works anymore.
Completely agree as of now. But, I still think that Moussa, Frankie and Houston have a lot of room to develop though, so it’s too early to say that they won’t develop into NBA talent.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
Houston has no athleticism and his shot is wonky. Why would anyone draft him. He is tall, that’s about it.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:25 PM ^
If you look like a finished product in college, you're probably a fringe NBA player. Especially in the Big Ten. Just look at the POYs -- Luka Garza, Cassius Winston, Keita Bates-Diop, Caleb Swanigan, Denzel Valentine, Nik Stauskas, Trey Burke. You have to go all the way back to Draymond to find a good pro.
March 25th, 2022 at 10:58 PM ^
While I dont agree nor disagree, the scouts/prognosticators do. Most have Diabate and a few have Houstan projected to be drafted next season. I've seen Diabate as high as 17 and Houstan as high as 30. Interestingly, Dickinson not listed by most as being drafted. One site had him at 78 just four spots higher than Colin Castleton.
Me. I'll be back--you can count on it.
March 24th, 2022 at 11:38 PM ^
+1. Underrated.
We should all be back. Love my Maize and Blue.
Diabate really improved over the course of the year. Wouldn’t be surprised if he left. Hope not though.
In general he's been better at the end of the year, but he was bad today. Constant fumbling turnovers, very poor release angles on almost all of his shots, constantly stuffed at the rim. He either needs to add weight or go to the NBA
He's not NBA ready. He actually looks like a kid that's just learning the game. He must learn to control his body. He needs another year in college or he will have a short NBA career.
Username checks out
March 24th, 2022 at 10:02 PM ^
I don't think anyone on this team is NBA ready. Dickinson looks like a fine college center who will play for years in Europe. Houstan has a lot of work to do. Moussa needs to mature physically. Oddly enough I think TWill II looks most like an NBA player.
That said, I like the team and the coaches. Next year should be quite good.
you might be right about Twill. While I hated that missed late 3, he had the stones to take that shot and made nice strides this year. Hoping for big things next season
March 24th, 2022 at 10:14 PM ^
He needs another year in college or he won’t have an NBA career.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:16 PM ^
Moussa is still getting his legs under him. In ten years he could be Karl Malone. Right now he is like a newborn gazelle.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:30 PM ^
You don't need to be NBA ready anymore. You just need to have an NBA frame. They'll stick you in the G League and develop you there. If you had to be NBA ready, Kentucky would be permanently loaded with 2nd and 3rd year studs to go with their yearly crop of stud freshmen.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:38 PM ^
Diabate reminds me of the flailing giraffe that Dickinson was talking about during the “3 things” segment on the pregame. Long, lanky and out of control. Those three attributes and butter fingers do not add up to an NBA top pick.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:40 PM ^
Nevertheless, he has the ability to become an excellent NBA player. Just a little experience and strength.
I don't know what was going on with him today, but it looked like he lost most of his motor skills. Nervous or flustered? I think he needs two more college years. One bare minimum.
Tonight he had butter on his hands
March 24th, 2022 at 10:18 PM ^
He has fumbled it all season. He still seems like he has to catch up to his size.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:42 PM ^
I think Diabate needs a summer of Camp Sanderson. He needs to improve his strength significantly. Could use to put on some mass, too, but right now he lacks the leg strength, arm strength, hand strength. He also needs to learn to not bring the ball down to his waist when he is in the paint, as he did multiple times tonight. One more year at U of M and I think his NBA draft stock rises significantly. Otherwise, I think he eventually ends up playing back home in Europe in a couple years.
I didn’t see that at all.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
He was better defensively, but not sure he improved much on offense. He was consistently streaky and inconsistent on the offensive end the whole year
College basketball
I assume most of the guys who might leave are gone. Guessing Houstan back and Moussa, Jones, Hunter are gone. Don’t argue mock drafts with me, I’m just trying to read the internet tea leaves
Makes this game all the more frustrating, hoped for more for them.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Houstan transfers.
What a stupid take. Why would you think he would transfer exactly? He played poorly all year, yet never lost his starting spot and played a ton of minutes
March 24th, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
Can anyone conceive of a place with a better situation for Houstan than what he has here? Like, is there someplace out there where he’ll have a longer leash? No. Unless you’re thinking he’ll go the Foster Loyer route, but that’s otherwise a preposterous suggestion.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:14 PM ^
I'm hoping Washtenaw Community College has a spot for Houstan. He's not a D1 level recruit.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:01 PM ^
Don't feed the troll. Look at his posting history just in this thread alone. Nonsensical and obviously just hater who eats shit sandwiches for dinner.
Why would he transfer? He started every game.
I could see it. A five star potential lottery pick. Maybe he thinks he could get better coaching somewhere else.
March 25th, 2022 at 12:26 AM ^
'course you wouldn't, TC
lol right, because he’s going to get more than 34 minutes a game, even when he’s struggling, for another program.
REDACTED
I think he needs to come back.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:01 PM ^
Really hope Houstan is not back.
Dickinson will leave but he will get abused in the league. He’s awkward, clumsy and not a good athlete.
He's too stiff. Career bench player unless he can really develop the 3pt shot.
Kenny Smith made this point last night - for a big guy in the NBA, being able to make a 3 is less important than being able to guard the 3. We've seen teams with good shooting big men abuse UM this year because Hunter isn't athletic enough to guard the 3 point line. That's a major reason why his NBA potential is limited.
If by "the league" you mean the G League, you're right.
Dickinson has 0 lateral mobility. Would get eaten alive in the league.
March 24th, 2022 at 10:51 PM ^
I've looked at several recent mock drafts and he usually isn't drafted at all. And, even if he were to go toward the end of the second round, by the time you get to the middle of the second round, most of the contracts are for the minimum, although the first two years are often guaranteed. He needs to develop and try to move up.
If he came back and developed his shooting, whether it be a short fadeaway jumper or a mid-range, he could move up. But Garza, who was a far better shooter in college, is barely hanging on with the Pistons.
He needs a NIL deal to keep him around.
As long as johns is not back, team will be better
March 25th, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
I hope he comes back. I hope he has an 'unfinished business' attitude, works his ass off during the Summer, and becomes the player we all know he can be.
i'll be here.
Why would Frankie transfer? That makes little to no sense.
Jones is 24, he's gone. This was always a 1 year deal with him.
Diabate will certainly go through the draft process...as he should. That will determine if he goes.
Houston will likely go through it, but he's back. It'll just be for the experience, which he should get.
Dickinson is gone unless something crazy happens (like a $1M+ NIL package).
Johns is a toss-up, if they can't find a better transfer, I bet they try to convince him to return like Harbaugh is trying to get Donovan Jeter to come back.
Only difference is Jeter could start, Johns would just be for experience and leadership off the bench.
For what? To demonstrate how to regress slowly and miss bunnies?
There's no mention of Frankie transferring.
Houstan is still appearing in mock drafts. If he gets a "promise" he'd be smart to flee.
Never said he would transfer. Hell be the sixth man next year is my guess.