Hoops:Michigan does not make top 5 for Wofford transfer big man BJ Mack
Not going to post about every portal player that doesn’t pick Michigan but this was one of the first ones we offered and is a stretch four, which is what we are really in need of. Seems like most of our other offers are wings and guards. The finalists are Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU and Iowa.
So we won't be playing "Return of the Mack" anytime soon is what you're saying
Speak for yourself buddy
Believe me, I'd love an excuse to play it !
Oh my God!
He wasn't Wofford enough NIL?
Shocking. Why would a portal guy come to a team that has 2 starters and a bunch of bench players at best? Transfers are usually looking to win and get ready for the NBA. I'm worried we're not going to get much elite interest at all
Most transfers want to play. Plenty of playing time available.
There's opportunities to play and win.. Not sure that exists here.
We'd need 3-4 high impact transfers just to be decent, then would need them to gel perfectly etc etc.. and while we have had some decent players come here, the hit rate isn't amazing. Probably not amazing anywhere... 1-2 players joining a strong team and program with a clear direction, is different than where we are
right, no opportunities to play and win. sheesh.
You think adding one transfer player of any caliber will make this team good?
i dunno. maybe, maybe not. but “no opportunities to win” is some serious trolling horseshit.
All Tesla does is troll. Just like the owner of Tesla....
Absolutely. We land a player to fill at the 5 that's good and we are rolling.
3 of the 4 final four teams were mostly transfers.
We won prior to this year and I haven’t seen BJ Mack’s name on any 24 draft boards. I’m really hoping Juwan’s best attribute hasn’t lost its luster and that is his recruiting. I’m still in wait and see mode on his changes this off-season and how it translates to next year but he needs to land a few key players to compete next year.
I'd be interested to know how known sweetheart Brad Underwood was able to field a team of mostly Freshmen and transfers given how much they'd lost from their last team. They literally returned four players from the previous year, arguably worse than what we have (Coleman Hawkins and RJ Melendez were the only contributors at just under a combined 10ppg).
Not saying that Illinois is the best team in the world, but they made the tournament. I can't imagine Underwood is more personable than Juwan so it wouldn't surprise me to learn there are persistent systemic factors related to our NIL / Transfer limitations.
One of the major limitations is the transfer credits through admissions. The same thing with Terrance Shannon last year. We either have to recruit grad transfers or freshman transfers.
The fact that so many Michigan fans still have their head in the sand on this major issue is baffling to me!
Well sending guys to the NBA has been a bit of an issue for us, hasn't it.
Well there were two elements to the comment. Winning and going to the NBA. Players don't need to "pick" is there's a program that wins.
Our program is headed in the wrong direction. And Howard doesn't have 20 years of history to demonstrate that this decline is a minor blip
Would have been a nice piece but there are going to be a ton of guys in the portal. Guess we'll see who Howard can get.
I am bummed the music guy at Crisler won't be spinning up Mark Morrison this year
Man. Wtf is Juwan supposed to do? It's like trying to coach a school of fish. Maybe you get a group together for a second, but the slightest distrubance and they'll vanish like a fart in a hurricane.
Everybody else has to deal with it too. He better figure it out real quick!
Minnesota too?
Do like everyone else and recruit your way out of it. Alabama, for example, has recruited well and had a good season. They have 3 in the portal and they are all four and five stars. It’s just the nature of the beast these days. I am finding it a little perplexing that he keeps getting caught totally off guard by these departures.
I like when people ask what Juwan is supposed to do. Isn't roster construction his job?
Getting transfers (and non-transfers) into Bama is likely significantly different/easier than doing the same at UM. UM admissions adds an extra layer to the roster construction conundrum Howard faces.
Adding Shannon to UMs roster and not Illinois' probably, at a minimum, flips those 2 team's seasons.
Too bad.
Sam mentioned that part of what Mack was looking for would be to play alongside Hunter, so it's no surprise that he's not coming if Hunter isn't here. Still, Juwan has generally done well in the portal, so I am not sure there is much more to read into this.
We should have sold him on playing alongside TWill and Tschetter
That is a big drawing card.
I don't want to make another post on Portapalooooza but I posted this in an old thread. Just curious what others think
Another trip down the rabbit portal led me here. This is a skilled offensive big finishing with both, shooting 38% from 3 with a 21% assist rate(!). Plus rebounder.
He gets comps to Jokic. Have no idea about his defense and appears to definitely play below the rim, but he's getting interest from some big schools(SEC, Virgnia, BYU, etc).
He'd give us some post offense we lose with Hunter while also still being able to fill the role of a stretch4 on offense
Dude, I know it’s a highlight reel, but I’m sold.
The 3-point stroke looks the exact same in every shot, so I bet that 38% from 3 is real. Those back-door and post passes are crisp with excellent timing. And his post game looks quite solid.
From this limited data, he looks like he’d be an excellent fit if he’s interested.
I'll take Wiz in a heart beat
Oh well
From that list one thing is not like the others.
While Michigan will likely be looking to Tarris Reed, Jr. heavily in 2023-24, came across this interesting quote when reviewing a commitment article from Papa Kante (with Kante referring to Coach Howard):
“He told me he sees me as having a big impact in my freshman year and he can help me to achieve my goals.”
Sure would be helpful if he can get a nice chunk of quality minutes in his freshman year...
Common theme with the finalists, they are all definitely or probably far ahead of UM in the bball NIL game. Playing time is important no question, but if you pair that with a solid financial package that can make all the difference. Sounds like some of our stuff is just starting to get off the ground (plus Martelli has previously referenced their dislike of NIL inquiries by players). Add in that the team just experienced an exodus of top talent and it becomes a very difficult sell.
Good. Doesn’t fit what’s needed. IMO his lack of athleticism is going to be a big issue at high major
He's an interesting offensive player, but yeah, there is reason to question whether he can hang defensively against high major guys.
There are so many former Michigan targets in the portal right now, that if we don’t get a few more in addition to Burnett, Im going to really start questioning some things. Salis, Westry, Traore, Ingram, Efton Reid, etc.
Jaden Bradley in the portal too, I think I remember reading that Juwan was in touch. I'd pass on being Reid's 3rd team in 3 years though... Maybe he's good but seems risky.
Forgot about Bradley.
I'd pass on being Reid's 3rd team in 3 years though... Maybe he's good but seems risky.
At this point, we just need bodies. If we get 1 year out of him, then so be it
You're not wrong. And the scout on Reid in high school was that he could be a shooting 4, so who knows.
Reid would have to sit out because I’m fairly certain he’s not a grad transfer. We need people to come in and play immediately.
nobody sits anymore regardless of year, thats why the Portal is always so crazy.
I’d take all three of the Alabama transfers. They could all help us. We also need a versatile four man.
4 of those top 5 are not like the other....just saying.
We talk about people who play for Michigan here…