How do we feel about Hunter Dickinson these days?

Submitted by MichiganiaMan on February 10th, 2024 at 8:22 PM

Iirc, the Michigan common truth about Dickinson was that he was a program cancer, etc.

But the general affect about Michigan (NIL, Juwan, etc.) these days is in a very different place. Also, dude is BALLING at Kansas. And the team is doing VERY well…

So I’m curious to know where the hive mind stands on Dickinson these days.

Basketball

ribby

February 10th, 2024 at 8:44 PM ^

Statistically he is putting up pretty much the same numbers as he did at Michigan. 

The four players who have left early in the last two years aren't doing much in the pros (aside from putting up big numbers in G league.) I am imagining a coach who says

"Franz Wagner left after two years, you think you're better than Franz Wagner?"

 

Joined: 01/18/2011

MGoPoints: 612

Colt Burgess

February 10th, 2024 at 8:49 PM ^

I don't care about him since...

"I feel like at Michigan, they weren’t as nice. They were nice people but not as nice," Dickinson said. "I feel like Michigan is like a fake Midwest. Kansas is actually like a Midwest town. I loved my time in Michigan, but the people here at Kansas are especially nice.”

Joined: 02/20/2021

MGoPoints: 13031

Fezzik

February 10th, 2024 at 10:15 PM ^

I mean... He did get a lot of flak on this blog and continues to get it now. Many here called him the problem even though it's now obvious that was false. He gave us 3 years of great basketball production wearing the block M and we are sorely missing now that talent now.

Would you switch jobs to make more much money, be much more successful, and be more appreciated? 

Joined: 09/11/2015

MGoPoints: 5552

pdxwolve

February 10th, 2024 at 9:02 PM ^

Great college player maximizing his talents and opportunities by going to arguably the best basketball program in the country. Can't really fault any of that. Rock Chalk, Hunter!

Joined: 08/17/2009

MGoPoints: 3166

Msmittakins

February 10th, 2024 at 9:19 PM ^

I think UM should never be the developmental program for another college program based on its resources.  It’s amazing that such a smart and prestigious university has an athletic department that continuously fights with one hand behind its back. But hey, I’m just a Walmart Wolverine, maybe I just don’t get it lol 

Joined: 01/13/2015

MGoPoints: 1408

DeepBlueC

February 11th, 2024 at 9:13 AM ^

The elite programs all cheat.  Cheating has become the foundation that makes college basketball what it is, and nobody that matters has the balls to say so or do anything about it.  Not the NCAA and not the media.  Everybody whose business is college basketball knows who's dirty, but they all let it pass with a smile and wink.

We were incredibly lucky to have John Beilein, a guy who could compete at a high level with a relatively clean program, but these days, it's almost impossible to have both.

Joined: 03/08/2018

MGoPoints: 1431

meeashagin

February 10th, 2024 at 9:36 PM ^

Traitor.

He does represent our embarrassing NIL.

I'm sure Warde got a bonus for saving the regents money. 

I remember when they lied to us by telling us "we are using NIL to keep our players" then Dickinson happened l...and now Warde is getting an extension....GTFOH

Joined: 03/25/2018

MGoPoints: 5069

Qmatic

February 10th, 2024 at 9:38 PM ^

He was paid more money and went to a better team and program. It really is difficult to get all that upset given the dumpster fire program we’ve devolved into.

He made the best decision for him. I remember in my career in education I left my alma mater school district where I thought I would retire from, for a better paying job in a district that was operating at a higher level. Hunter gave us 3 good to great performing years. That’s more than a ton of guys who have played here that we admire.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32950

Perkis-Size Me

February 10th, 2024 at 9:52 PM ^

He gave Michigan three years of his life. For those of you wishing ill on him and his career, or bitching and moaning that “he’s dead to me,” he doesn’t owe you or Michigan a damn thing. He did more for that basketball team than you, me or any of us did. 

Honestly, if I were him or if he was my son, I’d be thankful he made the decision he did. Hunter could not have saved Michigan from the disaster this season has been. He would’ve been going down with this ship, along with whatever possible chance he had at a professional career. I’m happy he gets to go somewhere where he can potentially go win a championship.

I’m not mad at him. He’s a grown man, an adult who’s earned the right to go where he wants and do what he wants. He gave Michigan what he could, but when he realized the writing on the wall with the direction the program was going, he made the best possible decision for himself and got the fuck out of dodge. He went somewhere that paid him some serious money, and I’ll never begrudge him for that. Michigan couldn’t (wouldn’t?) give what he was worth.

If you think he should have stayed out of some semblance of loyalty, then I’m glad you’re not in a position to influence his decisions. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 106010

BroadneckBlue21

February 10th, 2024 at 10:42 PM ^

He was the direction of this team. As one of his biggest defenders when he was playing here, one cannot excuse the roster stinking when the very best player on the team and in the portal—a Naismith candidate/favorite—abandons his team. 

The OP asked. People can respect the person’s decision but also dislike it and disown him. Wishing Kansas loses doesn’t say anything about wishing for Hunter to fail at life. I just hope his team fails to win a NC because he abandoned the team for his own gains. He is a big reason 〽️ is having a miserable season. 

Joined: 01/12/2015

MGoPoints: 6310

Perkis-Size Me

February 11th, 2024 at 7:52 AM ^

At a certain point, sticking around for the team even when you know that ship is going to sink to the bottom of the ocean doesn’t really serve any meaningful purpose. That ship is going down, buddy, whether Hunter is here or not. Maybe his presence wins you another couple games, but this team is still not making the tournament with him here. It’s probably a fringe NIT/CBI team. 

Michigan had a bad team last year, and that was with Hunter and two first round picks. It stands to reason they were going to be even worse this year. I don’t blame Hunter for leaving. A better Kansas team that’s fresh off winning a national championship, with a winning culture, a rabid fanbase and a program that could pay him some serious money, made him a great offer. All the while, your current team is clearly heading in a really bad direction and there’s nothing you as an individual can do to stop it. 

At a certain point, you have to think about yourself. Staying at Michigan would’ve put real limitations on whatever hopes he has for a professional basketball career. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 106010

NotAMichiganSpy

February 10th, 2024 at 10:03 PM ^

Saying Dickinson was a program cancer sounds like a rumor some coping UM fan made up when Dick decided to transfer.

Juwan failed to provide a good enough roster to keep Hunter around. If I was In his shoes I'd take the 3 million or whatever and go compete for a title at Kansas too.

Joined: 10/19/2023

MGoPoints: 1494

mgoja

February 10th, 2024 at 10:08 PM ^

I don’t care, but not because of any ill will towards Hunter.  I don’t care because even with Hunter this year’s Michigan team is still the island of misfit toys. 

Joined: 11/29/2022

MGoPoints: 2668

Flexie94

February 10th, 2024 at 10:23 PM ^

I caught a nice comment he made on College Basketball Gameday (I actually never knew that was a thing until today, but no other sports on TV at 11:45 am): the only reason people go to Michigan State is that they didn't get into Michigan!

Joined: 12/04/2021

MGoPoints: 1162