Michigan has picked up the last 2 crystal ball picks on rivals for 5 star shooting guard Josh Cristopher. Picks were switched from Ariz St and UCLA. Hes a day 1 starter at a position of great need.
February 4th, 2020 at 9:51 PM ^
This certainly helps the vibes after that football we watched on the hardwood.
February 4th, 2020 at 9:59 PM ^
Who would've thought Michigan would lose a football type game to OSU with a highly questionable call at the end of the game? Oh, and another game where there was an Ohio sports hall of famer as an official!
February 4th, 2020 at 9:57 PM ^
Honestly, the only way to overcome B1G refs is with vastly superior talent. Christopher will help.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:01 PM ^
Greg Brown visits this weekend as well, Howard should do everything he can to get him here as well. Need as much talent as possible, I agree.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:21 PM ^
If you see Greg on campus don’t be afraid to give him all the cash in your wallet. Make him feel welcomed !
February 5th, 2020 at 11:28 AM ^
We need to get Maize and Blue in on the recruiting efforts. Get him a sandwich on the wall.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
Let's do it
I'm grateful for the memories and efforts that the players on the team have given me, but I'm ready for a brand new starting 5 next year. Maybe Livers if he stays and is healthy
But give me Zeb, Christopher, Williams, Todd, and Dickinson and let's do the fab five again
I'm so tired of guys getting their shit blocked into the second row. Tell me you wouldn't give anything to watch Wesson slide over trying to throw his hip into Todd only to get fucking dunked on and teabagged. I'm ready to blow the talent gap out of the fucking water against the rest of the league, let's go
February 4th, 2020 at 10:08 PM ^
I'm with you. Throw in Greg Brown, long shot I know, and I'm ready to roll next year. Watching highlights of these kids in school and their athleticism is off the charts compared to most of the current players.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
Obviously anything can happen but my money is on DDJ starting next year at the point. Zeb is a good recruit but DDJ will be in his 3rd year and 2nd year in Juwan's system by the time Zeb gets to campus. That is a pretty big gap in experience.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
I'm so tired of guys getting their shit blocked into the second row. Tell me you wouldn't give anything to watch Wesson slide over trying to throw his hip into Todd only to get fucking dunked on and teabagged. I'm ready to blow the talent gap out of the fucking water against the rest of the league, let's go
Lol. Now we're talking.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:46 AM ^
I hear you but saw Williams play last week and do not see him as a starter for a top 20 team, definitely not as a freshman.
Went to the Gonzaga vs. St. John's game last week to see Terrance play. Gonzaga pulled away in the 4Q and won by 20. I'm not a recruiting expert, but . . . it almost looked like he was playing with the flu - low motor, seemed to be conserving energy while others guy on the court were going balls-out, looked a little cranky in a spirited game. A positive spin on this would be to say he was poised and seemed to pick his spots, but was pretty passive otherwise. Often would not bother running down the court to chase the action. Disappeared for long portions of the game.
Not sure if he scored in the first half, but probably ended up with 10-15 points. On this one night, looked like the 3rd or 4th best player on his team behind a three-star teammate, who is committed to Butler, and some talented underclassmen. Hit 1-2 threes and had some nice takes to the rack (he is sturdy and can absorb contact taking it to the basket), but was also well-defended much of the night by a freshman forward on SJ.
February 5th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^
There is often a very wide schism between the expectations of the fans and the reality of playing the game for the players. You saw one game. Williams was not challenged. Gonzaga won very handily.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
Can he come up now!? I mean...why not?
February 5th, 2020 at 12:05 AM ^
I know this is a joke, but do you think there will be a day when basketball recruits enroll early a la football players? Would be tough to get up to speed, but ease them in them in throughout conference play and have them contribute in March.
Obstacles: would need open scholarship, would have to be truly elite talent, not sure if it's legal, mess with team dynamics
Pros: would give the player a half season against better experience
Typing this out, I think I answered my own question: no. Kind of interesting to think about.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:30 AM ^
Not a bad idea, just probably not as necessary since you don't need the level of coordination football plays do.... the one thing freshman will need to get used to, taking hard contact from players bigger and stronger, you only really get in games anyway.
February 5th, 2020 at 3:30 PM ^
You would be surprised to know that before Silvio De Sousa was known for his brawl earlier this season, he was known for being suspended for the whole season for receiving impermissible benefits. But before THAT, De Sousa was known for reclassifying from the 2018 class to the 2017 one, graduating in December and playing straight away for Kansas in January of 2018. Ended up playing like 15 minutes a game for Kansas in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.
The guy has actually had a very interesting college career.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
After watching the OSU game tonight I'd say every position is a position of great need next year.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:11 PM ^
I still think Livers, Johns, Wagner and DDJ will continue to improve next year. The rest of them can make room for all of the players mentioned above. I'd like to see what Bajema can provide next year before hes written off.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:33 PM ^
Something tells me Bajema might not be here next year either. When do you see guards get redshirted in basketball?
February 4th, 2020 at 10:40 PM ^
Nunez didn’t even get redshirted
February 4th, 2020 at 10:46 PM ^
Injury. I have no idea if he's injured, but that would be the only reason I could see him redshirting, or otherwise not transferring. Not after Nunez is seeing the court in front of him.
February 4th, 2020 at 11:45 PM ^
Bajema not playing at all, means only one thing, that he is redshirting....
February 5th, 2020 at 8:20 AM ^
I'd hope that he can make a Sophomore leap, an offseason with Camp Sanderson might help tremendously. Hes shown flashes.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
When they're too skinny and need to put on weight...
February 5th, 2020 at 11:39 AM ^
I hope so. For every one play where you see Wagner take it to the basket looking like a future NBA guy, you get half a dozen ones where he's stumbling out of control throwing the ball away. Johns and Livers are good and getting better, so I'm fine with them. Not sure how high of a ceiling DDJ has, but we'll see. Nunez has shown me absolutely nothing. I don't see any future for him here where he plays much.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:08 PM ^
But we want Howard fired already, bc he can't coach shooters on how to shoot >30% on wide open threes. Smh
February 4th, 2020 at 10:15 PM ^
If its Howard, which I dont think it is, then we have to fire Martelli with all of his experience and also Saddi who coached under Beilein for a few years as well. Howard isnt coaching out there alone or in practice alone. Hell, Eisley was an up and comer coach in the D league as well.
February 4th, 2020 at 11:43 PM ^
Won't have to fire Martelli...he is long gone after season end... he is a head coach and this was a waiting spot for him.
February 5th, 2020 at 12:20 AM ^
Looked up their ages, and I'm amazed that Beilein is older than Martelli
Definitely acts a lot younger than he looks
February 4th, 2020 at 10:13 PM ^
Weird timing these balls are old
February 4th, 2020 at 10:16 PM ^
Go to rivals, click on his profile and go down to the picks. One was Eric Bossi and the other was Dan McDonald. Former had Ariz St and latter had UCLA but made switch to Michigan
February 5th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
On Rivals, they are called FutureCast and on 247, they are called crystal balls hence the confusion
February 4th, 2020 at 10:16 PM ^
What the fuck title is this!
February 4th, 2020 at 11:16 PM ^
An informative one.
February 5th, 2020 at 10:27 AM ^
nay, the BEST one
February 4th, 2020 at 10:29 PM ^
MGBTOY. And it ain't even close.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:38 PM ^
Christopher, Livers, Franz, Johns, and fingers crossed, Todd give us a pretty great group of wings. I’m starting to think maybe Brooks is the better option at the 1 next year.
February 4th, 2020 at 11:04 PM ^
Re: Brooks, I can’t imagine his 3-12 (2-8) night that saw him allow a wide-open 3 w/ less than a minute to go to lose the game is why you’re now thinking that he’s the best option at the 1 next year.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:47 PM ^
I wish An elephant would take a huge shit on Terry Wymer’s head - that is all
February 4th, 2020 at 10:51 PM ^
If we can close out the class with Christopher, who on this year’s roster gets minutes next year? Livers, Johns and Franz? DDJ as a backup, maybe?
Lineup of Zeb, Christopher, Livers, Todd, Dickinson with DDJ backup at guard, Franz a backup at the wing, Johns a backup 4 and maybe Austin Davis as a backup big if he gets a 5th year?
February 5th, 2020 at 12:09 AM ^
I think Brooks or DDJ would start. It's tough for freshman point guards to be effective Day 1. Personally, I like DDJ. I think he's deserved more minutes the last few games. Alternatively, a senior version of Brooks could be a good facilitator - would be fine as a 5th scoring option.
February 5th, 2020 at 8:49 AM ^
I really think Eli Brooks would be a solid bench player. He can spot 1 or 2, brings a little energy, on a good night he knocks down a few three's and gives you 10-12 points against the opponents backups. He's just not 30+ minute guy, and he's definitely not the guy you want taking the shot when you're down 3 in the final seconds.
February 5th, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
1- DDJ / Brooks 25/15
2- Christopher / Livers 30/10
3- Livers / Wagner. 20/20
4- Todd / Johns. 20/20
5- Dickinson/Castleton 20/20
* Maybe do some small ball with Johns at the 5, and get Todd more minutes and Castleton less
February 4th, 2020 at 11:41 PM ^
Tonight I saw both Castelton and Teske, awkwardly try to go strong at the basket, and its apparent that this was coached by Howard, but both of them just couldn't do it properly, and were both off balance and and ill-contorted, and the ball had little chance of going in. It felt like Howard teaching guys something that isn't in their toolbox, and a few of his recruits cannot come soon enougn.
February 5th, 2020 at 1:55 AM ^
God I really hope we don't take all this talent coming in and make them post up. It's literally the least efficient shot outside of one step inside the three point line
We used to make fun of teams like Purdue for posting up all game, getting 30 points from their center, and still losing. Let's not become them
February 5th, 2020 at 9:57 AM ^
... Howard has shown that he’s an analytics guy and given his NBA background that makes sense. The reason we’re even going more towards the post is due to piss poor outside shooting.
With his guys you’ll see a lot more transition buckets and quick 3s. We don’t have the horses to play that pace this year.
February 5th, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
That's what the Bahamas looked like. That is the style he prefers, yes. This offense we are running now just doesnt appeal to me but it's all we got. Its not even entertaining to me at this point.
February 5th, 2020 at 11:36 AM ^
It's Howard trying to salvage something out of Teske, Davis, and Castleton. You get some legit stretch 4/5 athletes in here, and it's a different story. Right now Howard's options are post up a kid who looks like he'd be able to post people up, or settle for open threes that his guys can't seem to hit at a 30%+ clip. It's actually impressive that he turned Davis into a post option. Teske falling apart isn't on Howard, it's a response by teams who saw Teske dive to the rim repeatedly in early season play. Teams are collapsing on the pick and roll and forcing our wings to shoot. When is the last time you saw X hit Teske on one of those pick and roll lob dunks? They didn't forget how to do it, it's just that the tape is out on him and our shooters, and teams are electing to watch Wagner, Brooks, etc brick threes.
February 4th, 2020 at 11:43 PM ^
This is the greatest post of all time!!
February 4th, 2020 at 11:51 PM ^
I gotta think several guys need a firm handshake at the end of this year. Castleton & Nunez for sure. Davis has improved but hopefully his spot. Throw in CB perhaps, if you’re not getting minutes right now with this group, how you going to when we add 6-7 guys super talented. I am ready for a fresh start. Time for Teske and Z to go.