Regarding Chaundee’s possible return
Sorry, not sure how to word the title, I don’t want to make it sound like I have actual news , but buried in the Giles Jackson thread there is mention that rivals insiders are now saying Chaundee is NOT likely to come back. Don’t know what changed if this is true. But if he doesn’t return, how does that shake things up? Assuming we don’t get a transfer, we might be a little light for wing players. Unless they think the freshmen can soak up all the minutes at the 3. Which is possible because people are high on Houstan and Barnes. Maybe Bufkin can play some 3? Something like this maybe?
PG: Collins 25 Zeb 10 Brooks 5
SG: Brooks 25 Bufkin 10 Zeb 5
SF: Houstan 25 Barnes 10 Bufkin 5
PF Johns 20 Diabate 10 Williams 10
C: Dickinson 28 Diabate 12
Brooks 30
Dickinson 28
Houstan 25
Collins 25
Diabate 22
Johns 20
Bufkin 15
Zeb 15
Barnes 10
Williams 10
I guess he if doesn't we will find out soon enough. Sam was saying that the staff is saying players are calling them about possibly joining the team, so I will trust Juwan implicitly with this decision. We still might get Eli back.
I wouldn’t say Juwan is in a difficult position because either way we will have good talent, but it’s got to be tough dealing with players calling when we don’t know who is returning at this point. I would hope we have decisions by our own players by next week and then we can fill in from there if needed. If Brooks comes back, I don’t really see the need for a transfer unless we think the freshman won’t be ready to play much at all.
Eli averaged 32 minutes as a junior and 31 minutes as a senior (would've been 32, but he left the state game early with an injury.) With the only other experienced guards leaving, I don't see him dropping below 32. It would be nice if Collins could put in a productive 25 minutes at PG, but how often does that happen? For every Burke, Walton, and Morris, there's an Eli, Zavier, and Zeb. Eli averaged 10 mpg as a frosh. Zavier averaged 8.7. Zeb was at 5.3 this season. Usually, the freshmen get those big starter minutes because there isn't a returning starter. Eli is coming back, Zeb is coming back. We'll see.
Also, Brandon Johns got 19.5 mpg as a sophomore. His minutes were reduced this year because of Livers. He averaged 26 minutes in the 5 games Livers was out. Johns is more likely to get 30 minutes next year than 20.
So that doesn’t leave very many minutes for Diabate and Williams if he is playing 30. I don’t see him playing 30 a game.
I'd love to have Chaundee back, but if he doesn't come back, I'm not going to worry. If Juwan decides he needs a transfer player for some more depth, it sounds like he won't have a problem finding a quality guy. With the supply of players in the transfer portal and Michigan's high desirability as a destination, it won't be a big deal.
I would be extremely surprised if we had a freshman starting at PG next year and averaging 25 minutes per game. I think Collins will eventually be a great player, but that's just a really difficult position to excel at as a true freshman.
I think either Eli Brooks comes back and starts at the 1, or Juwan grabs a transfer. He is not going to rely that much on a freshman at PG.
There was a time when I would fret over something like this, but if Chaundee does not return, I think we're alright regardless.
Zeb is a 2. Brooks can handle point this year while Frankie learns, and Zeb can start at SG if the staff trusts him by this point.
They’ll be anywhere from a pretty good fairly young team to a stacked wheel of knives next year depending on the many things that can happen. Chaundee could be gone, he could come back, or he could currently seem gone but end up back.
I get the urge but it is entirely a waste of time to speculate on minutes breakdowns for 2021-22 college basketball.
Serious question, what's the hold up with the other players making their decision?
That could mean that Eli is expecting to come back and Brown’s path to major minutes would not be clear.
I would think 360 Division 1 coaches would find a way to get someone of Chaundee’s ability major minutes.
Expect some early growing pains with the lineups. Losing Smith, potentially Chaundee, Livers, and Wagner, and Davis...that’s a lot to make up early in the year. Teams will lock in like no other on Hunter and who will knock down the open 3s and bring energy and production off the bench?
I expect Houstan to make an immediate impact and be the beneficiary of open 3s from Dickinson double-teams
If Chaundee doesn't come back...there is a transfer in our future.
Some are speculating we’re in play for Jacob Young
I would really hate it if he leaves. Not because of the immediate impact on the roster, but just because I loved watching him play for us.
He is now on the departure list after after changing his mind to return. I personally wish he would have returned!
Hold me, tomVH.
April 10th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
:( shit
I still want Marcus Carr.
Yes. Absofuckinglutely.
April 10th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
That would break my heart. I don't want to lose Wagner and Chaundee, they were my favorite guys to watch on the team this year.
April 10th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
If Chaundee doesn't come back, we will 100% get a transfer to replace him.