Sam Webb mentions they expect Mike Smith to return next year
Listening to Sam’s podcast he mentioned that he believes Mike Smith will be back next year. Didn’t sound like it was a definite but he said he would be very surprised if Smith was not back next year. I think this would be absolutely huge on what otherwise would be a very young team. It would also be interesting because it will be Smiths 6th season of playing, that’s pretty rare. If Smith were to return, we may see something like this:
PG: Smith/Collins
SG: Bufkin/Jackson
SF: Houstan/Barnes/Johns
PF: Diabate/Williams/Johns
C: Dickinson/Johns/
Jackson is probably better at being a distributor and I’m sure he would get minutes at backup point as well. Along with youth, size might be the biggest concern. I would really love to see Brandon Johns get 20+ minutes a game as a senior, so if he doesn’t start he might back up any of the 3 front court spots. But having a guy like Austin Davis around again would be great. Not sure he would come back for a 6th year but it’s possible.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:23 AM ^
This would be a dream come true. Senior port guards are like gold. A super senior point guard, now that is like platinum!
February 19th, 2021 at 11:24 AM ^
Seeing that their video tribute to the "port guard" was from 1979, I guess they'd now be considered "super seniors" .
February 21st, 2021 at 5:14 PM ^
A super senior point guard named Mike Smith is diamond!
February 19th, 2021 at 8:25 AM ^
I missed that, but that would be a huge lift for the team and it's title chances (B1G and National) for next year.
Just having someone who has been there, done that, and can guide this young team would be huge! Plus the stat of Smith that went something like he took 17 shots a game last year, and is only taking 6 this year, shows the maturity of Smith, and how well he takes to coaching, which is exactly what a young team needs from a leader.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:26 AM ^
Dude has a degree from Columbia and a second year will get him a Master’s from Michigan. Do It!
February 19th, 2021 at 8:38 AM ^
For free.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:28 AM ^
Free? How about for the price of entertaining me and my daughter. That, among other things, is what he's paying for his "free" education.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:58 AM ^
such righteous indignation!
I think it's pretty obvious he meant "free" as in "no financial cost".
February 19th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
I don't think it matters how it's meant; it's a misguided statement. I didn't get room & board for "free", I got it because I was an RA (and it was not worth it). GSIs don't get "free" tuition, etc.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:28 AM ^
Lighten up, dude.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:36 AM ^
Yeah, RAs and the starting PG are pretty similar: both thankless, underpaid jobs. But at least you are both treated like celebrities everywhere and girls line up to be with you. The only thing worse would be having to be a star on the football team. Seriously, I get it that basketball players could be paid but let's not imply it's a bad situation. Almost every HS kid in the US would love to trade places with a star athlete. He has an Ivy league degree and still chose to put himself through this hell.
February 19th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
Yeah and in mike smith situation maybe a chance to play overseas... like several ra's!
February 19th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
Yeah and in mike smith situation maybe a chance to play overseas... like several ra's!
February 19th, 2021 at 1:23 PM ^
If I have to walk through 500 yards of shit smelling foulness to get degrees from Columbia and Michigan with no debt or money out of my pocket, that's still free to me.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
Logged in to downvote the scold.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:29 AM ^
Nope, no righteous indignation. Sorry, but I don't know the symbol for tongue in cheek (I imagine it might look a little, what's the word, risque?). Because that's what my statement was.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
I actually thought that you and your daughter had hired him to do a song-and-dance routine at parties, and that in return you were paying his tuition.
February 20th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
I thought Ivy league schools didn't offer athletic scholarships?
February 19th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
I'd absolutely take Davis for another year. His steady hand around the basket on offense is a nice luxury to have off the bench even if he is limited defensively. Livers and Wagner I would say are about as close to 100% gone as could be. Brown probably leaves. Brooks, Smith, and Davis are in interesting positions because I don't know the pro prospects even overseas for them.
Mike Smith could get working on a second masters and graduate with a bachelors from Columbia, Masters from UM and maybe credits toward another masters. Not a bad gig.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
Sadly, I'll have to stop making fun of Josh Langford for being at MSU for 8 years if we have Davis and Smith come back haha
February 19th, 2021 at 8:30 AM ^
This is the second time someone has insinuated that Zeb is a SG, but where is that coming from? It was my understanding that he came in as a PG, and his shooting this year (3/19) indicates that his shot needs work. I know that is a small sample size, but I don't think he's much of a scorer at this point.
Regardless, the present AND future are bright for this group!
February 19th, 2021 at 8:42 AM ^
I don’t necessarily think he would be a shooting guard, but if Smith is back I think he could get minutes at the two and also back up at the point. If Smith is back he realistically would be looking at 10 to 15 minutes a game I would think.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:49 AM ^
I was with you on your point about Mike Smith seeing time at the off guard position, as a four man guard rotation with him, Jackson, Bufkin, and Collins would have some questions about shotmaking. But 10-15 minutes a game for Smith if he returns? Maybe you meant 10-15 minutes at the 2, because he would be playing at least 25-30 a night with that rotation. I love the potential of all those youngsters, but they're just that, and have much to prove that Smith already has shown he can do.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:54 AM ^
10 to 15 minutes per game for Zeb. Sorry I worded that a little confusing.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:51 PM ^
I'm old-you were plenty clear.
Otherwise, going forward, Zeb is likely going to stay at the bottom of the depth chart. Juwan has been generous in giving Zeb quality looks in order to develop an understanding of what he needs to work on-so far there are no indications of progress. Collins and Bufkin will challenge Zeb seriously for PT right out of the chute. If Brooks or Smith returns or Juwan goes to the transfer portal...Zeb will probably be looking at the portal as well. Zeb is going to get a fair shot but this is the simple reality of big-time college sports. Juwan is looking to compete for NCs...as he should-and I believe we wish for.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:47 AM ^
I think this assumption is made purely off his size and length. Everything we've seen from Zeb thus far shows that he could be a pretty good distributor and driver, but has left a ton to be desired as a shooter. For the record however, he has not been any worse than Simpson was as a freshman.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:09 AM ^
Just because I was curious, I looked it up. Simpson played quite a bit more as a freshman than Zeb has, averaging almost 10 minutes a game (38 played) compared to Jackson's 6 mpg (10 played). Simpson shot .37/.26/.71, while Jackson currently sits at .17/.00/.57 on roughly half of the shot attempts.
Still plenty to time for Zeb, and I'm glad he's getting his feet wet a little this year. This off-season will be an important one for him.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:23 AM ^
Shocked that Simpson's FT% was that high. In seeing those numbers, I think what stood out most about Simpson was how much of a downgrade he was to Walton (who was playing at near All-American level by the end of his senior year).
That 2017 team had a ton of offensive talent, and had they had Yaklich at that point, I think they would have beaten Oregon and probably made it to the Final Four.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:26 AM ^
Certain people on this site considered Simpson a bust that year, too.
Some guys wind up developing.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
I know some people are in love with Zeb, but people really need to come to grips with what he is.
If he could not start as a senior for a high school team, how in the world is he expected to start for one of, if not, the top programs in the hardest basektball conference in America. And to add to it, we have a decent sample size of him playing college ball.
Collins and Bufkin are already better than Zeb and will demand more minutes next year. Your not going to fix Zeb's shooting mechanics overnight.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
If he could not start as a senior for a high school team, how in the world is he expected to start for one of, if not, the top programs in the hardest basektball conference in America.
You do realize that his high school roster last year was laden with major D1 talent at virtually every position, right? Zeb Jackson's senior stats would look much different if he had stayed in Ohio.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:41 AM ^
Yes, i do know that. And my point still stands.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
I'm not a huge Zeb guy, but Zeb Jackson's HS team was probably the best HS team ever. They could have 4 lottery picks this year. 4 one and done lotter picks on one team! And two of them were ball dominant. Just not a chance for Zeb to play much in that situation.
Having said that, it wouldn't shock me if Zeb never turned into a good B1G player, but the HS part is not part of that rason
February 19th, 2021 at 9:43 AM ^
... you're upset Zeb played behind Cade Cunningham?? Michigan would bench every point guard it's ever had other than Trey Burke and Jalen Rose for Cade Cunningham. And even that is questionable.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
Why do we need to see it that way?
Sounds like a lot more fun to hope the tall athletic freshman guard with four more years of eligibility develops.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
This comment is so bad
If he could not start as a senior for a high school team, how in the world is he expected to start for one of, if not, the top programs in the hardest basektball conference in America
He was the 6th man off the bench for the best high school program in the country with the #1 player in the country and projected #1 overall pick starting at PG for his team
And to add to it, we have a decent sample size of him playing college ball.
Except we don't. He's barely played and when he has, it's been in garbage time. His limited minutes with the starters have been promising even though his shot wasn't falling
Collins and Bufkin are already better than Zeb and will demand more minutes next year. Your not going to fix Zeb's shooting mechanics overnight.
This is a weird comment considering Collins' biggest flaw is that he's a poor shooter
February 19th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
I don't get it either. He was recruited as PG out of high school and has shown great playmaking instincts so far, but since he had a growth spurt, he can't play PG? Who ever said having a 6'5" PG was a bad thing? I guess with Smith coming back and Collins coming in, you put Jackson at the 2 to get him minutes. I think he can play the 2 due to his size and length, but his upside at the PG spot is much higher
February 19th, 2021 at 11:13 AM ^
his shooting this year (3/19) indicates that his shot needs work.
19 shot attempts in 10 games isn't much of a sample. His shooting form looks OK. It's just not that easy to sit on the bench all game and then come in cold to play the last 2-3 minutes. Not everyone is a microwave like C.J. Baird.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
I did point out the small sample size, but I would argue that his shots often look forced/uncomfortable. Again, I'm of the opinion that we don't know what is is yet, and that there is still plenty of time for him to develop into a really good player.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:34 AM ^
I thought Brooks gets another year???
February 19th, 2021 at 8:43 AM ^
If he wants it, and if UM wants to give it to him. But realistically not all of our seniors are going to return again. We have seen with MSU that it does not work to have a 12 man rotation. I think with the players we have coming in it’s more likely that one of our guards will return, and it looks like that would be Smith. If Brooks wants to come back that would be great, but not sure if that would happen.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:48 AM ^
Unless the staff is ready to rely heavily on freshman guards I would expect Brooks would also be welcomed back.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
We have seen with MSU that it does not work to have a 12 man rotation.
What if, and beloeve me. this is a hypo-thet-i-cal... what if these 12 players were all D1 caliber players?
February 19th, 2021 at 10:01 AM ^
If Brooks wants to play another year of college, Michigan absolutely needs to keep you. You do not ship a starter like him off to another school.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
It won’t be a huge rotation because Livers and Wagner are leaving. So the rotation would basically be the same except you put Diabate and Houstan in their place and shift minutes around accordingly.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:45 AM ^
Everyone on the team gets another year.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:46 AM ^
Technically everybody gets another year since eligibility doesn't count this season. The trick is the player has to want to return and there has to be room. I imagine if both Brooks and Smith want to come back they will. They probably lose Livers, Wagner, Brown, and Davis.
If they could only have one back next year, I think Smith would be the choice. An experienced PG is a must given next year's inexperienced backcourt.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:47 AM ^
Everyone gets another year, but you only get 13 scholarships and we have at least a six man class coming in
If everyone stays from this year we'd be five over the limit (not using one scholarship this year) next year
EDIT: This is untrue, apparently.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:48 AM ^
Is Jace on scholarship? Also, you would have to assume that with a degree and two years of eligibility, Nunez will probably look elsewhere.