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 12:05 PM ^
Let's just extend Juwan ... and when it comes time for him to sign, sprinkle in a hundred grand extra per year and tell him that's for his kids not chewing up a scholarship.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:51 AM ^
players who would be 5th year seniors and beyond wouldn't count towards the limit
February 19th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
Do you have a source for this? I haven't seen an official ruling on that, but obviously that would free up a lot of this scholarship congestion, though it would make for playing time congestion.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:09 AM ^
I would also like to see this. This means that literally everyone on Iowa and Wisconsin could come back next year and not have it count against their scholarships. Wisconsin would legitimately be close to 20...
February 19th, 2021 at 8:56 AM ^
I wouldn't be surprised to see one or two guys using that extra year of eligibility. Assuming Livers and Wagner head to the draft, that leaves 10 scholarship players, plus the six signees, so you're three over. That means three of Davis, Brown, Brooks, and Smith would not be able to come back, but you can always expect some other sources of attrition. I believe it was common knowledge that Jace was going to walk-on before scholarships opened up, so maybe that opens up another spot.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:58 AM ^
There would be no point to allowing everyone an extra year of eligibility but have no extra room to accommodate them.
Any player using their extra year of eligibility doesn't count towards the roster limit. That applies only for the season they use their extra year. So if Brooks, Brown, Smith, Davis, Livers all return, Michigan could theoretically go to 18 scholarships. Obviously that won't happen. If anyone else like Franz leaves, that still opens up another scholarship spot for another recruit or transfer. For 2022-23, Johns and Nunez could return for a 5th season and we could have 15 scholarships and so on. Who knows, maybe we'll go over in four years because Zeb and Jace want a 5th year.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:57 AM ^
Not true, we can go over 13 with the guys getting another year not counting.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:45 AM ^
Development. So many of the team's players have improved through the season, so subtly that it's tough to remember early doubts about them.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:57 AM ^
Great news, but that is still an incredibly young team. I know we all want to see the young stars come in and play right away, but I'd sure like to see a senior Johns step up an lead this team next year.
February 19th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
That would be a huge factor in going for that 2nd National Championship in a row.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:03 AM ^
Hypothetically if Smith and Brooks were to both come back I’m sure we would welcome that, but it would certainly seem to create a log jam at guard for the younger players. Zeb has struggled but it’s obvious he has some talent and with Kobe and Collins coming in, both top 50 players that would not leave very many minutes for them at all.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:07 AM ^
That would be massive. If we can bring back Smith, Brooks, and Davis, we should be preseason top 3.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:37 PM ^
I think we’d be preseason #1
February 19th, 2021 at 9:12 AM ^
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Zeb transfer honestly. With Collins coming in this year, Dug in 2022. I think he should see the writing on the wall that minutes are going to be tough to come by. I wouldn’t mind seeing Juwan hit the transfer portal for a veteran 2 guard for Kobe to sit behind. Kobe’s tape looks unreal but he looks a little small for starters minutes year 1
February 19th, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
Why would we presume that Collins would beat out Zeb before Collins even gets on campus? He's a highly rated guy, but not a top 10 overall recruit who shoots incredibly well. He'll have to transition to the college game and work hard on his jump shot to be the type of PG needed to run the offense well.
Zeb has looked like a freshman back up PG to date. I don't remember the last freshman PG who didn't look lost out there. Probably Walton. Zeb is a really good athlete that could take that freshman to sophomore jump we've seen before.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:12 AM ^
Getting Smith and Davis back next year would be amazing
February 19th, 2021 at 9:15 AM ^
IMO, Smith coming back is about as good as it gets for what the team needs next year. (I'd take Brooks too, but Smith especially.)
As you say, I'm really excited about Zeb, Collins, and Bufkin, but being forced to split 80 minutes with those three youngsters is a recipe for frustration in this tough conference. Smith being the veteran mentor while he gets his masters would be awesome.
I'm going to nitpick your rotation with a couple of thoughts though:
- I like Johns and hope he sticks around and finishes his career strong....but I'm not even sure he'll stay and I'm REALLY not sure he's going to prove he's able to play >20mpg. Look at last night - solid first half shift, horrible second half shift, stuck playing just a few minutes. Not to mention that Howard has rarely played him as a 5 despite a lot of indications that he should.
- Diabate is almost certainly our backup center next year, even if he starts at the 4. We have a ton of guys who can play the 4 (the ones you mentioned plus Tschetter and Howard) but no one else who can play the 5. Diabate is a modern athletic big and should see 10mpg there.
- Still feels like we're missing a scoring wing since I'm doubtful Barnes will be ready, but Smith at least allows you to shift guys around (Zeb/Collins could play next to Smith, Bufkin could play some 3, etc.)
February 19th, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
Good thoughts once again. Johns is behind guys like Dickinson and Livers and Davis right now... and we have top recruits coming in to add to that side of the rotation.
I think the only place Johns would have room to play would be the 3.
Or... well, it's just a fact that a number of guys eligible to be on the roster next year are not going to be.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:08 AM ^
Assuming Livers and Davis are gone, I think there are 20 mpg for Johns, mostly at the 4, his best position. Let's say HD gets 30+ per game and Diabate gets 25-30. That still leaves a good 20 min left. If HD + Johns, then Johns plays the 4. If Diabate + Johns (when HD is resting) then Daibate takes the 5 spot and Johns takes the 4. Johns' competition for backup minutes is Williams (who is a 3/4 and freshmen). I think Johns takes most of those minutes. Now if Davis comes back, that is another story. JMO.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
Are we not expecting Caleb Houstan to play at the 4? Because he's the #8 prospect nationally, one of the best prospects in the history of the program, and he's listed as a PF.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Johns start at the 4 next year. Diabate could easily get 20-25 MPG backing up the 4 and 5. That would give us 3 veterans starting (along with Smith & Dickinson) with Bufkin/Jackson at the 2 and Houstan at the 3.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
I would love to have Smith back.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:15 AM ^
Mike Smith said he wanted to get into the MBA program but wasn't able to get to study for the GMAT and therefore could not enroll in that program this academic year. I was hoping that he might stay and then get into Ross.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:25 AM ^
His academic motivations aside, this is partially due to the family atmosphere Juwan has created/continued at Michigan.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
Smith has been worth his weight in gold this year.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
That explains why the whole conference started elbowing him in the face.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
More elbows to the face? Sign me up!
February 19th, 2021 at 10:21 AM ^
What about Bediako though? ;)
February 19th, 2021 at 10:22 AM ^
I could see Dickinson getting 28 min at the 5, Johns starting at the 4 and getting 24 min. and Diabate getting 28 playing both the 4 and 5. Not sure where that puts T. Williams though.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
Smith being back next year would be huge. Getting Brooks back would be great too
February 19th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
He'll be the glue. Would be nice to have Brooks also though that may not be feasible.
February 19th, 2021 at 10:52 AM ^
So after reading some comments I agree that Johns might be a good option to be a starter since that would give us 3 veterans (assuming Smith is back) Diabate would still get his minutes. Similar to how Austin Davis started this year ahead of Dickinson for a while.
PG: Smith 30 Jackson 5 Collins 5
SG: Bufkin 24 Jackson 10 Collins 6
SF: Houstan 26 Johns 7 Barnes 7
PF Johns 15 Diabate 15 Williams 10
C Dickinson 30 Diabate 10
Smith 30
Dickinson 30
Houstan 26
Diabate 25
Bufkin 24
Johns 22
Jackson 15
Collins 11
Williams 10
Barnes 6
That’s a 9 man rotation of guys getting 10 or more minutes a game, with guys like Barnes, Howard and Tschetter rounding out the bench. Just a guess, but it’s plausible. A lot could change from this obviously, but this doesn’t look too bad.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
If Smith comes back, I could see:
1- Smith 30 Collins 10
2- Kobe 20 Zeb 20
3- Houston 28 T. Williams or Barnes 12
4- Johns 24 Diabate 16
5- Dickinson 28 Diabate 12
Would be a pretty typical 8 man rotation. Not sure if Williams or Barnes would be the better backup at the 3.
February 19th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Love speculating about playing time for a bunch of guys who are still in high school. Some will be players. Some will disappoint. Literally no way of knowing.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
That would be great to have him back to help along the kids...Stability at the point guard is huge.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:26 AM ^
I’d assume Brooks will also return. He’s not an NBA prospect. And he’s a good student. No reason to leave.
February 19th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
Anyone on the team that isn't an NBA prospect is likely to come back if Howard wants them. Most athletes would chew off their leg to get one more year of competitive athletics.
Of course, they wouldn't be quite as useful without their leg......
February 19th, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
I thought Brown had 2 years remaining when he transferred. While I see Brooks leaving, I think Smith and Brown return for another year.
Also, if Johns isn't starting, I personally could see him transferring. I've watched Diabate a few times and it feels a little like Dickinson/Davis.
I think Johns would be great as the starting PF with Diabate coming off the bench. Then later in the year if you switch it, understandable. Diabate isn't a starter right now, IMO.
Houston on the other hand, he will be "plug and play" behind Livers. That kid could play D1 basketball tomorrow and be effective.
February 19th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
There will be TEN freshmen/sophomores on the roster next year, so anyone experienced would probably be welcomed to stay, far as I'm concerned. Would be great to at least keep this team's culture going, which comes from the coach but also the players obviously
February 19th, 2021 at 4:16 PM ^
Great news if true on Smith! Love his contributions to the team.
I’m surprised that you have Williams in front of Johns on the depth chart tho. Seems like johns is a contributor more often, with higher upside.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:05 PM ^
I thought half of Wisconsin's team was 6th year players and above.
February 19th, 2021 at 11:02 PM ^
I'd love to have Smith back next year. #1 upper classman to get back.
February 20th, 2021 at 11:30 PM ^
Awesome!
Now, how do we convince Livers and Wagner to stick around?