So NOW who do you think will leave/come back?
Obviously this has been much discussed, but now that we have a more complete picture (with an unsatisfying end to the season), who do you think we will get back from this team? I’d guess Dickinson, Johns Jr., Eli Brooks, and the young guys you’d expect to stay (Zeb, Williams, etc.). I think Livers, Davis, and Smith are gone.
What do you think?
I’m coming back
Me too. We have unfinished business.
Revenge tour?
March 31st, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
I'm coming up
I want the world to know
March 31st, 2021 at 11:03 AM ^
Are you going to let it show?
March 31st, 2021 at 10:22 AM ^
I'm coming back too but only because Brian pays me to.
Did someone say MGoBagmen?
March 31st, 2021 at 10:53 AM ^
One cannot come back if they don't first leave.
Three minutes might seem like forever to some but I would think people will not show you mercy.
I guess enough players come back that there's a post asking how Howard will give minutes to the Freshman. What I mean is I wouldn't be shocked at all if everyone but Wagner returns next year, it's REAL hard to move on after a loss like the one last night.
I wouldn't be surprised if Franz came back. I'm not sure he's all about the money.
March 31st, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
Having Mo give him a house and car definitely gives him the financial flexibility to come back if he decides. I still think he is gone though.
March 31st, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
I would be shocked.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:00 AM ^
I would be pleasantly surprised if he comes back, but not shocked. Franz definitely needs to get physically stronger and develop more of an alpha mentality. While he can get stronger in the NBA, if he enters the league as a "soft" European player, he's going to spend years trying to change that narrative in games and at practice. I think Mo will be the best person to tell him if he should stay or go. Money won't be an issue, as Mo will for sure get a second contract here very soon.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^
The issue for anyone staying in college is how terrible the "college experience" was this year. Mo stayed because he said he loved being in school. No one loved being in school this year. Even if the promise of normality seems more likely next year, it is not guaranteed, and there's no reason to think Franz is in love with being a student at the moment. I doubt any of the basketball reasons make sense for him to stay. I would be surprised if he stayed in school.
March 31st, 2021 at 12:08 PM ^
The flip side to that is that the college experience was a pretty big draw for Franz since he had pro options as an alternative. He got to experience what, 7 months of it? It may be enticing to still get that experience since he was sort of robbed of it for the last year.
March 31st, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
Juwan will pack his bags for him. Juwan has played in the NBA and benefited greatly because of it. As a top 15 pick on draft boards now, Juwan would talk him out of returning if he's even thinking about it. Look at Livers and his injury. You don't take chance when you've got a 4 year guaranteed contract of at least $10M sitting in front of you.
March 31st, 2021 at 12:35 PM ^
I don't doubt you. Franz really isn't ready for the NBA. It just may not feasible for him to stay on another year.
Juwan will help him pack, but will make Franz promise to get his degree during his rookie season like Juwan did.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:31 AM ^
Many people on here are talking about who should come back and how they almost want the whole team to return.
Though if a lot of these guys came back, they would want their usual minutes, but that might make the in coming freshmen disgruntled.
High ranked McDonald's All American players don't come to sit on the bench for a long time during their freshman season.
I mean, there are pros and cons that come with recruiting the #1 basketball class. You're going to have to let some freshmen play a decent amount of minutes and possibly start.
It seems that many people in our fan base might not be ready to accept that notion.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:50 AM ^
I don't think any of them come back BUT if they all come back I'd assume it was because they wanted to a national title. If they are willing to give up another year of their lives for a title I imagine they'd also be alright also giving up some minutes to maximize the chance of winning that title.
I'd like to see Chaundee come back and play a pivotal role, and obviously if Livers came back that'd be amazing, but that's not gonna happen.
Honestly, life goes on and these guys are 22-23 so if I were their parent(s) I'd tell them to bid adieu and move on. I think for almost all of them it's time to pass the torch. I just hope we can retain the culture that they've helped build.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
Chaundee, please come back.
Adrian Nunez, please leave and quit wasting that scholarship.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:50 AM ^
I think the players may be less invested in their return than the fans. Presumably the players see nothing but future and brightness, which may have nothing to do with basketball at M. If they think that staying improves that, then they will return. Fans generally can't see past next year and their own interest in the team winning games. (Speaking for myself, of course!)
We're going to just have to wait and see. I don't think anyone has the slightest idea what the 4 year players are going to do with their COVID year eligibility less than 12 hours after a tournament loss.
If you want me to make a wild ass guess; the most likely scenario I think is all of them leave to pursue professional basketball careers or other personal pursuits. 4/5 years in a high-major basketball program is a ton of commitment. I am guessing most of these guys will lean towards pursuing other interests and money making opportunities.
I think Smith would be the most likely to consider a 5th year because he probably maintains the starting job while the young guys learn and probably has the lowest upside in pro leagues.
There is my wild ass, completely uninformed guess.
I'm not going to jinx it by saying that Juwan Howard is probably coming back.
Oakland may still be in play
March 31st, 2021 at 10:26 AM ^
They did take us to OT early in the year, so I could see how Howard might be attracted to that program
Speak for yourself. This was a very satisfying season. We played tough all year. If anyone told you we would have won the big and make it to the elite 8, and a close final 4, you take that to the bank every time!
I agree with that. I said there was an unsatisfying END to the season - namely, losing an elite 8 game that they really should have won.
It’s safe to say that Franz, Livers, and Davis are not likely to come back. There’s always a chance, depending on their motivations, but not very likely.
That leaves us with Dickinson, Smith, Brooks, and Brown. I assume Hunter returns next year. Then it’s probably one of the remaining three. I am not sure we have capacity on the roster for more.
After Hunter dominated Garza, I figured he might go pro. In almost every game after that, he generally showed he was a freshman. Talented as hell of course, but absolutely lacks the consistency and poise (throws his elbows too often) needed to go to the next level.
Of course, I could also have no idea what the fuck I'm talking about.
March 31st, 2021 at 10:14 AM ^
He has to develop an outside shot before he can play in the NBA. He's nowhere near ready, but NBA drafts on potential so you never know. That being said, he's not on any draft boards.
March 31st, 2021 at 10:24 AM ^
Forget outside shot. He needs to develop a right hand.
March 31st, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Dickinson would be very smart to come back. He seems like a 3 year guy. Maybe even 4 years. He strikes me as the typical great NCAA player who will never be a big time NBA prospect probably. And that is totally fine.
Wagner is said to be a mid to late first kind of guy, with some saying he’s a lottery pick. I just dont see it - even before his game last night. Him coming back and continuing to evolve his game would be good to see, though it’s hard to turn down NBA money for sure.
Chundee, Smith, Brooks, and Livers would be awesome to see come back. None except Livers (prob a mid 2nd rounder) are probably going to see minutes in the NBA, and I’d like to think playing high level college basketball on a potentially special team next year is more alluring than playing overseas (for meh money) or a boring real world job. However, they are probably all leaving.
March 31st, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
Dickinson turns the ball over way too much. He needs to take better care of the basketball. He also needs to work on going to his right hand and possibly a three point jump shot.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:39 AM ^
That's a caveat that should be appended to most posts.
Sam has said it's more likely that Smith, Brown, and Brooks all leave than one comes back. Brooks gone too.
Livers, Davis, and Brown are one.
Smith and Brooks are 50-50, 1 of them comes back.
Dickinson returns for 1 more season. Anyone have a scholarship chart handy?
12 of 13 scholarships in use this year
Livers
Franz
Smith
Eli
Dickinson
Chaundee
Davis
Johns
Williams
Zeb
Nunez
Jace
6 players are signed to our next class
Livers, Smith, Brooks, Chaundee, and Davis could all come back without counting against the scholarship limit. Why this luxury was extended to the class that played a full season and not the class that didn't get to play any postseason games is beyond me
March 31st, 2021 at 11:07 AM ^
Sam said good chance that NONE of the seniors come back. That would include Brown, Livers, Smith, Davis and Brooks. Obviously any of them would be great. I would love to see more of Brown, but probably not going to happen.
I'm not going to speculate since it's a circumstance like no other with covid, so who knows what will happen. But Nunez needs to be given a handshake. Can't spend a scholarship for four years on a bench mob guy. I appreciate his contribution to the team, but that's not a good use of a limited quantity of scholarships. Having Jace on scholarship is strange too since Juwan could easily foot the bill and give his team an extra scholarship to work with
The program is getting more talented and there needs to be sufficient room for the talent to play and develop
March 31st, 2021 at 10:50 AM ^
Yeah, Nunez should be firm handshake deal I would think. He’s unlikely to be a contributor next year. Better off taking a shot on someone else who can contribute in a big way. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jace moves back to walk-on.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
I think it is a bad look to push a young man off the team unless he is lockerroom problem, failing in the classroom, or getting into some sort of trouble.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
Not sure we are talking about an explicit "push" as much as a "if you want to pursue basketball, you will have much better opportunities elsewhere." Being up front that he won't get playing time would likely encourage a transfer to greener pastures without being unsavory.
I am fairly certain when fans wanted him gone last off-season it was reported that Nunez is totally fine being on the bench at U of M so unless that changed he will likely want to return. This was similar to when people were calling for Austin Davis' head.
March 31st, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
Nunez is only a junior, so he's not eligble for any "firm handshakes."
Jace is worthy of a scholarship and his scholly was not needed for this year. My guess is that we would go to that route if we do run into a scholarship crunch down the road.
Tough loss but I wouldn't call this unstatisfying...it actually was a great season.
Wagner could obviously do better with his 3-point shooting. Don't know if that would be enough to bring him back. I'd love to see him for one more year.
He could also develop some semblance of a left hand too.
Hoping for Martelli, Washington, Eisley core to stay in tact.