Spike to grad transfer [LOCKED]

Submitted by mzdmv on

Michigan’s Spike Albrecht told ESPN he was granted his release today and plans to play next season elsewhere as a grad transfer.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 29, 2016

MOD EDIT: Alright, we're going to make an editorial decision and just lock this but allow the news and comments to stand. Way too much ridiculous in this thread and I can't in good conscience let it go on. We're better than this. - LSA

jmblue

March 29th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^

Except that we've been to the national championship game three times since then - a record most programs would dream of having.

Losing a guy to a grad transfer isn't a horrible stroke of fate, especially considering that 1) it's unclear if Spike can return to being 100% of his pre-injury self next season and 2) we have a very talented point guard coming in.

 

 

MI Expat NY

March 29th, 2016 at 9:44 AM ^

I believe Smotrycz had personal reasons for transferring and it was not the wishes of the coaching staff.  He would have made the next year's team much better with the ability to shift Novak to the 3 as his primary position, rather than having to play him out of position at the 4.  He also would have given the national runner up team more depth in the front court and more versitility, allowing for bigger lineups shifting Robinson to the 3 from time to time.  

WeimyWoodson

March 29th, 2016 at 8:02 AM ^

You'd rather have those garbage players for two more years?  Or one more year with a solid player with a great assist to turnover ratio and the leadership that's going to be needed since Walton and Irvin seem to be more passive types.  

MI Expat NY

March 29th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^

He doesn't, but he basically said that if he had three kids transfer out that would be a positive.  He may not have needed to force anyone out, but the implication is pretty clear that he did.  

johnthesavage

March 29th, 2016 at 1:09 AM ^

This is just as dumb as Max. Obviously, we could have used him. Apparently it's more important to have a roster with 15 mediocre players.

I think Beilein is great, but this is definitely a failure. We don't have room for fifth-year guys who could obviously contribute. And it ain't cuz we're Kentucky. We've got a bunch of middling dudes, but so, so many of them only half of them will even play.

In reply to by ijohnb

JOHNNAVARREISMYHERO

March 29th, 2016 at 6:01 AM ^

He can't control injuries, but something has to be wrong with the way this team trains.    I remain convinced that Jon Sanderson is not as good as advertised and part of the problem.  

I know its in bad taste to hope for attrition, but its so damn obvious this roster needs to have some guys move on.  

Right now, I just don't understand what the hell we are doing.   Beilein wasn't afraid to let 3 guys walk after the 2012 season.  

I really hope something proactive happens with this roster and soon.   

ijohnb

March 29th, 2016 at 9:37 AM ^

way to look at it is that it is building to be a roster full of really experienced players.  Tons of young talent is one way to build a team, a roster full of grown men who have been through the battles before is another.  Watson and Simpson will get some experience next year, combine that with a bunch of senior 22 year olds and we could "YMCA" the hell out of a lot of people when the MAAR, Chat, Dawk class are all seniors.

With regard to your point about roster overhaul, there is only so much he could do.  He has recruited with the thought that Caris would be leaving last year and that Spike would unquestionably be gone after this year anyway.  Both reasonable assumptions at the beginning of last year. 

Now he is in an unenviable position.  He can say, "you know, _J W_ _s_n, you can stick around if you want but there may be a better opportunity some where else."  He can say, hey, A_ dr_ _ D_ k_ _ h, you could really be part of the rotation at another smaller school"  He can say these things, but he cannot go further than that.  Ultimately, if a kid chooses to stick around, circumstances be damned, there is nothing Beilein can do.

JOHNNAVARREISMYHERO

March 29th, 2016 at 2:37 AM ^

I responded to a post that brought up the stupidest thing in Michigan Sports.  

A punter that can't catch the ball and then proceeds to throw it to the other team is pretty damn stupid.  

Nothing more, nothing less. It was pretty damn stupid.