Stauskas's promise.
Props to a young man who recognized his deficiencies last March and worked like hell to be the leader of the team this year. Stauskas was emotional and honest with the fact that we needed more from him after the Title game last April. He vowed to hit the weights and work on his game. He did and the improvement in his game is pretty vivid. I called him to be our best player this year and am proud as hell that the kid kept his promise and put the work in. You're the man Stauskas! Go Blue!
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^
Yup; I have to agree. I believe he said, "I'm going to come back a different player next year." after the loss in the title game.
This kid's got the eye of the tiger.
*You're* please!
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:20 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^
I believe he was being sarcastic
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 2:15 AM ^
Based on what we've seen, why would Stauskas stay for another year? I'm obviously no expert, by I can't understand why any team would take GRIII over Stauskas. Stauskas is a better shooter and can create more on his own off the dribble. It doesn't make sense to me that scouts are so much higher on GRIII given what we've actually seen from the two players in games.
November 23rd, 2013 at 2:57 AM ^
This is the classic disconnect between potential and on-court production. Not that Stauskas is not athletic enough for the NBA, but the draft will see GRIII's measurables and draft him higher anyway. I too think Stauskas is a much better player, not just now but in the NBA as well.
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
...it's cultural and team chemistry is a reason.
For some reason, I see Stauskas showing up for rookie camp and saying something like, "Hi Fellas... It's really swell being here. Wanna shoot some baskets?"
November 23rd, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
The season is young, let's see how he maintains this, particularly if and when he becomes more of a focus for opposing defenses. I have been impressed that either he's picking his spots better or he's gotten stronger/quicker getting to the hoop.
November 23rd, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^
The unspoken bias will put Stauskas further down the draft board than he probably deserves. It is summed up in this phrase: "He's not an athlete." Ironically, if he was European, he would be a first-rounder.
Funny people, those NBA scouts...
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^
Can a Canadian be an All-American?
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:52 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:11 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:20 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:54 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
That said, it's still relatively early in the nonconference. I think we saw a vastly different Nik between non-con and B1G play later year (something like a 15-20% 3PT percentage?). Obviously working on his body will help with that, but I'll keep crossing my fingers this is the Nik we will continue to see through the rest of this year. Right now, he is in my opinion absolutely Michigan's best and most important player.
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:12 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
Just waiting to see. I'm definitely pleased thus far.
November 23rd, 2013 at 7:42 AM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:52 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:54 PM ^
Would you say you... appreciate him?
November 22nd, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
Should we....have a thread title to report how much we appreciate him?
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:59 PM ^
I spent a solid ten minutes looking for another Stauskas to appreciate in the thread after the first one and after the official one. There was a Juan Carlos Stauskas that played for the Argentinian national soccer team in 1960, but alas, no pictures or a decent bio.
November 23rd, 2013 at 2:57 AM ^
Well, there is Nik's father and his Canadian Death Metal band whose name Nik can't remember.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:07 AM ^
Doesn't that make it more awesome? Also: his dad's occupation is "rock musician." That is pretty incredible- Canada, China, Wherethefuckever.
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
That was the most informative bit of color commentary I've heard in a sports game in years.
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^
Nik has averaged in this young season about 34 minutes per game, and in that time, 20.4 points per game with a 51.8% FG percentage and a 51.5% 3FG percentage. He is also averaging about 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game, not to mention less than 2 TOs per game. He really has found a groove this year and hopefully he can keep it up. As others have said, he has an excellent game.
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^
Any chance you can dig up players with similar numbers over the yrs.? I have no idea where to go to look for such a thing.
November 23rd, 2013 at 3:02 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:29 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 8:51 AM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:12 PM ^
He is the reason I haven't changed my avatar since February.
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:24 PM ^
November 22nd, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:04 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:47 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 1:42 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:37 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^
With that combination of length, athleticism, and of course lights-out shooting, he reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson.
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:46 AM ^
The coaches would agree with you. They have a board in the player development center with each players' NBA equivalent based on measurables. Stauskas was Klay Thompson
November 23rd, 2013 at 1:02 AM ^
I was looking at UofMs 3 point records and Stauskas is on pace to come close to Louis Bullock for most career 3s...if he keeps his pace for all four years. I remember Bullock being good, but didn't realize his 3 pt record was so far out of reach.
November 23rd, 2013 at 2:17 AM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 1:23 AM ^
Who else is on that board?
November 23rd, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
http://youtu.be/6ERpZEgj4Cg
November 23rd, 2013 at 12:50 AM ^
yeah you can really see the work he put into this offseason.
a lot of times people say that about players in many sports, this time you really can actually see it.
November 23rd, 2013 at 7:33 AM ^