Jack, this is the first time I've logged in...in...well, almost forever, and I logged in just to say, THANK YOU! I absolutely agree. JOK may not be the answer but the kid isn't a quitter, he's a courageous young man who wears the Maize and Blue, AND he is the best answer we have at this point. You simply can't throw Brandon Peters or whoever into the lion's den at Happy Valley, at least not as the starter, unless, of course, that's the decision the coaches make. I'm hoping for a great performance and a win, but if the game gets out of hand, and if Coach Harbaugh has enough confidence in young Mr. Peters to turn the reins over to him and see what he can do, so be it. I'll support that, too, but I won't undermine Coach Harbaugh or our kids by engaging in player bashing.
On my post above I was actually replying to number 4, not number 9. Sorry, I'm an old guy and I'm still learning about all this "social media" stuff! Oh, and I am sorry to see LaVall go but I''m happy for him. Now, let's go find the next great assistant!
This is one of the best posts I've read on any of the message boards concerning Michigan Basketball this year. Oh, and LaVall is one of the best assistants out there! I would hate to lose him, but I will be happy for him if he gets this job.
I, too, am happy for Spike and Ricky, and I wish them nothing but the best. But, wow, it would take a book to address all of your concerns, so I won't. I will say, however, we don't really know the particulars of any of the concerns you mentioned. I certainly don't know those particulars, but I do know our coach and I believe he is a man of principle in a pretty unprincipled time. I will, however, address the Spike situation.
Spike was expected to play this year and use his final year of eligibility. Coach B, as any good coach would do, recruited a point guard not only to replace Spike's position, who was on track to finish his eligibility, but also to become the heir apparent to Derrick Walton. Of course, after the fact, it was determined Spike hadn't fully recovered from double hip surgery and simply couldn't continue playing. He RETIRED. I saw his press conference. There was no mention, at that time, of him playing, transfering, or what have you. He was basically done with college basketball. He was going to rehab and get better so he could have a life. That he did. He now believes he can play. I think that's fantastic! The truth is, though, we don't know whether he actually CAN play and at what level. I am quite sure after watching him in "practice" all year Coach B has a much better handle on that than we do. What a concept, that a coach may have a better handle on a player's or program's situation than we do. At any rate, Spike wants to give it a try. Again, fantastic! BUT, we will now have two point guards one of whom is a two year starter and the other a talented freshman who NEEDS to get all the minutes he can behind that starting point so as to be ready to take over the following year. Spike loves Michigan but he wants to PLAY during his possible last year of basketball. If we didn't have X coming in I am sure Coach B would do everything possible to bring Spike back, but we do. X was recruited BEFORE it was determined Spike couoldn't continue to play this year and RETIRED. To criticize Coach B for this, and I mean no disrespect to you, is just ludicrous and displays a complete lack of understanding of the circumstances surrounding this situation. As for looking for other guard options, one is a 6'3 combo guard who will play behind our existing, and very talented, two guard, Abdur Rahkman, assuming a spot opens, we offer, and he chooses to come here. He is an immediately eligible, for one year, grad transfer. This would be an option only if a spot opens up, but we must be prepared for that contingency. The other is a point guard (like Spike) who would have to sit out a year, and would then, in all liklihood, play behind X during X's sophomore year or fight it out with him for playing time. He would not be a replacement for Spike next year. So, again, I'm so happy for Sike. I hope he finds a great spot where he can play A LOT and end his career in style. I will cheer for him and his team unless they are playing Michigan. But don't blame Coach B for this situation, instead respect him for handling it the right way, with class.
After further consideration, I've changed my mind. I now think Greeny and Forde are two of the GREAT journalists of our time and they were right to skewer Coach B. Further, I think Coach B made a terrible mistake by caving in to them, changing his mind, and looking so WEAK!
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually I DON"T BELIEVE A WORD of what I just said in this post other than APRIL FOOLS! OK, two words!
While I think Beilein has done the right thing, my problem is that now people will think he only did the "right" thing to appease his critics. I truly believe JB, after careful consideration, thought about Spike and Ricky and what he would want for them if they were his sons. He then acted accordingly and with his heart. He removed the restrictions on their transfers. Unfortunately, people will believe that a couple of "sports talk jockies" shamed him into doing what they, in order to increase their listenership/readership, claimed was the "right" thing to do even though they had no knowledge or relationship with Spike or Ricky or their unique situations. There are so many sleazeballs in college basketball and they chose to go after perhaps the cleanest and certainly one of the most ethical and classiest coaches in the game. Coach B, I applaud you for this decision, but regardless, I know you will always act within the rules while caring deeply about your players welfare, even when they are about to transfer. I hope no one gives Greeny or Forde credit for this because they certainly don't deserve it. We'll see if they themselves are big enough to give Coach Beilein credit for this decision and applaud him for it.
Seriously? "If (you) were in his position (you) would have been on the court fighting through the discomfort..." "(You) would have to be literally dragged off the court." Really? Aren't you special. Agian, sorry, but it's pretty easy to sit behind your computer on a public forum and say what you THINK you would have done had you been in that situation. The truth is, you have no clue what you would have done in Caris' situation because I doubt that you have ever been in the circumstance in which Caris found himself to even know what you'd do. But, hey, it IS America so we all have a right to our opinion, and I guess to even publish it on a public forum. My opinion is, I really don't care to hear what YOU would have done. It's really not important or relevant to this discussion.
I absolutely agree. I love Austin Hatch, his heart, his courage, and his desire and drive to be a Michigan Basketball player. I believe he loves the university, and Coach B and his teammates. I also believe he is an incredibly classy young man who has, more than likely, come to the stark realization that he will never be a rotation player on the basketball team of the university he would give his heart and soul for. I believe Coach B is a man of impeccable character, a man of honesty and integrity. I believe it is highly possible Austin approached Coach B and inquired about the possibility of a Medical Hardship Waiver. Together they made a decision that if a player was available worthy of Austin Hatch's scholarship, they would apply for the medical waiver. Both Jaylen Brown and Kenny Williams fit nicely into that category. I do not know that this happened, it's just a scenario I believe could have occurred and very possibly did. I will even go so far as to say Coach B may have tried to convince Austin to continue on an athletic scholarship. But Austin is a young man not only of great character but of courage and resolve. And Coach B idealistically believes, in this modern world, that a promise is still a promise, but he's also a realist who is able to see the big picture. In the end I think Austin was able to convince Coach B that this is the "right thing to do." I don't know if it's possible but I would love to see the scholarship named the Austin Hatch Athletic Scholarship for Basketball in honor of this incredible young man and the sacrifices he has made in life.
Recent Comments
Jack, this is the first time I've logged in...in...well, almost forever, and I logged in just to say, THANK YOU! I absolutely agree. JOK may not be the answer but the kid isn't a quitter, he's a courageous young man who wears the Maize and Blue, AND he is the best answer we have at this point. You simply can't throw Brandon Peters or whoever into the lion's den at Happy Valley, at least not as the starter, unless, of course, that's the decision the coaches make. I'm hoping for a great performance and a win, but if the game gets out of hand, and if Coach Harbaugh has enough confidence in young Mr. Peters to turn the reins over to him and see what he can do, so be it. I'll support that, too, but I won't undermine Coach Harbaugh or our kids by engaging in player bashing.
On my post above I was actually replying to number 4, not number 9. Sorry, I'm an old guy and I'm still learning about all this "social media" stuff! Oh, and I am sorry to see LaVall go but I''m happy for him. Now, let's go find the next great assistant!
This is one of the best posts I've read on any of the message boards concerning Michigan Basketball this year. Oh, and LaVall is one of the best assistants out there! I would hate to lose him, but I will be happy for him if he gets this job.
Yeah, but we must still take care of business! Let's not rely on others to do what we can do for ourselves. Win all three!
Yeah, but we must still take care of business! Let's not rely on others to do what we can do for ourselves. Win all three!
I, too, am happy for Spike and Ricky, and I wish them nothing but the best. But, wow, it would take a book to address all of your concerns, so I won't. I will say, however, we don't really know the particulars of any of the concerns you mentioned. I certainly don't know those particulars, but I do know our coach and I believe he is a man of principle in a pretty unprincipled time. I will, however, address the Spike situation.
Spike was expected to play this year and use his final year of eligibility. Coach B, as any good coach would do, recruited a point guard not only to replace Spike's position, who was on track to finish his eligibility, but also to become the heir apparent to Derrick Walton. Of course, after the fact, it was determined Spike hadn't fully recovered from double hip surgery and simply couldn't continue playing. He RETIRED. I saw his press conference. There was no mention, at that time, of him playing, transfering, or what have you. He was basically done with college basketball. He was going to rehab and get better so he could have a life. That he did. He now believes he can play. I think that's fantastic! The truth is, though, we don't know whether he actually CAN play and at what level. I am quite sure after watching him in "practice" all year Coach B has a much better handle on that than we do. What a concept, that a coach may have a better handle on a player's or program's situation than we do. At any rate, Spike wants to give it a try. Again, fantastic! BUT, we will now have two point guards one of whom is a two year starter and the other a talented freshman who NEEDS to get all the minutes he can behind that starting point so as to be ready to take over the following year. Spike loves Michigan but he wants to PLAY during his possible last year of basketball. If we didn't have X coming in I am sure Coach B would do everything possible to bring Spike back, but we do. X was recruited BEFORE it was determined Spike couoldn't continue to play this year and RETIRED. To criticize Coach B for this, and I mean no disrespect to you, is just ludicrous and displays a complete lack of understanding of the circumstances surrounding this situation. As for looking for other guard options, one is a 6'3 combo guard who will play behind our existing, and very talented, two guard, Abdur Rahkman, assuming a spot opens, we offer, and he chooses to come here. He is an immediately eligible, for one year, grad transfer. This would be an option only if a spot opens up, but we must be prepared for that contingency. The other is a point guard (like Spike) who would have to sit out a year, and would then, in all liklihood, play behind X during X's sophomore year or fight it out with him for playing time. He would not be a replacement for Spike next year. So, again, I'm so happy for Sike. I hope he finds a great spot where he can play A LOT and end his career in style. I will cheer for him and his team unless they are playing Michigan. But don't blame Coach B for this situation, instead respect him for handling it the right way, with class.
After further consideration, I've changed my mind. I now think Greeny and Forde are two of the GREAT journalists of our time and they were right to skewer Coach B. Further, I think Coach B made a terrible mistake by caving in to them, changing his mind, and looking so WEAK!
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually I DON"T BELIEVE A WORD of what I just said in this post other than APRIL FOOLS! OK, two words!
While I think Beilein has done the right thing, my problem is that now people will think he only did the "right" thing to appease his critics. I truly believe JB, after careful consideration, thought about Spike and Ricky and what he would want for them if they were his sons. He then acted accordingly and with his heart. He removed the restrictions on their transfers. Unfortunately, people will believe that a couple of "sports talk jockies" shamed him into doing what they, in order to increase their listenership/readership, claimed was the "right" thing to do even though they had no knowledge or relationship with Spike or Ricky or their unique situations. There are so many sleazeballs in college basketball and they chose to go after perhaps the cleanest and certainly one of the most ethical and classiest coaches in the game. Coach B, I applaud you for this decision, but regardless, I know you will always act within the rules while caring deeply about your players welfare, even when they are about to transfer. I hope no one gives Greeny or Forde credit for this because they certainly don't deserve it. We'll see if they themselves are big enough to give Coach Beilein credit for this decision and applaud him for it.
Seriously? "If (you) were in his position (you) would have been on the court fighting through the discomfort..." "(You) would have to be literally dragged off the court." Really? Aren't you special. Agian, sorry, but it's pretty easy to sit behind your computer on a public forum and say what you THINK you would have done had you been in that situation. The truth is, you have no clue what you would have done in Caris' situation because I doubt that you have ever been in the circumstance in which Caris found himself to even know what you'd do. But, hey, it IS America so we all have a right to our opinion, and I guess to even publish it on a public forum. My opinion is, I really don't care to hear what YOU would have done. It's really not important or relevant to this discussion.
I absolutely agree. I love Austin Hatch, his heart, his courage, and his desire and drive to be a Michigan Basketball player. I believe he loves the university, and Coach B and his teammates. I also believe he is an incredibly classy young man who has, more than likely, come to the stark realization that he will never be a rotation player on the basketball team of the university he would give his heart and soul for. I believe Coach B is a man of impeccable character, a man of honesty and integrity. I believe it is highly possible Austin approached Coach B and inquired about the possibility of a Medical Hardship Waiver. Together they made a decision that if a player was available worthy of Austin Hatch's scholarship, they would apply for the medical waiver. Both Jaylen Brown and Kenny Williams fit nicely into that category. I do not know that this happened, it's just a scenario I believe could have occurred and very possibly did. I will even go so far as to say Coach B may have tried to convince Austin to continue on an athletic scholarship. But Austin is a young man not only of great character but of courage and resolve. And Coach B idealistically believes, in this modern world, that a promise is still a promise, but he's also a realist who is able to see the big picture. In the end I think Austin was able to convince Coach B that this is the "right thing to do." I don't know if it's possible but I would love to see the scholarship named the Austin Hatch Athletic Scholarship for Basketball in honor of this incredible young man and the sacrifices he has made in life.