How will I know if Practical Jokers is still on air? Reality sinks in.

This cuts deep pic.twitter.com/DsQ05zqnHM

— Joe (@blueandjoe) March 19, 2020

Stop eating pangolins please.

Our coping mechanism is going to be streaming a rewatch of the 2017 Oklahoma State game at 7. If you're okay with having your eyebrows burned off again please join us.

Saddi stays. Western Michigan came open for Saddi Washington, an alum, and Washington turned them down. Sam Webb:

Sources tell The Michigan Insider that Wolverine assistant Saddi Washington has decided to remove himself from consideration for the head coaching job at his alma mater, Western Michigan.

Washington was reportedly at or near the top of the list for the position made vacant by the firing of longtime Bronco headman Steve Hawkins. The decision to remain in Ann Arbor is said to have been largely shaped by an extreme comfort with his current situation. Washington’s salary increased to $330,000 this season (Hawkins’ salary was $385,000), the first season of Howard regime was a success, and the Wolverines have put together a top five recruiting class that could grow even more impressive in the coming weeks.

That's a stark illustration of the gap between the haves and have nots these days. Washington is Michigan's lowest paid assistant and after he gets his obligatory you-stayed bump he'll probably be on par with what Hawkins was making.

Continuity is good, and it's particularly good in the immediate aftermath of a head coaching change. I can't remember exactly where this came from but earlier this year Phil Martelli did tell someone in the media that he intended to get a head coaching gig in the near future; if that happens this offseason it would have been rough replacing two thirds of the staff one year in. It's also nice that Washington wants to stay despite having been hired by Beilein originally.

[After THE JUMP: maybe we can stuff the grad transfer underneath the seat in front of us]

No do overs for winter sports. Alas: Fifth Year Zavier Simpson isn't likely.

Sources: The NCAA is unlikely to grant an extra year of eligibility for student athletes who participated in winter sports and had their seasons cut short due to coronavirus.

An extra year of eligibility is still in play for student athletes involved with spring sports.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 18, 2020

I think Rothstein is in error when he says the extra year for spring athletes is merely "in play". The NCAA has already recommended it and is in the process of working out the details.

Exit DJ Carton. This personnel move is of more note than most across the Big Ten because Michigan was widely expected to land Carton before OSU swooped in:

Ohio State guard DJ Carton will transfer, he tells @247Sports. Averaged 10.4 PPG and 3.0 APG. | Story: https://t.co/E3GsmA14Mk pic.twitter.com/m6itVj0bCi

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) March 19, 2020

Carton had a promising start before leaving the team to work on some mental health issues. Will be interesting to see where he ends up. If it's Iowa my nonstop Fran boosterism may reach unprecedented levels in two years.

FWIW, The Athletic's OSU guy expects Kaleb Wesson to head for whatever NBA fate he has in store even if that's the second round. OSU's oddly meh recruiting this year (two recruits both outside the top 100) means they'll be relying on transfers to fill holes left by Carton and the Wessons leaving. They've already got NOTY candidate Justice Sueing on campus and they're supposed to lead for Harvard transfer Seth Towns.

Speaking of Ivy transfers. Ace mentioned Towns and fellow Crimson grad transfer Bryce Aiken in his recent Welp Guess The Season Is Over post. Another Ivy grad transfer is also mentioning Michigan and this time it's in a much more restricted group:

Columbia graduate transfer Mike Smith is one of the best available transfers on the market. … Of all the schools that have reached out, Smith, a 5-foot-11 point guard, has mutual interest in two of them – Arizona and Michigan.

“It’s been a couple of schools but recently Arizona called and then Michigan,” Smith told 247Sports. “Those two I have talked to in last couple of days. Those two have prioritized me so far. Other than that not too many schools have reached out yet but I think things will change soon.”

A quick glance at the Michigan roster suggests that there isn't much call for a sub-six-foot guard unless something unexpected happens. David DeJulius and Eli Brooks are set to return; Michigan is the prohibitive leader for Josh Christopher; Zeb Jackson has signed a letter of intent. There's no indication that either Brooks or DDJ intends to transfer—in fact we have some information that says that they do not.

So Michigan putting its hat in the ring for Aiken and Smith is a little odd. Then again it's odd for Towns, too. If anything Michigan should have even less room at the 3/4. Here's hoping this is the Michigan staff being very diligent and not an indication Michigan is anticipating attrition from a returning contributor.

FWIW Smith was Columbia Carsen Edwards last year, a 34% usage guy on a 6-24 Ivy team. His shooting splits aren't great (47/34) but he hit 81% of his many free throws and had excellent assist (30) and TO (14) rates given the context. He hit 42% in the midrange and under half his threes were assisted; in a different context he looks like he could be at efficient shooter and secondary ballhandler even at a higher level.

I'd still rather let Michigan's current guards build on their recent performances.

Etc: Gasaway on the Selection Sunday that wasn't.