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It’s obviously very early for 2013 prospects but Zak Irvin is a name to remember. The multi-dimensional rising sophomore is alreadys 6-foot-4.5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Irvin has already picked up several scholarship offers (Michigan doesn’t offer sophomores until June after their sophomore year) but his interest in Michigan is clear. Irvin has already visited Michigan twice and plans to make the trip back to Ann Arbor this weekend for the UConn game along with his high school teammate Gary Harris, Michigan commitment Trey Burke, and 2012 offeree Glenn Robinson III. Here’s what Irvin had to say when I caught up with him last night:

Describe your game. I shoot the ball really well, especially from midrange.  I rebound pretty well, my ballhandling skills are average, and I see the floor really well.

What offers do you have on the table now? IU, Illinois, Purdue and Xavier.

You’ll be visiting Michigan this weekend, right? I’ll be going to the UConn game, yes.

You visited earlier as well? I’ve been there twice this summer.  One was for an unofficial visit and then the second time was to come and see practice.

You’ve met the new coaches?  What did you think? I like them a lot.  We bonded a lot and we got to know them pretty well.

What did you do on the visit? The first time I came down we toured campus, we had lunch, and they showed me the gym, the fitness center, the football field, the weight room.  The second time I came down I watched practice, wanted to see what their practice looks like.

How did AAU go this summer? It went really well, we played well as a team and I played well this summer, so overall it was a great summer.

Any timeframe for commitment? I will probably have committed to a school after my junior year.

Anything specific you’re trying to improve about you’re game right now? I’m focused on ballhandling and getting stronger.

What do you like about Michigan? I like the basketball court, I love the coaches, I like the weight room and I like the campus in general.

What ultimately goes into your decision? Academics is a big point, relationship with the coach, and I would probably say team prestige.

With the divisions announced tonight, obviously that idea was as enticing to Michigan fans as it was dreadful for Penn State fans:

Katz began back tracking shortly after his original article was published and understandably so. The number one issue that was emphasized throughout the Big Ten Network’s (far too long) prime time special was “competitive balance.” This divisional breakdown is anything but balanced – placing 5 traditional powerhouses in a 6 team division.

It would be a nice break for teams on Michigan’s half of the split but it’s just not fair. In the last 25 years — MSU has 7 shares of the regular season conference crown, Michigan has 2, and Minnesota just one (forfeited). The rest have all gone to Division X.

According to Jim Delany, it appears basketball will be spared from divisional misalignment:

“In basketball, they will start their own course,” Delany said. “The sport is structured completely differently.”

So how should the conference construct the schedule on the basketball side of things? I’m all for keeping things simple – stick with an 18 game schedule with 7 double plays and 4 single plays.

A 16 game divisional structure would be going in the wrong direction (fewer games and more imbalance) and a 20 game round robin is more balanced but would put the Big Ten at a disadvantage compared to other conferences.

Commissioner Delaney made it clear that the Big Ten along with  their athletic directors and basketball coaches would put together a plan that made sense specifically for basketball. Judging by their track record thus far, I’m confident that they will settle for the 18 game “round robin” sans divisions. It’s not perfect but it’s the best option.

It might sound disappointing for Michigan fans, who thought they would be blessed with the significantly weaker division, but looking at the situation rationally there’s really no other option.

Joe Eberhardt (twitter) passed along this video featuring summer highlights from a number of Indiana stars. The video includes footage of a number of Michigan targets including two of Michigan’s expected visitors this weekend: Gary Harris and Zak Irvin. Some other Michigan targets that are featured include Yogi Ferrell, Devin Davis, Basil Smotherman, and Austin Burgett.

• The Wolverines Abroad: Player’s Perspective, Zack Novak
  The best diary of them all from Zack Novak. Worth a read.
• “You’re All In” Q&A with Michigan AD David Brandon: Part 3
  Some very interesting quotes from Brandon on Beilein
• Pointer Points to Five
  Sounds like WVU has a connection to QEA Coach Isaac Pitts. Pointer lists a preliminary top five of WVU, Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee, and St. Johns
• ERIC KATENDA PLANNING 2 ACC OFFICIAL VISITS ($, NBE)
  Georgia Tech and Wake get official visits but Katenda still lists Michigan.
• Big weekend for sophomore ($)
  Zac Irvin talks offers and Elite camps
• Microanalyzing the 2010-2011 Michigan State Basketball Schedule
  I still need to do this for the Michigan schedule… Got caught in the wash with Europe & recruiting stuff

It’s officially football season. There are obviously other places you can debate Michigan’s chances of beating UConn, but football season means visit season and a number of prospects are expected on campus. We’re working to dig up more visitors but here are three that are expected on campus this weekend.

Glenn Robinson III, Gary Harris, and Zak Irvin are all expected on campus this weekend.

Joe first reported on Twitter that Glenn Robinson III plans to make an unofficial visit for the UConn game. Robinson visited a couple weeks ago and picked up a Michigan offer along the way. Last we spoke to him a decision was a ways away but two visits in a months time is certainly a sign of strong mutual interest.

According to The Recruit Scoop, Hamilton Southeastern guard Gary Harris is also planning to make the trip up to Ann Arbor for the UConn game. Harris took an unofficial to Notre Dame over the weekend and also recently stopped by Indiana.

Harris’ high school teammate, 2013 star Zak Irvin, is also expected to make an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor. Irvin recently picked up an offer from Xavier to go along with Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue. Michigan doesn’t offer sophomores until June 15th of their sophomore year but Michigan is in hot pursuit of Irvin, who’s been to campus multiple times.