I really have mixed feelings on the UCLA game yesterday. Sorry I couldn’t get anything up earlier, I was up at the Palace watching MSU and Oakland’s games. Mostly I think the UCLA game proved that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A few thoughts on the game.
First, it was a great defensive effort until the last 10 minutes or so. We were playing with and beating a top 10 team. Once UCLA started coming back this team folded somewhat, but the thing here is that this team is so young that they don’t know how to close out games. UCLA has been to two straight Final Fours and just flat out knows how to win close games.
Continue reading ‘UCLA Thoughts’
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- Laval Lucas-Perry video on MGoBlue (bottom right). Good interview, very well spoken kid.
- Watch tomorrows game online here
- Preview of Stuart Douglass’ upcoming game
- Manny Harris
- A story on Legion to make it clear that he is NOT going to end up a Wolverine.
- Eric Lacy on the lineups Michigan has been using lately. A major problem IMO.
- Snyder on LLP
Another update from Nathan Fenno, Verne Lundquist and Billy Packer were at practice, LLP made his debut, Beilein wants to add a big tight end for the scout team (UMHoops.com Guess: Carson Butler) and Jerret Smith may be back soon.
Tomorrow will be a fun one. I am headed to the Michigan game at 2 and then up to the Palace for the “Spartan Clash” featuring MSU vs Texas and Oakland vs Oregon. Hopefully Michigan can make it an interesting game.
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The Wolverines host the #9 UCLA Bruins for a test that will be much harder than their final exams that they just finished. The game looks like a potential blow out but hopefully the Wolverines can get an early Christmas gift. Beilein beat UCLA last year at home and also knocked off Kansas his first year at West Virginia so maybe there is a chance. Read the rest of this story for full position by position breakdown of the match-up as well as some other thoughts.
Date: 12/22/2007
Time: 2pm EST
TV: CBS
Continue reading ‘UCLA @ Michigan Game Preview (Sat. 2 PM EST CBS)’
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Laval Lucas-Perry is officially a Wolverine. This is a great get for Beilein, Perry is a combo gurad who will help shore up the back court depth. It may even allow Manny to slide out to the three next year. The reports on LLP are somewhat mixed but from what I gather he is definetely tough and is a good penetrator. UM has been so dry of played with ability to get in the lane that this is a big positive. His shooting seems to get mixed reviews, but I am sure Beilein will improve on that. The word is also that LLP has grown a little bit too which is definetly a good thing. This is a gift that fell into Michigan’s lap and Beilein did a good job to secure it.
K’Len Morris has decided to leave the program. I heard whispers about this last week and tried to hint at it last night but K’Len is going his own way. I am sure K’Len didn’t like the losing but I think this transfer boils down to two main reasons. First, not feeling like he was getting a good enough chance to shine and feeling like he is better than he was playing or better than the amount of playing time he was getting. Second, the official stated reason for his transfer, his family got relocated to Tennessee and K’Len wants to be close to his family. Best of luck to K’Len wherever he ends up.
Finally, the rumors about Manny continue to swirl. I still say BS. Manny will play his entire career at the University of Michigan. If he wanted to go to Tennessee he would have done it when he had the chance to (without sitting out a year) last spring. Will have a UCLA game preview tommorrow or Friday.
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Rumors have been swirling about potential transfers in and out. First off the message boards have been flying with talk about potential transfers and rumblings on this front. I think most of this is unsubstantiated at this point and is not worth worrying about. Manny, DeShawn, and Ekpe are not going anywhere at this point. If they were going to Manny would have gone to Tennessee, DeShawn to Oregon etc. when they had their chance this spring. Losing hurts and there will be rough patches this year but these kids will stick it out.
Next, back to Alex Legion, seems like this is a topic that won’t go away. The rumors were strong that he would go to Illinois a week ago, and now the Notre Dame rumors are strong. The vibe that I get at this point is that Alex Legion is choosing where he wants to go this time: not Green, not his dad, not his mom. In this case I think that place is Notre Dame, however something is holding this process up. At one point I heard that Notre Dame may not have extended an offer yet. I also heard that while mom and dad may want Legion at Michigan, he doesn’t want to return to Ann Arbor because of how things have happened in the past and not wanting to deal with the past.
Continue reading ‘Transfer Talk’
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LLP has cancelled his Wake Forest trip, definetely positive sign for the Maize and Blue according to his father.
“I would say this is a good sign for Michigan, that’s for sure,” Laval Perry told The Detroit News about his son’s cancelled visit.
Jordan Morgan’s father told the Detroit News that a practice facility would be completed in three years. Very good news indeed for Michigan basketball fans.
Jordan Morgan, a junior center from the University of Detroit Jesuit, made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan on Tuesday. His father, Jim Morgan, said U-M coach John Beilein’s recruiting pitch included news that the facility would be done in three years.
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LLP will be taking more visits. Mark Snyder reports:
“The meeting went very well,” Lucas-Perry’s father, Laval Perry, said tonight. “There was no (decision) but i think Laval and coach Beilein would be a very interesting pair. Laval still wants to see his options but he gained admiration and respect for coach Beilein. Everything he read about coach Beilein came to be true. They became very attached in their conversations.”
Meanwhile Lacy reports that LLP has an offer from Wake Forest and may be visiting there as soon as today. However Lacy also says that LLP would like to reach a decision this week. Hopefully Beilein can close the deal on this one.
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Some confirmation on Jordan Morgan from the Free Press. He is a Wolverine, it will become official Tuesday morning at 9am.
University of Detroit Jesuit High School junior forward Jordan Morgan is committing to the Wolverines and will have a press conference to confirm the announcement on Tuesday morning, the school said in a press release.
Morgan brings a combination of size, skill and toughness that Michigan needs in its front court in upcoming years. Check out the post below for more scouting of Jordan Morgan. Great get for Beilein, and won’t be the only one this week.
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Steve Bell on 08-17-2007
8. Jordan Morgan 6-8 PF Detroit U-D Jesuit
Not as athletic as the big guys ahead of him, but just as, if not more, consistent and productive.
Also from Steve Bell
From Divine Child game last year:
Meanwhile Morgan, at 6-8, 230, could get by without another inch or pound and still manage his way in DI. He has a very thick build for a sophomore, both in the legs and torso, a rare combination. As such, he’s not super athletic (missed a dunk), but moves adroitly, with the confidence of a smaller man. Even with his right wrist wrapped, he caught the ball with assuredness. He cleaned the glass like he should have. His post moves were rudimentary, but with a six-inch height advantage he really didn’t need to bother with anything else and was direct and authoritative about it. Morgan got two early fouls in the first half, but was more aggressive getting the ball in the post in the second half. In built and style of play, think Mark Madsen.
Morgan vs OLSM (Detroit Basketball Report)
Jordan Morgan, 6′8, PF, 2009: Morgan led U-D with 14 points - scoring off skilled post moves and outside jumpers - grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked a pair of shots and threw his weight around inside before fouling out with inside two minutes left.
Morgan continues to progress and is looking more and more like a fit in John Beilein’s offense. DBR would be shocked if this situation doesn’t play out in Michigan’s favor.
While Morgan is showing tremendous progress offensively - his range now extends comfortably to 18 feet, and he was able to get OLSM defenders in the air with nice head fakes from 3-point range - he already does the little things that coaches love.
Morgan’s most underrated aspect is his passing - being a baseball standout, he loves the baseball outlet passes - and he has good vision, can run the court on the break and makes good decisions.
Continue reading ‘Jordan Morgan Report (and latest on LLP and Legion)’
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