Hot Board Updates
Additions:
- Manny Atkins
- Givon Crump
- Nick Russell
- Glen Rice Jr
Subtractions:
- Steven Pledger - OU Commit
- Donnavan Kirk - Miami commit
- DaShonte Riley - Georgetown Commit
- Bill Edwards Jr - Do not think he is a that likely of a target.
- Tyler Koch - Wright State
- Khris Middleton - Texas A&M (He wasn’t on there but I had added him in my update before he committed to A&M)
If I am John Beilein right now I am making every effort to land Darius Morris and then I am pushing for the best available wing player out there. Right now someone like Manny Atkins, Givon Crump or Ben Simmons would look nice in the 2009 class. Summer is always a very fluid time for recruiting so a lot of names will come and go (as you can see by the large list of subtractions and additions).
View the updated 2009 Hotboard
Mailbag
Thanks to everyone who sent in questions, as always don’t hesitate to send a question to umhoops@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, or comments. I’ll try to start doing this every week or at least as often as I get enough questions.
What year do you think will be the key year for the Beilein turnaround at Michigan? I know he has said in the past it has between the second and third year, but do you think it could be longer that that considering the practice facility might need to be up and running (or at least under construction) before they turn the corner and make the NCAAs? Or do you think these won’t go hand-in-hand because of the type of player Beilein recruits (”We want players that will knock down the door to attend UM.” - Beilein during 1st month on the job).
Tom Herhusky
I don’t think the practice facility is necessary for Beilein to turn this thing around, and even if it was once concrete plans are laid out that becomes a recruiting pitch in itself. It’s become pretty clear that Beilein recruits his way, not the fans way and not Rivals way. It makes it very hard as fans to predict who he is going to recruit that’s for sure. I don’t think any of us would have guessed the way the Novak recruitment played out. But back to the question I think the magic year is year 3. This is because that is DeShawn and Ekpe’s senior year and I think DeShawn is the key to this thing right now. Year three will hopefully be a good combination of experience (DeShawn, Manny, Grady, Gibson) and young talent (Benzing, Morgan, Morris (hopefully), and others) as well as shooters (Stu, Novak). If Beilein can’t break through with this squad into the tournament that year I don’t know what it will take. The next year we will lose one of our key pieces and who knows if Manny jumps ship at any time either.
Was wondering if you have any inside info. on when Martin might announce a plan to renovate Crisler and build a new practice facility. The last that I had heard was that they were hoping to get a plan approved by the regent’s yet this year. Is it your opinion that they will spend the monies necessary to make this project first class all the way, in other words will the practice facility to nice and will Crisler be improved dramatically.
James Hoyt
I don’t have any inside info about the practice facility but Eric Lacy posted this scoop a couple days ago saying there should be a practice facility by 2010. Looking at other projects around the athletic campus I am confident that the athletic department will make the practice facility first class all the way. Maybe in some sick and twisted way by being one of the last to build a practice facility will lead to us having the best (until the second round starts going up).
When do the freshmen get on campus?
It’s normally in late June. Summer classes begin June 25th at U-M so I would assume right around there.
Are more details available on why Benzing might have to sit out a year?
Here is some reading material on why I don’t think Benzing will be able to play next year. The NCAA seems to have set a pretty strong precedent.
How will each of the freshmen contribute next year (including LLP)?
I see Mike Barwis was the strength and conditioning coach for WVU basketball while it was coached by Beilein. Is Barwis the S&C coach for football and basketball at UM or is there a separate S&C coach for UM Basketball? Will reuniting Barwis and Beilien make a difference for UM basketball in the years ahead?
Why doesn’t Beilien grab a UM football player or two to fill out his roster next year? We could use some big, strong guys to round out our front line.
Mike Koppenol
Barwis is not the main S&C coach for the basketball team. That main is Jim Plocki (husband of Michigan gymnastics coach Bev Plocki). Jim was on staff under Gittleson as well but as I understand it Barwis oversees the S&C for the entire athletic department so if Plocki did not buy into Barwis’ methods he would most likely be canned.
Beilein tried to grab a football player during the last season. The two on the list were Martell Webb and Carson Butler however everything could not be worked out with respect to academics and it never came to be. Playing two sports would be awfully hard and I would assume you would need top notch grades as well to juggle both.
Do I understand correctly that the University is only going to upgrade Crisler and build a practice facility and there is no University interest or dollars to build a new facility to replace Crisler Arena . Doesn’t this lack foresight? Have they even thought about raising the money for a new facility? Call it Adidas Hall if they have to.
Gene Cheng
Right now the plan is to build a practice facility connected to Crisler on the large hill/steps side. In terms of replacing Crisler, Bill Martin has said repeatedly that Crisler has a good foundation and an entirely new facility is not necessary. There are planned renovations to Crisler including things like heat and water in the short term and more luxurious additions later on I would assume. The lights went in last year and a sound system is going in this year. I don’t think the University will be tearing down Crisler any time soon.
I see that Russell Byrd is coming to visit A2 next Tuesday (link)….Do you know if there is any relationship between him and either Novak and Douglass to help recruit him to A2?
Byrd is a big time 2010 prospect from Indiana who is visiting next week as Sam Webb reported. I don’t know if there’s any prior relationship between Byrd and either of our Indiana recruits. The first thing is that Novak and Stu are two years older than Byrd and that’s a pretty decent sized age gap. Second if I am not mistaken Byrd plays for Blessed IJN and Novak and Stu both played for different Indy Elite teams. Rivals reported that Byrd, a lights out shooter to say the least, had 14 made three pointers in last weekend’s TOC tournament. Byrd is a definite high major and one to watch for 2010, it’s good that Michigan is in on him early and already getting him up on campus. Seems a lot more like Beilein is trying to establish an Indiana pipeline instead of a Detroit pipeline.
Using a .500 record as a barometer for a successful season next year, what things have to go right in order to achieve such an accomplishment? (health and avoiding suspension are obvious, I’m thinking more along the lines of player development)
If you were John Beilein, what would you do differently in your approach to next season based on what you learned this year?
Finally, I know you have some complaints about the Basketball Band’s role in the Crisler atmosphere. Being a former member of the Basketball Band, I thought I’d ask you about it. I haven’t been to a home game in years and I no longer know the current director or any members - thus I can’t defend or criticize what you may have experienced recently. But I’d like to hear what you would want them to do differently to improve the atmosphere. The Hockey Band is revered at their home games playing almost the exact same music. Likewise I hear a lot of complaints from people going to NBA games regarding the piped in loud music - whether it be ancient stuff or recent hip-hop. So how would you handle the game-day experience? (I also happen to know the band is very welcoming to input and only wants to help the team succeed, so fire away with the feedback.)
1. Here’s a quick list of three things that would go a long way toward a .500 record next year:
- DeShawn Sims. DeShawn’s development is crucial for next year he has to keep developing his game and become a consistent threat inside and outside. I think this is by far the most important player to watch in terms of player development and there is a reason Beilein has made DeShawn his “personal project”. I also think the mental aspect of DeShawn’s game is one that needs a lot of work.
- The Freshman. These freshmen are unheralded but are going to be called upon to either get it done or not. I think at least Cronin and one of the two guards are going to play substantial minutes. Whether they can be successful or not will go a long way towards how well the team performs.
- A Third Scorer. Manny Harris is a proven scorer already and while he is clearly key to our success I didn’t include him because we know what he should give us. Someone needs to step up and become the third viable option second to Manny and DeShawn. I think this guy has to be Laval Lucas-Perry.
If I was Beilein I would be trying to forget last year honestly. One issue is how badly we played the 1-3-1 last year, Beilein basically scrapped it in the middle of the season but I think looking at this year’s roster we are going to need it. With our lack of size and toughness inside I find it hard to believe that we won’t see a lot of the 1-3-1 this year.
The band certainly has room for improvement and it is a step in the right direction that they are aware of it and are open to suggestions (I have also heard this). However some things are out of their control as well, for example from what I understand the plan to move the band above the tunnel got nixed by the athletic department. I think the biggest problem with the band is lack of excitement; Crisler needs a far more exciting atmosphere. I may be in the minority but I would be all for piping in music with the new sound equipment.
Thanks for sending in questions, if I didn’t answer yours I’m sorry and I’ll try to get to it next week.
2008 Michigan Recruiting Wrap Up
The late signing period for 2008 recruits is complete and freshman will be arriving on campus for summer term at the end of June so I figured now would be a great time to look back at Michigan’s 2008 class and see how they fit in and take a look at expectations for next season.
Ben Cronin
Beilein’s first grab in 2008, Cronin had a very solid season leading his team into the playoffs. Cronin put up monster numbers, posting several triple doubles and totaling a ridiculous numbers of blocks. However the reports on Cronin have always been that he is playing against people much smaller than him for the most part and also against sub-par competition. Maybe Cronin can be like Mike Hart, another 3 star recruit from upstate New York who played against sub-par competition… but at this point that seems like a pipe dream. Cronin’s role has changed dramatically with the Ekpe Udoh transfer. Before Ekpe’s departure I expected Cronin to most likely red shirt or else get spot minutes off the bench against teams with a lot of size. Now Cronin is the back-up center for next year. At 7-1 260, Cronin has some of the size he will need but most importantly he needs to get his body in the kind of shape necessary for the rigors of the BigTen season. He definitely sounds like he has the right attitude so hopefully he puts in the work and is a pleasant surprise. (Past updates on Ben Cronin)
Stuart Douglass
The next commitment was Stuart Douglass, a 6-3 sharpshooting shooting guard from Carmel, Indiana. Stu is a lights out shooter that much is a pretty safe bet. The questions with Stu are about his ball handling, defense, and athleticism and whether they can hold up at the Big Ten level. Stu was one of the leading scorers on a Carmel team that was state-ranked in Indiana all season but had a disappointing finish in the state tournament. Stu had a very rough day (day-night doubleheader) shooting the ball and his Carmel team were knocked out early and their run at the state title was cut short. That being said Stu was close to leading the state in 3 pointers made and shot them at close to a 40% clip for the season, on a team that had so much trouble shooting the ball, who’s 3 point percentage leader was Ekpe Udoh, and is coached by John Beilein it is hard to see Stu not getting a chance to prove himself this year. (Past updates on Stuart Douglass)
Zack Novak
The next commitment also raised some eyebrows while there were still players like Watts, Cassity and Ebuka on the board Beilein went with Zack Novak, the 6-5 wing who is also from Indiana. Novak was a 4 year starter on varsity and was the third leading scorer in the state averaging 27 points per game along with 8 rebounds per contest. The number that is sure to have made Beilein’s eyes light up is Zack’s 39% three point shooting. With Novak’s numbers it’s hard to determine why he was never a higher rated recruit. Whether it is his reported lack of athleticism or tweener size, Novak appears to be a pure scorer. I think the big question with Zack is how well his game translates at the high major level. He had great battles with Luke Harangody in high school so he has clearly played against some decent competition. Novak is my bet to get more of the guard minutes at this point than Stu but that is just pure speculation. I think at this point he has a more rounded game and has a better chance to jump in and play. (Past updates on Zack Novak)
Laval Lucas-Perry
I am including Laval in this breakdown because he will be really joining the team next year and will have freshman eligibility after sitting out the first semester. Laval is a kid that I am really excited about, reports on Lucas-Perry are promising and I think he will be a starter from Day 1. For those who don’t know the background, Lucas-Perry was a Rivals 150 guard prospect from Flint Powers whom originally committed to Arizona (over Michigan and MSU) very shortly after Alex Legion effectively (re-)snatched the last backcourt scholarship Michigan had open. It is all mindless speculation whether Laval would have committed to Michigan if Legion wasn’t here but after Lute Olsen did not coach the Wildcats last year “LLP” decided to transfer back home to Michigan. I am confident that Laval Lucas-Perry will start from the first day he is eligible (presumably December 20th @ Oakland) and the only question is whether it is at the point guard or shooting guard. (Past updates on Laval Lucas-Perry)
Robin Benzing
I will include Benzing in this 2008 breakdown even though I fully expect the NCAA to rule him ineligible to play in the 2008/2009 season because of playing basketball in Germany. I see Benzing as the heir to DeShawn Sims’ position, a tall (6-10) lanky wing who will mostly play outside but hopefully has the size to guard opposing four men. Benzing is reportedly a good shooter (from the international line, even further than the new college line) and I think is a very good grab for Beilein. Many people think the Benzing commitment is in reaction to Ekpe Udoh’s transfer but I disagree. I don’t think Beilein ever sees Benzing getting minutes at the five unless it is due to injuries or some other catastrophic disaster. (Past updates on Robin Benzing)
The next issue is where does the playing time for these young cats come from. I basically see two possibilities for the depth chart:
Option 1:
PG: Kelvin Grady/CJ Lee/Dave Merritt
SG: Laval Lucas-Perry/Stu Douglass
SF: Manny Harris/Zack Novak/Jevohn Shepherd
PF: DeShawn Sims/Anthony Wright
C: Zack Gibson/Ben Cronin
Option 1 is probably the less radical depth chart for next season. I think that Laval may also spell Kelvin instead of CJ Lee or Dave Merrit (whom I am assuming is returning but not positive). I think Novak is capable to slide over and play the two if necessary too. Anthony Wright played a lot of wing this year but I don’t see how he doesn’t get minutes at the 4 when DeShawn Sims may even have to play some five with how thin this team is up front.
Option 2:
PG: LLP/Grady/CJ Lee/Merritt
SG: Novak/Douglass
SF: Manny/Shepherd
PF: DeShawn Sims/Anthony Wright
C: Gibson/Cronin
In option 2, I see Novak, Douglass, and Manny as basically 3 guys for 2 positions. I think Manny will learn the wing next year and after playing the guard spot this year he will be able to basically play any position in the back court (1,2,3). I like Laval starting at the one guard if he can do it because he provides a scoring threat that Grady just can’t provide at this point in his career.
Note: With LLP not eligible until December 20th, option 1 is clearly the starting point for next season and Stu and Novak will probably both be getting pretty solid minutes to begin the season.
Note #2: I’m not including Benzing in any of these projections because I have nothing that leads me to believe he will be eligible next year.
In conclusion we have a group of kids who are all “under the radar”, “unranked”, or whatever else you want to call it. But we also have a group of kids that this team is going to rely on next year. Hopefully we can catch lightning in a bottle a couple of these kids get hot and we will have something to work with early. Beilein has spoken highly about all of these recruits (what coach doesn’t?) and some close to the program have also stated that the staff expects these kids to contribute. Once July rolls around and everyone is on campus I’m sure the meaningless reports of Zack and Stu shooting the lights out in open-gym will be out there but the real test will be when the lights turn on in November. One other note, I have a running list of scheduled (and rumored) non-conference games for next season.
Steven Pledger to Oklahoma
An 09 target off the board, Steven Pledger verballed to Oklahoma today. I had reported that Pledger was planning on attending UM’s Elite Camp this summer but that is understandably probably nixed now. Capel at Oklahoma had previous ties to the Virginia area from his days at VCU which makes the commitment not a huge surprise. The lack of articles, talk, publications etc about Pledger and Michigan recently could have been writing on the wall that Pledger and UM were not meant to be. Anyways congrats and best of luck to Steven at Oklahoma.
Mail Bag
I’m going to try something new and take questions through email and then answer them on the site. Send your questions to umhoops@gmail.com sometime this week (or anytime really) and then I will post the answers on this site.
Weekend Links
- Home and home with Seton Hall?
Next years schedule certainly isn’t looking full of cupcakes. I get the feeling that UCLA won’t be on the schedule besides the potential matchup in the Coaches Vs Cancer. - Watts to UNC
This is old news by now but Watts committed to UNC after holding out for that offer for a long time. - Big day in Detroit with the Wings, Pistons and Tigers all playing. Don’t forget to buy Pistons, Red Wings, or Tigers tickets. ($10 off using code: EX26)
Happy Memorial Day Weekend
Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend, I probably won’t be updating the blog much over the weekend unless anything pressing comes up. Next week I’ll have more reaction on the Benzing commit, an updated Hot Board, and a look back at the 2008 class now that everything is wrapped up.
Benzing To Michigan
It seemed like everyone was just waiting for this to become official, Robin Benzing has signed with Michigan. I have written lots about him the last week or so, make sure you check out this big post if you missed it. I think Benzing is going to play the four at Michigan and is the perfect skilled type of four man that Beilein loves. Benzing will enroll at Michigan this year but most likely sit out a year and then have 3 years to play because of eligibility rules with the NCAA. Here is what Beilein had to say on Benzing:
“With a lot of hard work, we feel Robin will be a valuable asset to the program,” said Beilein. “He is long, versatile, and at 6-10 has a high skill level. The recruitment of foreign players is a bit more complicated now than in the past. The NCAA’s current academic and amateur certification process may affect Robin’s initial eligibility to play at Michigan. We will follow the situation closely and hopefully know more as soon as possible.”
Monday Bullets
- Describing PG Darius Morris (Scout $)
Six-foot-three Los Angeles PG Darius Morris plans to visit Michigan in June. So GoBlueWolverine spoke to Morris’ head coach Miguel Villegas about his star player. - Scout Final 2008 Top 100
Nobody wearing Maize and Blue, 2009 rankings from Scout coming later this week. - $10 Off Pistons Playoff Tickets
Use Code: EX26 at checkout, works for any tickets at StubHub. - More Carty on Udoh
Sunday Bullets
- DaShonte Riley is a Hoya
I wonder if the latest Rivals ranking update had anything to do with his quick decision. - German basketball player has interest in U-M
Lacy weighs in on Benzing, I feel good about this one and put him on the best guess list for a reason. - Is Kansas in danger of losing basketball title?
What does the NCAA do? My bet: nothing. - Udoh considers OU, OSU after leaving Michigan
A couple Ekpe quotes for those who care anymore…
Udoh on why he transfered: “I didn’t feel I utilized my skills in the system (Michigan coach) John Beilein was running,” Udoh said. “And I wanted to get closer to home.”
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