Our third full season is in the books and it was quite a journey with a full spectrum of highs and lows. The season was not only a joy to watch and follow, it was a great opportunity to continuously improve our coverage. We continued to provide all of the typical content that you have come accustomed to – previews, recaps, analysis and recruiting features – but were also able to add to our base.
Our goal is to be the primary source for Michigan basketball coverage on the internet. We probably aren’t there yet, but will keep working until we are. We added Joe to the mix as our credentialed correspondent and he’s provided over 175 posts and 200 original videos in the last year. We added the Five Key Plays feature, which seems to be a tremendous hit, and also added David Merritt to the mix with some original content. We handled our end of the bargain, with over 400 posts this season, but, most importantly, you did your part as well. Every open thread, recap and preview was filled with endless thoughtful debate. Your comments are certainly the driving force behind this website. The average number of comments per post this season was almost double the cumulative average over the last three years.
I also need to thank four people specifically. Joe Stapleton has been tremendous for the last year. Whether it was running between AAU gyms, trudging his way to media availability or skipping class to cover a game, he’s been an invaluable resource. Josh Houchin has turned into our resident video guru, churning out videos for Five Key Plays and always being ready to cut whatever clip we might need. David Merritt volunteered to play a part in the site, composing videos and snapping photos on road trips while sharing his analysis as well. All three have had a direct impact on the quality of content increasing by a significant margin. Joe Eberhardt has also consistently provided us with quality recruiting information, scouting and video from the state of Indiana.
You all knew this was coming, but running the site isn’t free and we like to reach out to you twice a year to ask for your support. We’ve traveled across the midwest following this team as well as covering AAU and high school games. We are not asking for a monthly donation, and by no means should you feel obligated. If you are able to offer some support, it will go directly toward the costs of supporting the site(travel, gas, writer compensation) and will enable further growth going forward. You can donate at anytime by clicking the button in the sidebar, or with this link below:
As great as this season was, we hope the majority of you hang with us through the off season. We’ll have plenty of wrap up content – player evaluations, statistical musing and whatever else – and we are also ready to dive into the thick of recruiting season. It should be a fun ride, especially with the momentum that this last season has provided.
