Several notes on Michigan basketball and football, including the latest on who's coming and going on the hoops side and some more tidbits from football practice.
Starting with hoops ...
Several continue to ask who might return in 2021-22 from Juwan Howard's current group of Wolverines — specifically, they want percentages. The fact is, those change daily. Some haven't made up their minds, while others might be leaning one way one week, another the next. In some instances, circumstances change.
We can say that the longer this team continues to excel, the more likely it is that the veterans — senior guards Mike Smith and Eli Brooks, senior wing Chaundee Brown in particular — will feel they've accomplished enough. We know they've talked about wondering what it would be like to play in front of a crowd at U-M (in Smith and Brown's case), but Brown is playing well on the big stage and has a pro career.
What about Smith? As all know, he's a Columbia grad. When we asked him several week ago, he said he hadn't made up his mind. There were some who told us he was leaning toward coming back — since then, Smith has received some job offers, and an opportunity in particular in a large, midwestern city that's waiting for him and that he really likes.
That's why the odds have continued to drop, and why we wrote the article recently about Howard's recruiting beginning with Smith and Brooks. Everyone loves the thought of the next big recruit, but there's no replacing the experience on the big stage and what these guys have accomplished. Getting one or both back to continue to groom the younger guys would be a coup, but at this point, they might be lucky to get even one. Brooks has had a long and fruitful career and is eyeing a career in Europe. Another Final Four might seal that deal.
Sophomore Franz Wagner is very likely moving on to the NBA, frosh Hunter Dickinson staying. There's talk (only talk) that Brandon Johns could look at a potential grad transfer, though his recent performances should be very encouraging, and we haven't heard anything about Austin Davis possibly staying to provide minutes behind Dickinson at the five, but that should be an option.
That's where things stand today. We'll continue to monitor this over the next several weeks.
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Some more spring football notes ...
The offensive line is still a work in progress, but one guy we had penciled in needs to get in better shape if he's going to win a starting spot. Grad transfer Willie Allen is skilled, but he's not moving as well as he can and will have to trim down and put in some work to earn a job. They like him, but that's a big caveat.
Frosh linebacker Junior Colson is running with the twos, but maybe not for long. He's been that good. Meritocracy is actually in play on the defensive side of the ball, to the point that a few high-profile veterans aren't really pleased with their standing on the depth chart right now. How that plays out (portal, etc.) is anyone's guess at this point, but it doesn't appear new coordinator Mike Macdonald is going to be pampering anyone (nor should he. This is Michigan, fergodssakes).
We mentioned potential movement at tight end. It sounds like — for now, at least — that's on hold. Guys are putting in the work there, and it's been good.
The secondary has been really, really solid with Vince Gray and Gemon Green at the corners and Brad Hawkins and Dax Hill behind them at safety. DJ Turner and Jalen Perry are the backup corners at present, and they are coming on. It will be interesting to see if the guys behind them are willing to continue to compete.
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Finally, the last word on transfer Giles Jackson ...
This one shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone paying attention here the last few weeks. While we aren't (and have never been) about "it's all the kid's fault" — we've said many times the culture needs fixing, and that starts at the top — we're okay with this one. Without going into detail, there are often factors that aren't made public that are better off not seeing the light of day in some cases when it comes to transfers.
Count this as one of those situations. It was best for both parties that he move on. And no, we do not believe it affects Xavier Worthy, on whom he worked to land in Ann Arbor.
Michigan has more than enough players with Jackson's skillset to fill the void. He had some nice returns, usually against the bottom-feeders, but from a physical standpoint — and again — they have more than enough firepower to make up for his absence.
Onward.
Starting with hoops ...
Several continue to ask who might return in 2021-22 from Juwan Howard's current group of Wolverines — specifically, they want percentages. The fact is, those change daily. Some haven't made up their minds, while others might be leaning one way one week, another the next. In some instances, circumstances change.
We can say that the longer this team continues to excel, the more likely it is that the veterans — senior guards Mike Smith and Eli Brooks, senior wing Chaundee Brown in particular — will feel they've accomplished enough. We know they've talked about wondering what it would be like to play in front of a crowd at U-M (in Smith and Brown's case), but Brown is playing well on the big stage and has a pro career.
What about Smith? As all know, he's a Columbia grad. When we asked him several week ago, he said he hadn't made up his mind. There were some who told us he was leaning toward coming back — since then, Smith has received some job offers, and an opportunity in particular in a large, midwestern city that's waiting for him and that he really likes.
That's why the odds have continued to drop, and why we wrote the article recently about Howard's recruiting beginning with Smith and Brooks. Everyone loves the thought of the next big recruit, but there's no replacing the experience on the big stage and what these guys have accomplished. Getting one or both back to continue to groom the younger guys would be a coup, but at this point, they might be lucky to get even one. Brooks has had a long and fruitful career and is eyeing a career in Europe. Another Final Four might seal that deal.
Sophomore Franz Wagner is very likely moving on to the NBA, frosh Hunter Dickinson staying. There's talk (only talk) that Brandon Johns could look at a potential grad transfer, though his recent performances should be very encouraging, and we haven't heard anything about Austin Davis possibly staying to provide minutes behind Dickinson at the five, but that should be an option.
That's where things stand today. We'll continue to monitor this over the next several weeks.
****
Some more spring football notes ...
The offensive line is still a work in progress, but one guy we had penciled in needs to get in better shape if he's going to win a starting spot. Grad transfer Willie Allen is skilled, but he's not moving as well as he can and will have to trim down and put in some work to earn a job. They like him, but that's a big caveat.
Frosh linebacker Junior Colson is running with the twos, but maybe not for long. He's been that good. Meritocracy is actually in play on the defensive side of the ball, to the point that a few high-profile veterans aren't really pleased with their standing on the depth chart right now. How that plays out (portal, etc.) is anyone's guess at this point, but it doesn't appear new coordinator Mike Macdonald is going to be pampering anyone (nor should he. This is Michigan, fergodssakes).
We mentioned potential movement at tight end. It sounds like — for now, at least — that's on hold. Guys are putting in the work there, and it's been good.
The secondary has been really, really solid with Vince Gray and Gemon Green at the corners and Brad Hawkins and Dax Hill behind them at safety. DJ Turner and Jalen Perry are the backup corners at present, and they are coming on. It will be interesting to see if the guys behind them are willing to continue to compete.
****
Finally, the last word on transfer Giles Jackson ...
This one shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone paying attention here the last few weeks. While we aren't (and have never been) about "it's all the kid's fault" — we've said many times the culture needs fixing, and that starts at the top — we're okay with this one. Without going into detail, there are often factors that aren't made public that are better off not seeing the light of day in some cases when it comes to transfers.
Count this as one of those situations. It was best for both parties that he move on. And no, we do not believe it affects Xavier Worthy, on whom he worked to land in Ann Arbor.
Michigan has more than enough players with Jackson's skillset to fill the void. He had some nice returns, usually against the bottom-feeders, but from a physical standpoint — and again — they have more than enough firepower to make up for his absence.
Onward.
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