MICHIGAN MEN'S BASKETBALL- '23 -'24 Season.

[Mike]

I don’t think Michigan offers a degree program in Swahili.

[hack]

Jambo, friends. Michigan may not want to have a serious basketball program anymore. One thing for sure is that it's wrong and infuriating to leave Juwan taking bullets for the school's inability to just be normal. Juwan isn't perfect but you shouldn't have to be. He's doing the best he can and is not to be blamed IMO. Seth at mgoblog is doing good work explaining how shitty Michigan can be to itself sometimes.

[Whitley]

Jambo, friends. Michigan may not want to have a serious basketball program anymore.

Not sure on that. Michigan is still in Nkamhoua. A couple days ago, MAC player of the year G RayJ Dennis visited Ann Arbor.

If they could land both it would be a very interesting team. The portal and NIL have turned things into chaos the question is if Michigan can surf the turbulent waves.

[hack]

Nkamhoua is taking an in-person visit to WVU, which, by all accounts, will offer him far more NIL than Michigan will. I respect your ability to feel positive until there's less than no justification for it, but things look pretty bad. There's certainly a chance that Howard pulls a miracle and fields a respectable team despite the university making that as hard as possible to do, but I'm not counting on it.

[Whitley]

Olivier Nkamhoua will visit WV on 5/27 and Michigan on 6/2

no other visits are scheduled.

[Whitley]

Also RayJ Dennis, according to the Chicago Sun-Times tonight, is expected to make his decision soon. Michigan is in the mix for him too.

[Whitley]

Well this is good news on the RayJ Dennis front. Terrance Shannon and Coleman Hawkins withdrew their name from the NBA Draft and will return to Illinois. The Illini were considered a legit contender for his services.

[Whitley]

RayJ Dennis chooses Baylor

[Whitley]

Michigan made the top 5 for UC Riverside (grad transfer) for 6'4 G Zyon Pullin who put up 18.3 ppg with 4.4 boards and 4.2 dimes (2.4 turnovers) in 33.9 minutes. He shot .486 from the floor with .394 behind the arc on 2.3 tries.

The other schools are:

Florida
Gozaga
LSU
Xavier

[hack]

Doesn't seem like we were ever a serious contender for RayJ.

[Whitley]

Doesn't seem like we were ever a serious contender for RayJ.

I would say if you get a visit you are serious contender. RayJ visited Illinois, Baylor, Michigan and Utah. I do think Illini might have been the top place but Shannon and the other guy game back.

[Whitley]

Nkamhoua is down to two schools..... WVU and Baylor.

[hack]

Pullin is also down to 2 schools, neither of which is Michigan. I won't give up on this year -- there's still some talent on the team and Juwan is a heck of a coach in many ways, so he could wring a last bit of joy out of this. But Dug and Tarris are probably going to be tampered with constantly going into next offseason. Juwan surely won't be keen to stay either, and I don't want to think about what a Warde-led coaching search finds to take this over. Hard to see scenarios in which there's anything to feel good about.

[Whitley]

Pullin is also down to 2 schools, neither of which is Michigan. I won't give up on this year -- there's still some talent on the team and Juwan is a heck of a coach in many ways, so he could wring a last bit of joy out of this. But Dug and Tarris are probably going to be tampered with constantly going into next offseason. Juwan surely won't be keen to stay either, and I don't want to think about what a Warde-led coaching search finds to take this over. Hard to see scenarios in which there's anything to feel good about.

This offseason has been such a kick in the nuts over and over again. Lost the top 3 scorers (Hunter/Bufkin/Howard) a good three point shooter (Baker) and depth guys (Barnes and Glenn 3) and a decommittment ( Papa Kante)

They had one transfer leave before he got here (Love) and did pick up a couple more transfers(Burnett and Trey Jackson) and one in the recuriting class (Goerge Washington 3)

Right now the starting lineup is probably this: Dug/JL/Burnett/T Jackson and Reed

Jackson and JL can hit the trey (and so can Dug to a degree). So the spacing should be a lot better this year. JL and Dug are both capable points so Michigan should be a lot less sloppy with the ball against press and traps this season. Burnett by all accounts is a very good defender and that will be a help.


Bench probably looks something like this: GW3, Terrence Williams, Cheddar. Khayat/J Howard

Bench production was a major issue last year and probably will be again this season. GW3 will have to come in and contribute at least with his shot right away and not be overwhelmed running the offense. I suspect that one of Dug or JL will be on the court at all times with him. Williams and Cheddar run hot and cold with their offense, though Cheddar seems to contribute in other ways. Williams can jsut disappear. Khayat, if his shot is as good as advertised, could claim some real minutes. Howard will be out there for his defense certain nights.

Got 3 scholarships open right now. If Michigan can get a legit starting 2 to bring JL off the bench that would be a major boon. Still need another legit big too otherwise it is going to be small ball every time Reed is off the floor Howard is going to have to coach his ass off this year. But it should be a scrappy squad. Making the tourney should be the goal. It could be a really rough year.

[Whitley]

In some stunning absolutely stunning need..Olivier Nkamhoua has committed to Michigan