Michigan Monday: Recaps Basketball, New Walk-On and RB Numbers

I know this Michigan Basketball take will not be a popular one.   I first want to thank Zack and Stu for all they have done for this Michigan Program.   They have gone to 3 NCAA Tournaments and are leaving Ann Arbor as Big Ten Champions.   The Athletic Department should consider retiring their numbers for what they have given to this program.   Well done guys on a wonderful career. 

With that said, something happened to this team after the Purdue loss on senior night.   They looked confused on offense with only Burke and Hardaway being options and played very little defense.    Zack was getting beat often on defense and Stu was missing lay ups.   If Michigan was to make a run in either the Big 10 or NCAA Tournaments they needed something from the seniors and got almost nothing.  Both of those guys needed to be averaging in double figures and I don't think 20-30 points between them was too much to ask.   Michigan didn't get that and two Ohio schools took Burke and Hardaway away and got beat twice.     Ohio is a good team but Michigan got beat in every aspect of that game.   In fact, the score was much closer then the game really seemed.  

Michigan will miss Zack and Stu the next couple of years.  They will miss their leadership and stability but if Michigan is going to make the next step in this programs development, they are going to need some athletic players in those roles that can be a defensive stopper/rebounder and score in double figures.    The last three weeks have been very frustrating to watch after a very solid regular season.

• Michigan landed their second RB in the class on Saturday with the commitment of DeVeon Smith.   What was up for debate was if Michigan would take a 3rd RB in this class with Ty Isaac visiting two weekends ago and Derrick Green coming in on Sunday.  The coaches told Derrick that they would be taking a 3rd running back and they liked him a lot.   I believe this means Michigan would take another RB if it's Isaac or Green but probably are not going to recruit other guys.

• Michigan had a TE prospect visit this weekend in Scott Orndoff who had de-committed from Wisconsin when most of the offensive coaches went to Pitt.  Well, Scott visited Pitt on Sunday after his trip to Ann Arbor and quickly gave his verbal commitment to the Panthers. 

• Just when you thought Mike Cox had played his last game at the Big House!  He is planning to transfer to UMass who will visit Michigan on 9/15. 

• Walk On News:  Michigan continues to fill depth issues with Preferred Walk-On's for the 2012 class.  The next guy to raise his hand in Fenton's TE Quinton Mandle.  Below is his highlights and he isn't ranked by any recruiting services.  The kid looks like a nice athlete with great hands.  He is 6'5 220 pounds and carries just below a 4.0.   Welcome Quinton!