Michigan Tuesday: Guys are Coming In and Going Out

The NCAA has to work on the timing of the transfer portal.  If teams are still playing the portal should be closed.  Either way, we have Wolverines coming and one new guard to welcome.  

Best of Luck includes the following:

• Jace Howard 
• Sam Walters 
• Justin Pippen

I had high hopes for Sam as I thought he was the answer Michigan needed as a knock down shooter.  The issue is he struggled on defense and ended up with a bad back that kept him out of games late in the season.   We have already discussed Justin and we wish Jace the best of luck at his next school. 

Big news is Michigan has landed former 5-star PG Elliot Cadeau from UNC.  Michigan struggled with play making abilities this year and the hope is Elliot will fill that void next season.   Welcome to the team and a great early get for the Wolverines.  Elliot averaged 9 points and 6 assists for North Carolina last season. 

• 4-star 2026 RB Javian Osborne is down to 2 schools, ND and Michigan.  Both will get one visit before he decides on his next school.  He will not take any other visits.  

• Happy Birthday to Michigan Legends Bo Schembechler and Bob Ufer.  Go Blue Forever! 

• Does Michigan have a QB depth problem?  Michigan right now only has 2 healthy QB's in Spring Practice, Underwood and Davis.  Warren has the ACL and Keene is also injured and could be contemplating jumping back into the portal.   If Keene is not healthy and/or jumps, Michigan will need another QB in the Spring Portal session. 

Michigan Tuesday: New Times

The Minnesota game was a late network pick and start time.  This weekend they finally agreed on Noon and Fox being the network.   The networks have also agreed on the National Championship rematch when Michigan travels to Seattle on 10/5 to take on their former OC Jedd Fisch.   That game will be the NBC night game with a 7:30 kick.  The only other known start time is the Ohio State game at noon of course.

Michigan is -9 on Saturday. 

• In shocking news, Coach Moore announced that Orji would continue as the starter.  

• It seems Mack Brown offered to step down after UNC's embarrassment this past weekend. 

• Michigan now #12 in the AP

• Important game to watch this weekend, Illinois at Penn State.  Michigan travels to Illinois in a few weeks. 

• Kris Jenkins played in his first NFL game for the Bengals last night.  Erik All had a number of nice catches and looks to be getting regular playing time. 

From PFF X: Enough Said:

Michigan Friday: Lots of News and Rumors

Plenty of news and the rumor mill continues to spin on who might be back and who won't for the Wolverines Basketball team.  Lets get right to it.  

• Rumor Eli leaning at coming back:  As I mentioned yesterday, in my humble opinion this is the best move for Eli.  He is a smart basketball player, can run the point while Zeb and Frankie learn the role.  

• Rumor Chaundee leaning at coming back: I also think this is the right choice.  I believe when Brown came to Michigan he was thinking 2 years and not 1.  

• Michigan has picked up another offensive analyst in Kyle DeVan.  Kyle played at Oregon State and was an NFL Offensive lineman.   Anytime Michigan can get more coaches on the O-Line, that is a good thing! 

• Juwan Howard was named by the AP as the National Coach of the Year!  Well deserved honor! 

• Illinois Freshman starter Adam Miller, who was seriously thinking of flipping to Michigan before committing to Illinois, is now in the transfer portal.  He averaged over 8 points and game and scored 10 in both of Illinois NCAA Tournament games.   I don't know if there will be interest or not from Juwan, with 6 freshman coming in and maybe a few seniors staying, there is not going to be enough room at the Inn. 

• UNC's Roy Williams has retired.  It will be interesting to see who backfills one of the highest profile jobs in the sport. 

• Chris Beard at TT is taking the Texas job.  That was really the only option. 

• Iowa's Luke Garza as expected wins the AP Player of the Year award. 

Michigan Friday: Wow Juwan Howard

Tim Aylen, Battle 4 Atlantis 

Michigan blew UNC off the court on Thanksgiving afternoon.  Yes, it only ended up a 9 point game and UNC made a nice run at the end but that really doesn't tell the entire story.  The Wolverines at one point in the second half were up by 24 points and Coach Roy Williams was so mad at his team he wasn't calling a timeout to stop the run.   Yes, the Tar Heels went completely cold and couldn't throw the ball into the ocean from the Atlantis resort beach, but some of that credit goes to Michigan's defense.   It also goes to show you that pretty much everyone is equal in the NCAA right now and anyone can beat anyone.   It's also clear that Michigan opponents don't want to battle Teske in the low post.  His defense is outstanding!

Brooks had another good game as Michigan's top scorer with 24 and DD brought energy and another good scoring performance with 11 off the bench.

Michigan did have some foul trouble with both Simpson and Livers fouling out.   I also could see both teams were getting a bit tired about midway during the second half.  The Wolverines now will play in the Championship game today against another top 10 team in Gonzaga.   I was glad the Zags beat the Ducks because Michigan is already playing Oregon in a couple of weeks at Crisler.

If Michigan can get Franz Wagner comfortable, this could be really a nice team heading into Big Ten play.   Michigan will continue to have some serious tests with today's championship,  2 Big Ten games in December loom, a trip to probably #1 ranked Louisville, and hosting the Oregon Ducks.

Michigan Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving to the entire Michigan Fan Base!

Juwan Howard's team passed a test on Wednesday beating Iowa State but will have a real big test today as they face #6 North Carolina.  It was nice to see Franz Wagner back on the court and he hit two 3 pointers and finished with 6 points.  Michigan had balanced scoring with a side of 22 turnovers, which of course is way too much.  DD had another nice scoring game from the bench with 14 and Simpson sniffed a triple double (but had 8 TO's of his own).   Livers was again the top scorer with 17 points and Castleton's 10 points was a bit of a surprise.   Good Luck to Michigan today with NC and with Duke's loss it now looks like they will be playing the #1 ranked Louisville Cardinals next week.

• It seems Michigan maybe interested in former 2018 5 star WR Justin Shorter who is transferring from Penn State.   He did have a Michigan offer before signing with Penn State.   Justin is no longer on PSU's roster, so expect him to find a new home for next season.   As you may know, Josh Gattis was Justin's recruiter at Penn State. 

• Speaking of Penn State,  James Franklin seems to be on the top of FSU's wish list.   Reports are there is mutual interest.   Franklin could also be a candidate for USC if they make a coaching chance and don't hire Urban.

• BC's Steve Addazio is interested in the Rutgers job as he is probably on the way out at Boson College.  

Michigan Thursday: The Jokes on You Ohio, We're A Basketball School Now!

Robin Buckson, Det News

I think its fair to say, the results of last Saturday's contest in Columbus were less then satisfactory.  I would also happen to guess that many Wolverine fans have been in a slight depression or fog since then.

Well folks, the sun did rise this morning and John Beilein's team is 7-0 and just ran the North Carolina Tar heels out of Crisler!

I have watched all of Michigan's basketball games this season and the Wolverines are not playing well, they are playing great.   They have wins over Villanova, George Washington, Providence, and NC by an average of 21 points.   That's on the offenses side of the ball.   Let's talk some defense!

North Carolina is the highest scoring team in the country, averaging just under 100 points per game (94).  Michigan held them to 67 and no opponent has scored 70 points or more this year.

What's scary, this team has a lot to approve on.  Their free throw shooting is terrible and Michigan probably missed 5-6 lays ups/bunnies last night.  The Wolverines shot 50% from 3 but many of those missed shots were good looks that normally go in.   Jordan Poole has been hot and cold all year, he started very slow last night but shot his way to 18 points in the second half.   To quote a famous Tar Heel that has his symbol on the Wolverines jerseys, The Ceiling is the Roof! for this team.   :)

• 2020 QB Harrison Bailey will announce his college decision today at 2:45.

• Jeff Brohm decided to stay at Purdue which pretty much seals the deal that George Karlafitis will stay committed to the Boilermakers. 

• Modern Family last night had a football reference to "Chicken being a nervous bird".