Dear EagleSam, EA3, emu steve,
I think it would be a great Idea! Not to steal anyone's thunder, I suggested this very concept to Eastern's Athletic Department over twenty years ago, see where it got. However, maybe this being a new era of thought, it might be a go. I could be wrong, but the biggest stumbling blocks would be the Big Ten schools.

(04-05-2012 10:12 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear EagleSam, EA3, emu steve,
I think it would be a great Idea! Not to steal anyone's thunder, I suggested this very concept to Eastern's Athletic Department over twenty years ago, see where it got. However, maybe this being a new era of thought, it might be a go. I could be wrong, but the biggest stumbling blocks would be the Big Ten schools.

MSU and Michigan would never agree to a neutral site in-state venue. That's the #1 problem that will never be solved :(

As I mentioned before, they have nothing to gain and everything to lose. No doubt, it would mean more to the other 6 teams.

It makes complete sense, but unfortunately would never come to reality.

Dear EA3,
Don't give up on the idea. If we all contacted our athletic departments, maybe we could get something going.
As far as the Big Ten schools, maybe give them a slightly bigger share of the financial end as an enticement, although I hate the idea of them getting more. Maybe the winner, or winners get a bigger share of the pie. Just talking off the top of my head.

(04-04-2012 03:57 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  I don't think we will be better than them, but I'd give us a fighting chance to win a game between the two of us. For some reason though, they won't schedule EMU despite our close proximity.

The problem is the matchup. Beilein's teams love to shoot and Murphy lives and dies by the 3-2... Not good for us. Thing is, they lose Burke, Douglass, Novak, and Smotrycz...their best 3-point shooters. If they don't hit shots, they'd have a very tough time scoring inside against Riley, Bryant, Harris, Still, and Balkema. We'd definitely have a shot to win if the transfers can put points on the board.

UM returns plenty on the outside. Hardaway,Glenn Robinson III, Nick Stauskas,Vogrich. They have a 5 star center coming with the arrival of Mitch McGary. UM’s problem will be a lack of point guard. Everywhere else UM will have a nice amount of talent.

(04-04-2012 05:05 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
With all their loses, (U-M personnel) this coming season would be the time to schedule them and have a chance of beating them. If, they are counting on freshmen being starters for the whole season, they have no depth. This is what I have said earlier on another thread. Most of the time, you cannot count on freshmen to carry you through the season. If, they are counting on these incoming freshmen to save them, they are in trouble.

UK just won a NT with a freshman leading the way. Carmelo Anthony lead Syracuse to a NT. Frankly, quite a few teams do well with freshmen.

Anyways, UM won’t be lead by freshmen. Tim Hardaway is UM’s best player and he will be a junior. They return quite a few veterans from a Big Ten title team. Only one of the three kids who transferred saw the court regularly and that was in a supporting role. The loss of Burke would be a major downer. UM will go from a potential Final Four team to a team that will barely make the tournament.

Dear wolverineeagle,
When you mention freshmen from other programs leading the way, you are talking of leading programs. Michigan has lead nothing in the last several years. If, you can equate Nick Stauskas and Vogrich as players with experience compared to Smotrycz, I think you are going to be disappointed. Beside Hardaway and Robinson III and the other players you mentioned (Stauskas and Vogrich) who else is there for depth? That has been my point. There isn't any. Even counting your incoming freshman center, that's five players. You need five on the floor to play the game. Who's sitting the bench? That's where your depth is sitting.

I understand the point Ken is making... The Freshmen that lead teams to National titles are the one and done kids (typically). They would have junmped straight to the NBA. 8 years ago.

So yes, Freshmen can play well, but traditionally players take time to develop.

(04-04-2012 02:29 PM)KPJ Wrote:  Talk about things changing and changing very quickly...

In the month since the end of the season ended, UofM has lost graduating seniors (which is supposed to happen), three players as transfers and now it looks like Trey Burke is leaving for the NBA Michigan freshman Trey Burke is leaving Ann Arbor after just one season, sources told CBSSports -- http://cbsprt.co/HNkGDM

I know they've got talent coming in, but that's A LOT to replace in one in one year...

Could the #EMUHoops program be better than the UofM program next year?

I know we'll have to wait and see, but... It should be a fun one to discuss...

Well you can nix this thought. Trey Burke staying at Michigan.

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/s...12aaa.html

I think this is a good move for him. I had visions of Marcus Taylor in my head when I heard the news that Burke was leaving for the NBA (http://blog.mlive.com/ganggreen/2008/05/...arl.html). I know Taylor played two years, but the bottom line is he left too early.

(04-05-2012 04:27 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear wolverineeagle,
When you mention freshmen from other programs leading the way, you are talking of leading programs. Michigan has lead nothing in the last several years. If, you can equate Nick Stauskas and Vogrich as players with experience compared to Smotrycz, I think you are going to be disappointed. Beside Hardaway and Robinson III and the other players you mentioned (Stauskas and Vogrich) who else is there for depth? That has been my point. There isn't any. Even counting your incoming freshman center, that's five players. You need five on the floor to play the game. Who's sitting the bench? That's where your depth is sitting.

McGary, Horford, Stauskas, Robinson III, Hardaway, Albrecht, Burke, Vogrich, Bielfeldt, Akunne, McLimans, and Morgan.

Vogrich played this year. UM’s starting five will be Burke, Hardaway, Morgan/McGary, Robinson,, and either Vogrich or Stauskas. The bench will go 9 or 10 deep. Assuming McGary starts, UM will have Morgan, Horford, Stauskas, and Albrecht. Or if they start both Morgan and McGary they can slide both Vogrich and Stauskas to the bench. UM has plenty of flexibility and depth next year.

(04-09-2012 12:17 PM)KPJ Wrote:  I think this is a good move for him. I had visions of Marcus Taylor in my head when I heard the news that Burke was leaving for the NBA (http://blog.mlive.com/ganggreen/2008/05/...arl.html). I know Taylor played two years, but the bottom line is he left too early.

Burke is also smaller then Taylor was nor was he has highly rated coming out of HS. Burke is really a 4 year player, but people have convinced him otherwise.