Welcome back!

Where the hell have I been?  Obviously not on here posting.  ---- Work sucks, stay in school forever kids.  However, I must thank my Michigan State University education for preparing me for my current career. 

A lot has happened since mine and Pat's last post, obviously I wont even attempt to recap that all here.  However, I will mention one commit.  Shane Jones, an OLB out of Cincinnati Moeller High School.  Shane is listed at 6-1 215 pounds.  Scout has him as a 3 star, Rivals as a 4 star and ESPN has him unranked.  Something to note are the offers.  Arizona, BC, Nebraska, Penn State, Oklahoma and Michigan.  That's a pretty hefty list which hints that this kid has talent.  What is most important is that MSU seems to be developing a bit of a pipeline out of Moeller, I will take that all day.

Here is an update on Burbridge from Chris Solari of the Lansing State Journal -Hey Joe! "Top MSU 2012 recruit Aaron Burbridge continues to work toward qualifying academically -- and no matter what rumor you hear between now and then, that won't be determined until he's done with summer school. Burbridge is doing very well so far this semester, Farmington Hills Harrison coach John Herrington said Thursday.

    I caught up with Herrington at the Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award ceremony. He said Burbridge has a solid ACT score but still can take it two more times, and improvement there could alleviate some of the GPA increase needed.      Bottom line: Burbridge has work to do, there's hope he can make it but it all depends on what he does in the next few months. Herrington has no doubt Burbridge, a talented receiver and the No. 1 recruit in the state, can help MSU right away if he qualifies."

Interesting.  Especially if he really has the talent to play right away.  One thing to note out of the MSU spring game draft is that Andre Sims Jr. was the first WR taken, followed by converted cornerback and running back Jeremy Langford, third was DeAnthony Arnett. I understand one reason Arnett was deafted third is that he is still learning the offense.  Sims Jr being drafted first speaks a lot to his speed and play making ability, I think Langford is in that same boat.  Both are burners and Langford has a little more size than Sims Jr. Double interesting.   NOTE: The MSU spring game is tomorrow, Saturday on the BTN.

Tomorrow night, look for me to try to make sense of the NCAA college football playoff here on On Rivalries.

Go Green!

The Golden Era (For Michigan, Naturally)

Tbone and I have been a bit sporadic with content on this blog and for that we apologize to our multitude of  readers.  (the 3 of you)

We've thought about what content to bring you and why you would want to come here to read.  There are countless blogs on MSU and UofM sports already out there and they do an extremely good job so we would like to come at this rivalry specifically with content that will be interesting for all.

So here's the plan heading into the spring and summer...we are going to preview the football rosters by position and argue about each position individually (starters and depth) to determine that Michigan is better at every single position group and has a far superior team...at least that's the hypothesis I will be working against.  From this information we will be able to preview the season and give some predictions on how we think things will play out in the Legends division and in the B1G.  Since I fully expect Tbone's analysis to be belligerently Spartan biased we should also create some good topics for discussion in the comments.

We'll add occasional posts on other happenings and I'll try to amuse you every once in a great while with something clever or witty. (don't hold your breath)

For now, let us reminisce about a time long past.  It was 2011, around May or June and Michigan had recently been annihilated by Mississippi State, fired their coach, hired a new guy and were off to a sizzling start to recruiting for the 2012 class.  The Spartans, meanwhile, were coming off their most successful season during Tbone's green fanhood and yet their recruiting was stuck in neutral.  Our very own blogger, sir Tbone himself, was furious with the way things were going, so much so that he dared question the saint that is Mark Dantonio.  His reasoning was something like this: if MSU cannot capitalize on their on-field success and get more talented recruits, they will never be what Sparants fans long for, they will never be Michigan. (OK, that last bit is my inference)  Tbone even suggested that Saint D wasn't the man for the job at Michigan State.

Fast forward a year and Dantonio has another victory over Michigan notched on his belt and is getting pummeled yet again on the recruiting trail.  Marky Mark himself got testy this winter with Michigan's recruiting coordinator at an event for high school coaches.  Maybe just a simple misunderstanding? Or maybe Dantonio's skin isn't so thick when it comes to recruiting.  Recruiting is the life blood of a great program.  MSU has won 4 straight games over Michigan by capitalizing on the down times for the Wolverines and doing a magnificent job in player development but can they continue to compete with Michigan into the future without increasing the amount of talent they bring in?

My own personal (and irrationally biased) opinion says no.  With the way Hoke and Mattison are recruiting for Michigan (along with Urban Meyer at OSU) there is a golden era on the horizon for Michigan football.  Dantonio has built a program at MSU, but you need elite talent to remain competitive with elite teams.  It won't begin this year, as Ohio State is not eligible to play in the B1G championship game, but there may be some rematches in the title game in the near future.  The next decade could see a return to the Big 2 and little 10.  MSU has risen up to take the mantle from their big brother but unless things change in the recruiting game, it's hard not to see a future where Michigan restores itself firmly atop this rivalry.

Will He Stay or Will He Go?

The rumors are swirling all around Trey Burke.  The most recent scuttle is that he's leaving.

Michigan is bringing in unheralded recruit (he's a little white guy) Spike Albrecht for a recruiting visit today (Thursday).  If offered, he's likely a Wolverine as Michigan would be by far his best offer.

Burke leaving would be a killer and a guy like Albrecht would at least give Michigan a ball-handler, even if he's outmatched in Big Ten basketball.  Burke is a notoriously hard worker and deserves his chance at the NBA.  I wish him all the luck in the world and still holding out that sliver of hope that he'll come back.

The big question here, is Beilein to blame for the glaring weakness at PG on next year's roster?  I don't think so.  Darius Morris, had he stayed, would be entering his Sr year or leaving for the NBA draft after a great Jr season.  There's no way that both Burke and Morris would have seen enough minutes to both be able to leave this season.  The only possible way this could transpire was if Morris left too early and Burke was a one-and-done after being a 3 star recruit to most of the world.  In other words, this is a crazy situation where a chain of unlikely events has caused a gaping hole on the roster.  Michigan brings in Derrick Walton in 2013 and he'll come in and be an instant starter just like Burke.  He's good, but there's a year gap before he arrives.

My guess at the rotation gets a huge makeover if Burke leaves.  I think there could even be a lineup of Stauskas, Hardaway, Robinson as the starting 1/2/3 which would lack any one great ballhandler but would have three long, capable athletes to each share some of the responsibility of getting the ball up the court.  None of these guys could really defend PG's 1 on 1 on the perimeter so I think you'll see a lot more zone from Michigan as they have gotten so much longer and athletic. 

We should find out more definitively on Burke in the next few days.

B1G Hoops

Let's wrap up the season

For Michigan, a first round exit from the tournament was a disappointment but you hang the banner for the Big Ten championship and look back on this season as the one where Michigan's basketball program established itself as a regular contender.  Michigan's program has not been in a place where any reasonable fan can be disappointed with a Big Ten championship and a first round NCAA tournament exit.  But now, maybe the program has reached that level.  It has been significant, what these guys have done.  The banner goes up and the future looks brighter than ever.

Here's where I give thanks to Zack and Stu, one unranked out of high school, the other a two star.  Three NCAA tournament appearances and a Big Ten championship during their four seasons at Michigan.  A great run by any measure.  

I remember reading countless message board posts about 15 months ago (Michigan was off to a horrendous start to Big Ten play during the 2011 season) suggesting different names for who should be Michigan's next basketball coach.  One and a half seasons later and the program is in a better spot than it's been in two decades.  Amazing how fast things can change.  I'd wager that Beilein's approval rating would be rather high right now. (Insert Derrick Nix joke here?)

The future is bright, but it also contains some great questions and concerns.  Immediately following the loss to the Bobcats, Michigan lost three players to transfer.  The loss of Evan Smotcryz is a significant one as his ability to stretch the floor and shoot from distance as a PF was a key ingredient in JB's offense the past couple of season.  Evan was a player who could wow you with his potential but never seemed to put it together on both ends of the floor.  He was always a liability defensively.  Still, his loss, along with the departures of Novak and Douglass will be felt next season.  Luckily Michigan has it's best recruiting class in over a decade to help restock the roster with talent.

Speaking of that recruiting class.  I really like all three players.  I think Nik Stauskas could surprise as a JJ Redick clone.  He may finally be the heralded three point shooter who simply doesn't miss if he's open.  Big Dog Jr will probably come in and be the biggest contributor from day 1.  He will immediately be Michigan's best athlete on the floor with his length and explosiveness.  And the final piece is Mitch McGary, the once #2 rated prospect in the country who has fallen off a bit after his senior year wasn't as good as his AAU season.   I'm not sure if McGary can play the 4 in Beilein's offense so he will probably battle for minutes with Morgan and Horford at the 5 and get some minutes at the 4 as well.  I expect Trey Robinson to start the 4 from day 1 when he steps on campus.  He'll be battling against redshirt freshman Max Beifeldt and his buddy McGary for that spot.

There is one question that still remains and that is Trey Burke, will he stay or will he go?  I think it would be another poor decision by a Michigan athlete if he leaves, but after Manny and Darius the last two seasons I have given up trying to predict young men's decisions based on logic.  He'll do what he wants and Michigan will adjust.  If he returns, Michigan is probably a top ten team.  If he leaves...Michigan will struggle to make the NCAA tournament with no ball handler on the roster.

Here's an early look at how I think Michigan's rotation shakes out (assuming Burke returns)

PG: Burke (35 minutes) Akunne (5)
SG: Nik Stauskas (25) Matt Vogrich (10) Tim Hardaway Jr (5)
SF: Hardaway (25) Glenn Robinson Jr (10) Vogrich (5)
PF: Robinson (20) Beifeldt (15) McGary (5)
C: Morgan (15) McGary (15) Horford (10)

I think a starting lineup of Burke, Stauskas, Hardaway, Robinson and Morgan gives Michigan the best blend of experience, athleticism and shooting ability.  I'm excited about the development of Horford and Beifeldt and can't wait to see what they can do this season.  McGary is an X-factor and if JB feels he can play the 4, you could see Stauskas move to the bench with Hardaway and Burke in the backcourt and Robinson at the 3.  The most striking thing about next year's lineup is that no matter how you look at it Michigan is all of a sudden, big, long and athletic.  No longer will Michigan enter a game as an athletic mismatch who will have to out-shoot it's opponents to win.  They will be able to beat lesser teams by overpowering them with athleticism.

That green team

Draymond Green's amazing run at Michigan State ended with a loss in the sweet 16.  For MSU, expectations are great and result in feeling disappointed at the end to a great season.  I think Spartan fans should look on this season with great appreciation for what their team accomplished after such a difficult 2011.

Michigan State is going to be a top 10 team in 2013 and I am curious to see how minutes shake out in the backcourt.  Gary Harris is too good to keep off the floor, so Appling is probably going to have to play a lot at the point again next season.  I think MSU should really look to push the ball next season when Dawson returns and Harris joins the fold.  I'm not sure if MSU will be as good as they were this year but they have the potential to be extremely fun to watch.

The B1G is going to be scary good again next year...

Take a look at this way-too-early ranking of NCAA basketball teams for 2013.  If you don't want to look, Andy Katz and company have Indiana #1, OSU #5, MSU #7 and Michigan #8.  4 of the top 8?  IU as the #1 overall team?  And I thought the Big Ten was a brutally tough conference to win in this season...