I mean, they were mentioned as having contacted Sibande. I don’t know how hard they pushed for him, but they definitely at least reached out. And if they didn’t push, I question why. They are putting a lot of eggs in this immediate transfer basket.
“Nike has already heard from Alabama, Xavier, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Creighton, Fresno State, Michigan and Arkansas,” said a source close to Sibande.
Posted earlier in this thread that it was reported that Sibande reached out to Kentucky and not vice versa. So I wouldn’t read too far into an initial list.
Sibande is also a sit one, play one.
Could it possibly be that the coaching staff and the fan base have a very different picture painted regarding the “desperate need” at the SG position? What I mean is, couldn’t they be of the mindset that Wagner is next year’s 2, and will eat up heavy minutes…therefore the desperate need isn’t for a starter but for backup minutes? And if so, couldn’t that explain the seemingly light interest from recruits/transfer candidates?
If Livers leaves, there is just as big of a hole at the 3. So between the 2 and 3, there are still significant holes regardless of where they play Franz.
More likely that transfer recruiting is pretty fickle. Guys have to fit on a number of levels beyond that they are 6-4.
Also if Livers is back, it isn’t really like Michigan has an obvious spot in the starting lineup.
I think you’re saying practically the same thing as me with your last point about Livers coming back. My assumption going into my original post was that he’d come back, since all mock drafts have him well outside the guaranteed contract range. So if he’s back, and Wagner can be a 2, then the “opportunity” for a transfer is much less enticing. At least a transfer that is trying to start/log major minutes.
Not saying any of this is the case, just trying to present an alternative to “the sky is falling” reactions. But truth be told, the team as it currently stands seems pretty mediocre for next season, unless Johns and Wagner truly break out.
For now I’ll cling to the false hope of Jamal Bieniemy or AJ Walker with immediate eligibility.
Or better yet, someone new and more appealing enters the portal.
Does Tyler Harris count? Jeremiah Martin played point there while he was a freshman starter, right?
Any transfer would also have to qualify academically; Michigan is not exactly the easiest school to transfer into.
In some cases, perhaps the struggle to get a commitment from a transfer has as much to do with clearance on the academic side as it does interest on the athletic side?
Don’t you think that happens a lot, that these contact lists get padded?
Looking at their final lists, I find it hard to believe that um pushed for kier or Sibande. Those aren’t exactly a murderers row of schools.
Yes – that’s what I was trying to get at. When you see a half dozen schools that have inquired or expressed interest, I wouldn’t read too much into the list.
Once you start getting down to a number of schools/finalists, doing virtual visits, discussing conversations with staffs, that’s when things become what I would say are substantial interest or any real interest.
Tyler Harris or Sibande is not an example of that.
Dylan how many guys still in the portal do you see as realistic fits at this point?
Hard to believe Tillman is.
Having transferred once already, he’s got two schools for UM Admissions to refuse to accept credits from. He’s already used up his free transfer if the new rule passes, so he’s a sit one play one PF. That’s not even considering why he’s leaving UNLV.
Sorry if I missed it, but any noise about Michigan pursuing Elijah Weaver? Looks like a bigger guard/wing who can handle the ball, so you could more feasibly start Eli at PG. Could probably also guard most SFs if Zeb earns minutes over Nunez and the SF version of Williams.
Hits the 3&D mold that I think the roster could use but as of now I don’t think there’s been any reported contact:
According to a source close to Weaver, the sophomore guard has heard from Alabama, Arkansas, Dayton, DePaul, Marquette, UCF, USF and UTSA since entering the transfer portal on April 28.
Weaver looks like a worthy target for us at this point. Hopefully some mutual interest will develop.
I apologize if he has been discussed already, but what about Chaundee Brown from Wake?
I wonder if the fact Juwan was BIG is having an impact on the guards choosing Michigan? Just a thought, the UM brand was PG U for quite some time. Perhaps they’ve lost momentum in the transition.