I have it on good authority, from a friend of Izzo, just today, that when Tom was recruiting Kobe who had had an offer for some time, it was believed Christie was going to Duke, but when Christie called Izzo and asked if his scholarship was still commitable, Izzo called Bufkin and said, “Are you in or out. I gotta know now.” So what’s this about prioritizing Brooks or Akins?
Serious, I talked to the guy this morning. The guy is a big Sparty fan but has ties with Grand Rapids Christian and, his words, “saw Bufkin play 40 times in high school.”
I don’t follow recruiting much at all and since its all out of my control I just support whoever ends up here. However, living in the state when both Akins and Kobe were making their decisions it was hard not to pay close attention. Always felt miffed that we missed out on Akins and I think he will be pretty good next year. I was never down on Kobe and was super happy we got him. I guess I just was hoping we could get both.
This is definitely going to be a ridiculous off season. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the strategy changes, but I take comfort in the fact that last year was a debacle to the extent that there’s no avoiding a rethink. It is very hard to imagine them going into this off season with the same mentality about the portal as they did last off season. In particular given how the rest of normal recruiting shaped up on the year.
I KNOW y’all want me ro go stalk my Kobe sources to gather intel on what he’s thinkin’! Not gonna do it! Now, on the other hand…if I happen to run into the two or three people I know…
In truth, Kobe is blowing up so much, and this is so new, even to Kobe, I’m not sure even he knows how this may play out.
By the way, the guy I talked with this morning said, “Kobe is having a great year, but NO ONE saw this coming.” I said, “I beg your pardon! I know a guy who predicted it would happen.” Then he said, “well, maybe next year, but not this good this year,” And to that I said, “Well, yeah, I thought he’d be good this year, but not THIS good. I thought it would be next year, too!”
I think it was about a month ago, when this hype started, I wrote on TMI that I was confident Kobe would not leave after this year. I made a whole case for it. I’m not so confident anymore, but I DO want him to stay and then, OK, leave and make a boatload of money in the NBA.
Oh, if you want a fun exercise look at the difference between Isaiah Liver’s salary (number 42 second round pick in the 2021 draft) and Jaden Ivey’s salary (number 5 pick overall in the 2022 draft). NOT even close. Give me that lottery pick money everytime! Are you readin’ this, Kobe?!? 2024 lottery pick, young man!
I’m fuming at Robbie Hummel for picking State to win it all, even if he might be right. A team that consistently hits three pointers might have the keys to the kingdom in the current chaotic environment.
Getting to Sunday is probably enough to get an invite, but then losing their next two (to follow the pattern) means a loss on Sunday plus a one-and-done in the NCAAT.
Looks like they’ll just have to play the student managers after the BTT and intentionally lose again, that way we get the 2nd loss out of the way and win three in the NCAAT!
Not really, partially because Spiro first paints Stu as a Michigan guy, which pre-allows the biased sludge to follow.
What stuck out to me most, though, is something that on the surface seems perfectly fine. It’s something that I see quite a bit from Sparties online and you might even call this move The Valenti.
Spiro went out of his way to complement Beilein. I don’t care to rummage through Spiro’s past videos and tweets to see if this is a retroactive take or if he felt this way at the time. It doesn’t matter. He then baits Michigan fans further by asserting that Michigan isn’t a blue blood but is right at that level below your Dukes and Kentuckys. Lastly, he uses the difference between this level (ie. Top Ten program nationally?) and the level the current team is at the moment to criticize Juwan.
It’s a completely fact-free criticism without nuance. It also feeds right into Michigan fans’ anxiety about the direction of the program. My kneejerk reaction is to feel defensive in a “no one gets to insult my family but me” kind of way.
Lastly this criticism is juxtaposed next to Spiro’s assessment of Sparty, since they are making the tournament again and the streak lives. Despite being guided by a Hall of Fame coach, making the dance is apparently the program’s only goal. Low expectations for Spiro’s team, which they meet, thus determining a successful season vs. high expectations for Michigan, which they didn’t come close to achieving and thus determining that they have had a disastrous season.
