The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1111798
MAY 2019 THE WOLVERINE 43 to make the jump, or at least gauge interest. Redshirt junior swingman Charles Matthews was gone for certain once the season ended. He went through Senior Day ceremonies and sounded committed to a professional career. Sophomore guard Jordan Poole made his direction clear April 24, saying his goodbyes to Michigan on- line. His father publicly questioned his role in U-M's offense in April, but Poole himself expressed only grate- fulness in his parting tweet. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Ignas Brazdeikis, a forward, could still re- turn. If he leaves, 60 percent of Mich- igan's starting lineup from this year would be swept away. Brazdeikis noted recently he's not committed to leaving, but intends to check out where he stands upon receiving an NBA advisory board re- port. "It will be what's best for me, what I feel like is best for me," he said. "I've done that my entire life, making these decisions that will benefit me most and my family. There are differ- ent things that will play into this. If I do come back, it's what's going to be best for me, put me in a position to be more ready. "I knew I would be in a great po- sition to make that stride [coming to Michigan]. Coach Beilein's track record of putting guys in the NBA … he told me himself whenever I'm ready, he feels like I'm ready, what's going to help me the most in my fu- ture is what he wants me to do." The ultimate decision by Brazdei- kis greatly impacts Beilein's planning for the coming year, recruiting-wise. "It's a difficult dance we have to do now," the head coach said, be- fore Poole publicly announced his decision. "Those are important parts. Going into last fall's recruiting, we really didn't have a senior. We did expect Charles was going to gradu- ate and we expected that with him. That's why we signed over with one. "He and I talked about it ahead of time, and it was the right thing to do. These [other] two, we're just going to try to guide them the best we can, help them make an educated deci- sion and react accordingly. "Not too many 2019 [recruits] are going to wait until the end of May. It's very difficult, and we've got to do our best to find ways to navigate it." The NBA advisory board puts in writing what the players might ex- pect, in terms of the draft. Beilein welcomes that, noting: "I'm letting the information from the NBA do the talking." Not that he wouldn't give his opin- ion on player readiness, if asked. He's gone so far as to call every sin- gle NBA general manager regarding a certain player in the past, seeking to elicit solid information. He's also heard promises regard- ing a team's interest, only to have them revoked on draft day because of a team involved making a trade. He knows how quickly things can change. He doesn't want anyone to return whose heart is not with the program. At the same time, he seeks to inject reality and perspective. "Every kid that's going to college right now is living a life that's a once- in-a-lifetime experience," Beilein said. "All the money in the world can't buy what you experience when you're in college, whether it's one, two, three or four years. "At the same time, you don't know the economic needs, and you don't want a guy back on your team that all he's caring about is, 'Get me to the league.' Those coaches are getting fired like crazy. Those coaches are not making the NCAA Tournament. "You see a lot of dysfunction, even in the pro teams, with their culture. You can't let anything get in the way of your culture." Beilein doesn't. That's why his teams keep making historic strides for the 110-year-old program. "Michigan basketball will be fine," he said. "We'll find another way if you're not here. It all works." ❏ Tim McCormick Weighs In On The Personnel Losses Basketball analyst and former Wolverine Tim McCormick served on the commit- tee that originally helped bring John Beilein to Michigan. He regularly marvels at what the coach has done with the U-M program. McCormick has no doubt Beilein will keep fashioning winning teams, regard- less of who does what with the NBA Draft. But he suggests there's a degree involved. Redshirt junior swingman Charles Matthews and sophomore guard Jordan Poole are done with college basketball. That leaves freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis, who could greatly impact Michigan's 2019-20 season. He's declared for the NBA Draft, but could return. "Michigan is losing two of their three playmakers, and that will be a major problem next year," McCormick opined. By major, he means the difference between a Big Ten contender and a top- seven squad in the league, the difference between a team that could make a long NCAA Tournament run and one fighting to advance in the early rounds. "An outstanding year for Michigan, next year, losing two of their top three scorers, is to be in the upper half of the Big Ten and to play in the NCAA [Tourna- ment] and get back to the Sweet 16," McCormick said. "That would be a huge accomplishment. "Competing at the top level, if two of their three best players leave? I would say absolutely not. "Why? Well, last year you lose Moe Wagner, Duncan Robinson, who is with the Miami Heat organization, and [Muhammad-Ali] Abdur-Rahkman. Couple that with losing two of your top three this year, that's just too much talent for a col- lege basketball team, unless you're consistently bringing in top-five talented recruiting classes." — John Borton Beilein "It wasn't a good year, it was a great year. … It probably ex- ceeded expectations going into the year, and then once you go 17-0, the only expectation is you'll never lose another game. And of course, that's unrealistic."