Michigan Tuesday: Livers Checking His NBA Option

Having options is usually a good thing and Isaiah Livers will check out the NBA and his status in the NBA Draft.  I'm not sure what the NBA feedback was but I would be surprised if Livers is a 1st round draft pick.

The problem for Isaiah, is the normal NBA evaluation and combine will probably be cancelled and NBA teams will just have to rely on tape.  Which will make it tough for a guy probably near the bottom of a top 100 list to make the move up some draft boards.

Iggy left last year, was picked in the 2nd round, and spent most of the abbreviated season in the G-League for one of the worst teams in the NBA.  To me the smart play here is to come back, play your senior year and hope you light it up.    I'm sure guys like Iggy and Poole don't regret their decisions to turn pro, but I still don't think it was the best decision for their future basketball careers.

I don't think you leave a program to be 2nd round draft pick or a Free Agent (if there aren't other factors at your program or in your life).

•  4 Star AZ 2021 OT Bram Walden has Michigan in his top 12. 

• The NCAA did grant Spring Athletes another year of eligibility, Winter Sports was not included and isn't expected to be given the same accommodations.   Which means X and Teske have played their last games at Michigan. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/michigan-tuesday-livers-checking-his.html

Michigan Monday: Hat Tip To All Medical Workers

This blog and other media outlets like to talk about concussions and the difficult lives many football players have after they stop playing.   The one thing we have failed at, is highlighting the guys that took their football careers to another profession like former Wolverine Dr. Chris Hutchinson.

Angelique did a great job last week profiling the work of the former Big Ten defensive lineman of the year (and father of current Wolverine Aidan) Dr. Chris Hutchinson work against COVID-19.   Chris is clearly a "Michigan Man".

Another example is former NFL and FSU DB Myron Rolle.  If you remember, Myron won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship coming out of FSU.   Myron is now a neurosurgeon at Mass General and also working to treat virus victims.

These are just two examples and there are thousands of medical workers across our nation and even more world-wide that deserve our recognition and praise during this Pandemic.

• Michigan continues to priorities the recruitment of ND commit OH 2021 WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. 

• There is also new momentum in Michigan's recruitment of OH 2021 WR Markus Allen.  Who clearly has a strong football name! 

• The NCAA is expected to vote today on the extra year of spring sports eligibility.  With the reduction in NCAA fees this year, the vote has become more complex and might be moved out a few weeks. 

• OSU landed the top RB in the nation this past weekend.   If your wondering, OSU has the #1 class in the country with 3 five stars and 10 four stars.  Michigan has 4 total commits in the 2021 class with 1 five star and 2 four stars, the Wolverines class is currently ranked 17th on 24/7.    

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/michigan-monday-hat-tip-to-doctors.html

Michigan Friday: 2 Think About Going, 1 Staying, and 1 Not Coming

Juwan Howard mentioned that both Livers and Wagner are considering their NBA options.  I think the bigger chance is for Livers jumping  to the draft as he will be a senior next year.   Franz is a bit raw and could use another year in Ann Arbor.  Livers also started the season really well and then struggled with injuries and scoring when he came back.   With the potential loss of the combine, it probably doesn't make sense for him either.

• In somewhat of a surprising move, Adrien Nunez is expected to stay next season. 

• Stanford DT Jovan Swan is transferring to Indiana.  He was rumored to be on Michigan's radar early in the process.  Those rumors quickly stopped and he is now headed to Bloomington.  

Have a good weekend! 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/michigan-friday-2-think-about-going-1.html

Michigan Thursday: 2 Commits 1 Day

Michigan Football needed a bit of good news.   Players have been leaving for the NFL Draft and other programs while the Alabama and OSU losses still sting a bit.   Michigan hasn't addressed any DT deficiencies through the transfer portal and recruiting has been quiet, as its class starts to dip into the 30's for overall ranking.   Spring Football is cancelled, the season could be delayed, and the Virus keeps progressing.

So Wednesday was a good day on the recruiting trail.

First off Greg Crippen a 4 star OL from IMG committed.  Greg has been committed to ND for about a year before de-committing a few weeks ago.  He is 6'4 and 285 pounds and Michigan really likes him at center.   All recruiting sites consider Greg a OG and a top 15 OG in the country.

Michigan needs offensive lineman and one with IMG's coaching is always a good get.  Greg is a strong 4 star and could come in a play very early at the center position.

Greg visited for the MTSU game and was planning to get back to Ann Arbor before the Virus hit. Greg had offers from Bama, Auburn, Duke, Ohio State, ND, Pitt, USC and others.

Welcome Big Man!

Next is an under the radar DE/DT from NJ named Dominick Giudice who is a 3 star and barley rated by the services.  He was offered yesterday and committed to his dream school.   DG had offers from the likes of the Air Force, Army, Ball State, and Buffalo.

“I’m pretty fired up right now,” Giudice said. “I’m so pumped up. Michigan has always been my dream school growing up as a little kid. Since I was five years old, I’ve been working for this. I am so fired up.”  “I was always watching them and seeing that they were a hard-nosed program, just getting after it,” he said. “That’s how describe myself as a player. I saw myself fitting there and I always worked to be able to play for them.”
“Right now they are telling me they can use me as either a strong side defensive end or inside as a 3-tech,” Giudice said. “They are just going to see where they are going to mold me to play. I can play either.”
“I always pride myself in my motor and that I am relentless on the field,” Giudice said. “I am always chasing the ball. No matter what happens, I am always chasing the ball. I like my violence and intensity on the field is also something I show. I always want to smash somebody in the mouth, like I was saying before.

“My hand speed and violence is something I pride myself on and I am always working on that.”

• Tyree Kinnel comes off a mini XFL season and signs with the Steelers. 

• Michigan now has the 17th ranked 2021 recruiting class

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/michigan-tuesday-2-commits-1-day.html

Wolverine Wednesday: Tiger King and Don't F With Cats

• Funchess looks to be signing with the Green Bay Packers.  His buddy Cam Newton got released yesterday.   Good choice by DFun, having Aaron Rodgers throwing to him. 

• Deep thought: Do you think the Patriots would take a flyer on a 6th round Michigan QB this year?  I doubt it. 

• MSU's Xavier Tillman has announced he is leaving to the NBA Draft.  

COVID-19 Netflix Report:

Don't F with Cats:  Is one of the craziest situations I have ever seen.  Talk about Social Media being better then the Police is very interesting.  Also a lot of it happens in Canada, so that helps knowing this type of crazy isn't in the US.   If your looking for a wild ride crime adventure, this is your mini series.  

Tiger King: Brings the crazy of the US into a big bright light.  Where the few crazies that own private zoo's in the US feud against each other.   It's gross, its funny, its scary, its weird, it's sad and it makes you wonder where all these people get their money to run these places.   It also shows that a baby tiger can pretty much get you anything you want.  The issue is, what happens when that baby tiger becomes a 800 pound man eater?   Again one of the strangest things I have ever seen and I couldn't stop watching it.  '

There is your Netflix cat update for the day!  😃

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/wolverine-wednesday-tiger-king-and-dont.html

Michigan Tuesday: Luke is Getting A Head Coaching Job

Reports are that former Michigan assistant and current Texas assistant Luke Yaklich will be named the next head coach at the University Illinois - Chicago which is commonly known as UIC.   As you know,  Luke was credited for changing Michigan's defense under Coach B that went 63-15 in his two years in Ann Arbor.

Luke also coached as an assistant at Illinois State his alma mater before coming to Ann Arbor.  Luke replaces Steve McClain who went 71-68 in his last 4 years at UIC.   The Flames did make the Horizon League Championship Game losing to Northern Kentucky.

Congratulations Luke and keep the Coach B coaching tree growing!

• Michigan made the top 13 for 2021 4 star TX DE Landyn Watson 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/michigan-tuesday-luke-is-getting-head.html

Maryland allocates $175+ million for small businesses impacted by COVID-19

“We know that the steps we have taken to protect the health and well-being of all Marylanders have made a significant impact on our business community. Today, in addition to funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration, we are making new financial assistance programs available to help our businesses continue to operate during this unprecedented crisis,” said Governor Hogan.

from http://open.maryland.gov/blog/maryland-allocates-175-million-small-businesses-impacted-covid-19/