Michigan Monday: Masters Thoughts and Scrimmage Thoughts

There is an old saying in professional tournament golf, "you can't win the tournament on Thursday but you sure can lose it."  I think Rory might have just been then exception to the rule.  Rory played great golf on Thursday and Friday in Augusta and then held on during Saturday and Sunday as his game went in the other direction.   Rory was -12 on Friday night and Scottie was even.  On Sunday night, Rory was -12 and Scottie was -11.   Rory left the door open for everyone in the field to come get him and many played really well, just none of them were close enough to the lead to over take him.   

Congrats to Rory for going back to back, it was just unfortunate for us fans who wanted some Sunday drama. 

Todd Blackledge is not someone I would consider a college football insider.  He is just a solid color commentator on NBC. Though working for NBC gives him some access to Michigan Football.  Here is a tweet from the weekend:

Felt like a crisp fall morning watching @UMichFootball

scrimmage. Takeaways: *Expect Underwood to make a jump in development under OC Jason Beck & watchful eye of QB coach Koy Detmer. *OL has talent, but must improve as pass protectors. *RB,DL,DB all can be strong groups.

The offensive line Pass Pro is obviously an issue but I'm also wondering who was playing and who wasn't.  This might be the best representation of what we might see next season as the Spring Game is expected to be just a back-up bowl.   It's encouraging to hear Bryce is making progress under the new staff. 

• Michigan Basketball had a great weekend with a Championship Parade!  Though their portal recruitment is off to a bit of shaky start.  Michigan had Juke Harris on campus Saturday for the parade but now reports are that UNC is offering him $5.5M to play for them next season.  Kansas big man Flory Bidunga decided to take the bag from Louisville over Michigan and others.  

• Congrats to JJ and his wife who got married last weekend. 

Michigan Friday: Good News - Bad News Friday

It's always easier to start with the bad news and then you can end with the good.  Michigan Hockey lost in double OT to Denver last night.  Which is such a brutal result for length of game and getting so close to Michigan's second Natty for the week. 

Also big 7'2 German Center Malick Kordel is jumping into the portal.  I thought we were pretty close to seeing Malick get some real time this past season when both Mara and Rez were in foul trouble but we only saw the big man in garbage time.  Good luck to him at his next stop.  

Now to the good news portion of the program:

Elliott Cadeau is back for Michigan.  This wasn't a real mystery as it expected that both Cadeau and McKinney are both back, but its always nice to have an official announcement. 

Also Tennessee 6'11 Forward JP Estrella has committed to Michigan from the portal.  He averaged 10 points and 5 boards per game for the Volunteers.   Welcome JP! 

A number of other transfer portal prospects are expected to be on campus this weekend to witness the Parade and what's it like to be a Michigan Wolverine! 

Have a good weekend and Enjoy the Masters and the National Championship Parade on Saturday! 

Michigan Thursday: News and Notes

• Freshman Guard Winters Grady who had a foot injury early this season is in the transfer portal and looking for a new home, he will have 4 years of eligibility left.  We wish him well! 

• Seems that Wake Forest 6'7 guard Juke Harris is planning on visiting Ann Arbor this weekend.  Juke averaged 21 points per game and put 19 on Michigan when they played this season.  Yes, Please! 

• Pippen who transferred from Michigan to CAL is back in the portal again.

• Coach Whitt says Spring Game will be mostly for the 2 and 3's. 

• RB Micah Ka’apana suffered a lower leg injury and will be out for the season. That guy has had incredibly bad luck so far with injuries. 

• Michigan is starting to trend for recent visitor in 4-star QB Kamden Lopati who is currently an Illinois commit.

• Former Michigan Guard Tre Donaldson is turning pro. He was at Miami last season.

Wolverine Wednesday: A Day To Reflect

It's been a day and I'm still happy but not grasping the impact of this team.   The Fab 5 changed the game but after back to back National Championship games, they left without the trophy.  Coach B had some great teams and that block was clean!   Even though Louisville got that Natty taken away, Michigan again did not leave with the trophy. 

Dusty inherited a program on fire and went into the portal and convinced a couple of bigs to join the team.  That laid the groundwork for this years portal recruitment and he grabbed the top player and 3 under the radar players.  He recruited skill but he also recruited personality, both were great fit for Ann Arbor and what Dusty wanted to do.  Getting a handful of players to stay and mix in talented portal players, this team became the best basketball team in the history of the program.

I'm incredibly happy but I'm already missing this team with the anticipation of the next game. 

Quick question to the BHB inmates:  What are your thoughts on the National Championship gear?  I felt a little burned after the Football NC.  I bought a ton of stuff, it was expensive and also very low quality.  I'm concerned the basketball national championship gear is similar and I'm being very careful on my selections. 

• It's ridiculous that Dusty was on Zoom meetings with potential portal prospects on Tuesday morning. 

• Michigan with new 5-star commit McCoy has the #2 ranked high school recruiting class for 2026.  With LJ taking a redshirt, there is going to be a lot of time for young players depending on who jumps in and out to the portal. 

• Early names in the portal Dusty maybe looking at include: Wisconsin's John Blackwell, Kansas Flory Bidunga, and SDSU Miles Byrd.