Wolverine Wednesday: LJ Takes His Talents to Miami

LJ Cason is from Florida and a very loyal player to Dusty.  He originally committed to Dusty at FAU and moved with him to Ann Arbor.  2 Years later, he has a National Championship ring, a repaired ACL, and Dusty is in Dallas.   Mike Boynton is on a prove it deal and saved most of the roster.   LJ was expected to redshirt next season, even though reports were he could play sometime mid-season.  If you remember, he delayed his ACL surgery a couple months for the Michigan title run.  

Why is LJ the only player to transfer?  This is just me guessing but I feel like it's probably close to the truth.  With LJ expected to just to rehab next season, the NIL money might not be as big as he expected in Ann Arbor.  Miami tampered, offered a big bag for not playing or just 1/2 a season and he jumped back home.  Dusty is gone, he is looking at sitting the bench for most of the year, and he is not getting paid what he thinks he is worth.   If you follow football recruiting, you can see the Miami has a healthy NIL budget.  Basketball was very strong a few years ago and dropped off a cliff.  They played better last season with a new young coach and need playmakers.  With all those factors, it become and easy decision for LJ to go to South Beach.  

The loss to Michigan is a very good player on the rise, but one that wasn't expected to contribute to next season (or very little).   Which means this is not a net loss for Coach Boynton because of his prove it deal.  College Basketball is just a 1 year window anyway right now.  

This does mean Michigan needs another ball handler and I know the coaching staff is open to adding one in the portal still this summer.  Getting a solid backup point that can contribute to next season, would be a net add for sure.

Good Luck LJ and we wish all the best on the beach! 

• Dusty just signed Jett to a 2 way deal.  Class move.  

Michigan Tuesday: Warde's World

Today's post is not about what Warde did or didn't do. It's about trying to understand a mindset from a leader of one of the most important Athletic Departments in the country. 

Warde is a Michigan Man, he played in Ann Arbor, was educated in Ann Arbor, and has worked as the AD for the last 10 years.  In his mind, that gives him some type of pass for being a good leader.  In very few situations leaders don't continue in their role when there are systemic problems like this department has had.   Yes, I know academia doesn't work like a Fortune 500 company, but it should because it acts like one everyday. 

Warde went on the radio a week ago, saying everything in the news was BS, when he 100% knew it wasn't.  He might not have reviewed the 20,000 paged report, there is no way he didn't know its conclusion and what a likely departure would mean. Even the response he released to the media was arrogant and continued to miss the point.

Nobody is arguing that Warde didn't do some good things in role.  Having 2 National Championship is a historic run but while the tree was producing award winning fruit it was dying inside. 

Warde strikes me as a leader that can't read the room and doesn't understand his weakness or his blind spots.  With his education, he really should understand that.  He has a BA in General Studies, a Masters in Social Work, and an MBA from Ross.  If you have an FBI investigation on your watch, that is a problem.  When the organization funds a $12M investigation instead of firing you and saving $12M, it's only a matter of time before you need a new role.  

Now he is a lame duck AD and even though he is going to do all these good things over the next 4 months, he is done.  It would be another waste of money to implement all these changes for just a new person to come in a change it a few short months.  It's time to move the page and hire someone that understands how to lead, has a business leadership background, and understands the 2026 athletics landscape.  

Today, I announce my candidacy for AD 2027! 😀 Just kidding.  Maybe we just hire Open AI and have them create us a AI AD.  😃

• ESPN is laying off a ton of talent this week.  Already gone are Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech, and NFL Reporter Tom Pelissero. Both Ryan and Karl were on the air yesterday. 
  

Michigan Monday: All Yax Does Is Win Championships

Ok, nobody ever remembers who win the NBA Summer League Championship.  I even saw one in person like 5 years ago when I was in Vegas for a work conference.  I have no idea who even won that game.  

Last night Yax and the Golden State Summer League team won the Summer League over Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies.  Yax finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 turnovers while shooting 9 of 18 from the field and 2 of 6 from 3.  This performance wrapped by a strong summer league by the former Wolverine who averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 2 turnovers.

As we expected, Yax looks like he is ready to contribute to Warriors next season, no matter what LeBron decides.  

For you golf fans, the Open was interesting, I feel bad for Sam "Rug" Burns.  He keeps getting so close, if he just shoots even par yesterday he is the champ.  You have to applaud Fox for making a birdie on 18 the hardest hole on the course.  

Breaking news: Warde is out at the end of the year and report is expected to be released today which seems to shine a negative light on the athletics department.   More to come as the news breaks today. 

Michigan Thursday: Congrats to Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott is a Michigan legend and one of the most elite athletes you will ever see.  He was not only an All American Pitcher for Michigan but a very good MLB pitcher and he did it all with just one hand.   Jim also won the James E. Sullivan award in 1987 awarded to the nation's the top ameutur athlete.  

Last night, ESPN did not let us forget the greatness of Jim Abbott and awarded him the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. A well deserved honor for a truly great Michigan Man!

• Is today the day we say goodbye to Warde? The Regents are supposed to meet today. The Free Press requested the report and summary of findings. U of M has denied the request. There are also reports that Michigan does not intend to release any information from the report this week.