Michigan Friday: Blue Devils Eve

Michigan Basketball has one of those important/not important games against the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday late afternoon.  It's important because Michigan vs. Duke in basketball is always important, it's not because the outcome will not hurt either's' chance in the Big10 or ACC race and a potential #1 seed.   College Basketball vs. College Football rewards teams on playing difficult matchups.  Izzo has made a career on this method.  

Looking forward to Saturday at 6:30. Tickets are a hot item and start at $334 on the resale market. 

• It seems unanimous that Michigan made a big time hire in new GM Dave Peloquin. Let's hope he makes the NIL program in Ann Arbor the best in the country.

• Curt Cignetti cashes in on his National Championship at IU. He will now make over $13M a year.

• Are the Chicago Bears heading to Indiana?

Michigan Thursday: Michigan Got A New GM

The one thing that Warde has always failed to understand is,  you don't fire an important position without knowing you are going to hire next.  Warde is a bad leader for many reason, but his lack of future planning might be his biggest weakness. 

Case in point, Coach Whitt comes in and has his coordinators lined up before he got to Ann Arbor.  He also knew the priority was keeping the current roster in A2 and lining up great players in the portal.   You can't bring in a new GM at that point and do that.   So he keep Magee around until this week to serve that purpose.   That is a boss move.  

The next is hiring former ND Co-AD Dave Peloquin as Michigan's next GM.  Dave was with ND for 21 years in these roles: Notre Dame’s director of player personnel 2004-2023, director of football development (2007-2013) and assistant athletic director/strategic initiatives (2023-2025).

This is considered to be a big time hire for Michigan and a midwest football guy leading the organization.  ND was in the National Championship game twice under Dave's leadership.  This seemed to be the #1 target and Coach Whitt landed him.

I can't tell you how happy I am to have a real leader leading this program on and off the field.

• We reported a few weeks ago that some teams had not been paid from the Players Tournament that Michigan won over the holidays.  Other reports have now surfaced that Michigan did get their share but not the $1M bonus for winning the tournament. 

Wolverine Wednesday: You Can't Go 2-0 this Week without a Win in Mackey

Mackey Arena is a really hard place to win.  Purdue Basketball is always solid since the days the Big Dog was running the court.  When Purdue is the Pre-Season #1 and currently in the top 10, it's even tougher.  

Michigan put together one of its best performances in a true road game.  Michigan has played better but those were all neutral site games.  Michigan started shooting the 3 well in the first half and grew the lead to 20 early and was up by 16 at the half.   Everyone expected the Boilermakers to make a run in the 2nd, they played better but only got within 8 points or so of the Wolverines, who always seemed to have an answer and a defensive stop when Purdue inched closer. 

Cadeau got out of his mini slump and added 17 points 7 assists.  Cason continued his hot streak with 13 and McKenny added another 13 off the bench.  Yax followed script scoring 13, Johnson had a bit of an off game with 12 (3-7 from the floor), and Mara added 10.   It was a complete team effort and a very good win.  

A great win from a great Michigan team.  Duke is up next on Saturday in DC.  The fun continues. 

• Michigan Football lost their 2027 QB last night in Peter Bourque.  This was somewhat expected as Michigan has a brand new staff and doesn't have a strong foundation with Peter.  Michigan might still be his choice, but Peter didn't feel good about visiting other programs while committed to Michigan.  Which is truly very honorable from the young man.  I have faith in our new OC that he will find a good 2027 solution at QB. 

Michigan Tuesday: Big Ball Game Night

Michigan and Purdue play a top 10 match up in Indiana tonight.  It's at a weird time and on a weird channel.  Yes, its a 6:30 EST tip on Peacock.  For those of you that don't subscribe and have YouTube TV, I do have a hack for you.  The game is also telecast on the NBC Sports Channel, which does not require an extra subscription (on YouTube TV).  This channel came back from the dead a few months ago and shows most Peacock games live. 

• Wheat is the new RB coach at Illinois.  Wheat had a really bad run as head coach of Wayne State for a couple of years. 

• Former Detroit Tiger and current MLBPA executive director Tony Clark has resigned.

• Sacramento State joining the MAC seems strange to me. It's just in football and the travel will be very costly for them and the MAC teams on their schedule. It's a 5 year experiment, with not a ton of upside. Warmer Tuesday night MACtion?

• The new Michigan staff seems to be hitting the road and making some strides with recruits in the 2027 and beyond classes. Seems crazy that Spring Ball will be here before we know it.