hfhmilkman

Until the NCAA pays for full time referees, there will always be angry fans. Billions are at stake and the NCAA depends on part timers who attempt to call a game that is incredibly fast. Worse, unlike the professional leagues, college conferences seem to gravitate to their own standards. The end result is two things. One high variance in calls which is frustrating and two, players attempting to have to adjust on the fly to how the game is called.

Now a comment on Cameron Thomas. What he needs to improve on is learn how to pass the ball. The guy played 40 minutes and had no assists. He had 42 assists on the entire season. The scouting report was you could safely go after him because he never passes. That is going to have to change if he is going to have a successful NBA career. Thomas pretty much did in the game what he did for the season. Shoot about 40% and shoot 7 free throws. Instead of taking circus shots he could set up his teammates for bunnies. Draw two, take the hit and dump to the cutter or open person. Defense would also be useful as the role players he was guarding went off. No doubt Thomas is a great talent. But he plays like a freshmen and an individual still.

Hi, a little information. The cheating at Michigan began most likely when Bill Frieder replaced Johnny Orr as the basketball coach. The 80ties was a golden age of HS basketball in the State of Michigan before crack, the demise of the US auto industry, and depopulation emptied the urban areas. There were an infinite number of great basketball talents. Ed Martin was a mainstay when Bill Frieder had his little confrontation with Bo when prior to the 1989 tournament he informed Bo he was taking the ASU job. Steve Fisher was made out of the same cloth as Frieder and continued allowing Martin access to the locker room.

I know people who knew Ed Martin. We get in heated arguments because they claim that Ed Martin only cared about the kids and the fact many had nothing. He was just looking out for them. I don't buy it for a second. One Ed Martin was a crook running a gambling ring and two he was putting out money because associating and being in this particular circle gave him some kind of warped self worth. Three he was not doing these kids any good as they were learning it paid to break the rules. Money in a teenagers hands is as ephemeral as water in your hands. Just my opinion on what I saw.

Regardless, I found the entire concept revolting. It was not just the Chris Webber scandal, but the fact that Michigan basketball was built on a illusion perhaps as far back as the Johnny Orr period. Me personally, I love college athletics for the competition first, winning second. The fact that any given team I root for can lose is what makes winning all the more gratifying. Tommy Amaker was not a very good coach. But I rooted for the team because I felt confident nothing in the program was crooked any longer.

Now a few things about recruiting violations. It is practically impossible for the NCAA as they do not have any law enforcement powers. Michigan got caught because Ed Martin got caught by law enforcement, and they figured it out. Plus there were people in the Administration that actually cared. Same thing goes today. Unless an activity gets the attention of law enforcement and the given institution has a will to make amends then you can walk away. We see it every day. Look at North Carolina.
Steve Fisher was more a recruiter then a coach. But he most likely could have played his coaching career out at UM if one Martin had not been caught and two if the UM AD had chosen to turn a blind eye.

I am happy that Michigan got busted and the fact that a program that was in a fertile area of basketball talent was in 15 years of purgatory was worth it. I hate MSU. But I give Tom Izzo grudging respect that for the most part he runs a clean program. There are a couple exceptions. I can't say the same thing about MSU football as Mark Dantonio came from the Tressell tree. If it was not for the reforms a stand out coach like John Beilein could not have happened. I don't think anyone will ever accuse Beilein who cultivated scores of 2 and 3 star players into NBA talents.

Is Juwan Howard crooked? I will never know. What I do know is that in the age of the Stretch 5, Juwan Howard is one of the few coaches known for his specialty in developing post play. Howard extended his NBA career as a player coach and is credited with developing Bam Adebayo into a star. Now everyone is seeing what Howard did with Dickinson. As successful as Michigan is in 2021, it currently has only one serious NBA prospect Franz Wagner. Livers is maybe a late 2nd round selection. As a Michigan fan I have to accept Howard's days at UM are perhaps numbered as he will soon be able to punch his ticket for any NBA gig he wants. If all he is, is just a recruiter, NBA franchises would not be interested. Howard will only stay if he truly loves the college game. I would like to think recruits want to play for Howard because he took a team that was predicted to be 6th or 7th in the Big10 and won it.

That all said I have trepidation as a UM fan as on paper the raw talent is 6th or 7th. So hopefully a little more John Beilein magic will happen where the sum is greater then the parts. Really tough without Livers.

I became interested in LSU because I have a friend who is an LSU fan and another is a St Bonnie fan. They were having friendly banter though my St Bonnie friend knew his team was overmatched. It being March Maddness I like to take a look at the forums of teams that I think have a serious chance for a run. Most forums are full of BS and this thread in my opinion is a gem. People are talking about Horn Sets.

I don't understand the ad hominen attack. If you believe a position is weak & dumb, you should elaborate on why. I will say my LSU friend is a lot nicer and polite then you. If this is a silo, I will take my opinions elsewhere and you will never hear from me again.