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That's how I feel about it, we're hiring in August with a coach who might not last another year. Kind of like recruiting, why get excited about a kid who likely will decommit if Fred gets fired?

The Brothers Johnson did a pretty good cover of the Shuggie Otis classic "Strawberry Letter 23":

https://hooplanewsletter.substack.com/p/2022-michigan-preview?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Hillmon, Dilk and Rauch were three of the most important players in reaching Michigan’s current mountain top, but there is more than enough talent for KBA to keep the Wolverines from falling into a slump. A healthy Brown mixed with Kiser, Nolan and Phelia makes for a very solid core that is strong on both sides of the floor, and one that could be able to space out the offense more on the perimeter. That fifth starting spot is an intriguing one, and it could be the decider on if Michigan stays with a similar-ish look (Varejao, Stuck) or shifts to a more guard-heavy style of play (Kampschroeder, Clarke). No matter what, this team can not and will not look the same without Naz Hillmon. She was a force too powerful and too one of a kind to replace, but Michigan has done extremely well in keeping a roster together that can still have similar aspirations. I’m very excited to see what this Wolverines roster looks like. This is for sure an NCAA Tournament roster on paper, and if things go right in development — something Barnes Arico has done about as well as any coach in the country — maybe this team even makes it back into the second weekend. I would have my doubts about that, but KBA has already pulled magic out of a program that was dead and buried for years. Nothing she does at this Michigan program should ever be a surprise anymore.

Seems like as good a hire as we had any right to expect under the timing and circumstances. Impressive.

One possible bonus with this hire. If Ziegler has been unemployed since March, then he essentially was not subject to any recruiting restrictions. A lot of times these assistant coaches use the time off to really develop relationships with potential future recruits and their families without any restrictions. Or maybe he just went to the the Bahamas for five months. Ha!

well...could be worse...in a couple years we will be picked to finish 16th.

Big lefty from out east. Couldn't shoot a lick. Constantly injured. Worked his way into the rotation and then got the starting spot after Thomas Allen's season ended. Was key in that big Iowa win where Thor blocked the shot at the end, which was his last game as a Husker as he was injured. Ended up at GW where it looks like he never got healthy.

And Glynn Watson Too! And Glynn Watson Too!

Dude basically looks like a Georges. Niang clone. Like exact same shooting form.

You can't spell "irrational-optimistic-fanatic" without fan.

don't overlook Phelia..........she has potential to be a big scorer for Michigan. i don't expect that "sophomore slump" to hit her.

We need to get Thor on board with this kid.

Let’s get him on board! Looks like a baller

I was going to be a smart-ass and say that our only hope to avoid the preseason cellar every year is if the B1G expands to like 32 teams and invites Oregon St & Washington St as #31 and #32. Then I was going to say I think we could be picked between those two teams at least half the time. Then I saw Wazzu won 22 games last season. And the Beavs won 20 games the previous season. I may have cried a little.

Besides Zeigler having different recruiting areas and head coaching experience, I feel like he'll have trouble duplicating Gates' 'recruiting coach who doesn't go out to recruit' vibe.

I honestly don't think we should expect anything different from what we had before.

Time will tell...but on the surface this appears to be good addition...by the by, I just saw Oleg at Hyvee buying groceries. Must be trying to further build up his weight.

He’s the guy that proved getting a 5 star recruit is not the end-all-be-all.

pathetic is a more apropos term I suppose

Zeigler currently being unemployed likely makes it easier for him to take the job. His connections and previous experience makes him seem like really good get.

You do realize he was playing for us, right?

Not sure I approve. He was 2-18 passing against K-State in that 1968 debacle. Well, maybe he's a better coach than he was a quarterback.

The guy I'm hearing is Ernie Zeigler. You might remember that name from when he was the coach at Central Michigan in 2011-12 as they came to play in the Bob during Doc's last year. At the time he was coaching his son Trey. Otherwise he's been an assistant under Ben Howland in three different places, most recently Mississippi St. (Ironically, David Anwar is one assistant who replaced him) He's known as a recruiter so it's a fairly high profile grab at this point if that's the hire.

Steadman's been too busy rolling Oprah in flour for the last 40 years to be considered a viable candidate for an assistant coaching position. Even here. Wait wut

Coaches that have been smart enough to leave the blue school to coach here have been success before.

Anybody know any cable installers in Lincoln?

I saw a guy on my flight to Omaha late last week that looked just like Dave Anwar…

Started from the bottom now we're still here

I knew his "tutor", she was pretty nice. I wonder if any of the professors wondered why Carl's writing read like it was written by a Hispanic girl from a small Nebraska town.

Not having a size deficiency essentially. Griesel can guard multiple positions on the court, and it wouldn't shock me if he's primarily on wings. Would allow Keisei to guard more PG's, which he's much more suited for.

For sure. But you really don’t need talented future pros to win more games than you lose in college basketball. Watch TCU play tomorrow. Most of their players can’t dribble the ball three times without bouncing it off their foot. As a team they make 5 threes per game. Their best offensive player shoots 38% from the field and 30% from the arc. They have a 6’11” kid, but they don’t play anyone else taller than 6’7”. But they’re damn gritty, unselfish, play solid defense and give great effort for 40 minutes.

All this talk about who stays/goes. Listen: It's year 4. You're Fred Hoiberg. You kept your job for another year, but there are no more do-overs. It's put up or shut up time. You do not have the luxury of taking on a project. You do not have the luxury of keeping a project. You must find a way to win in year 4. Anyone on the current roster who isn't a sure bet to make the rotation next season needs to go. Try to keep your best recruits (you can't go entirely scorched earth because, in the event there's a season 5, you don't want to have to do this all over again.) Identify your biggest needs and hit the remaining uncommitted recruits as hard as you can, along with the transfer portal once it opens in full swing. You need: The best available scorer The best available pure shooter The best available rebounder The best available ball-handler/distributor You better hope you can catch fricking lightning in a bottle.

I think you're right HB. Erection is a more fitting word. Actually, erection dysfunction might be the way to describe this program...

It'd be 3 opening up unless I'm missing someone. I think that'd be ideal. You aren't going to go take 5 high quality transfers. There's a decent base in that 10. You add a point guard, another shooter and a stretch 4 to it. The last thing we need is another overhaul. 1. McPherson 2. Lloyd 3. Dawson 4. Wilcher 5. Lawrence 6. Wilhelm 7. Walker 8. Keita 9. Andre 10. Oleg

The portal better be kind....even adding Breidenbach to that list, that's a bad roster. Really bad. In a year you supposedly need to win.

Breidenbach def is coming back imo. Hes a team guy and was really putting stuff together.

I hope Briedenbach comes back. He always worked hard, he was physical, and he was a great teammate on the bench after he got hurt. I hope he sticks around

Well, there's also this one . . . https://saturdaytradition.com/big-ten-football/way-too-early-2022-23-big-ten-basketball-power-rankings/ 14. Nebraska (10-22, 4-16) What I like: I liked the fight the Huskers showed the last couple weeks of last season. Nebraska unexpectedly finished with 3 straight wins before falling to Northwestern by 2 at the Big Ten Tourney. And I wondered why we didn’t see it sooner. What I don’t like: None of the players most responsible for that late surge — Alonzo Verge, Trey McGowens and Bryce McGowens — are back this year. This team is going to stink so badly that it’ll come with clouds, like Pig-Pen from Peanuts.

And this may be the highest rating we will have in the next few years.