08-09 Big Ten Basketball Season

[LitlBuck]

Udoh transfer article.

Really sorry to see him go Really didn't say anything why he was leaving which is sort of interesting. Most not like the place but who can blame him

 

[DaytonBuck]

Northwestern will probably not make the NCAA tourney

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Northwestern will probably not make the NCAA tourney

Really going out on a limb there...

 

[ScriptOhio]

Rivals

Udoh transfer article.

Re: The problem is what he left at Michigan. By waiting six weeks after the season ended -- even if he wanted to take his time, the decision could be made in two -- Udoh stuck it to the Wolverines, making it difficult to recruit a frontcourt replacement.

When U-M player transferred, he 'stuck it' to program | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Michigan seems to be having their share of transfers lately (football and basketball). This kind of adds a new meaning to the term "Go Blue" (i.e. players actually go somewhere else to play).

Funny the above Detroit Free Press article implies he was happy there, and may have been dissatified with his role in the offense. It would be interesting to know what his real reason was for transfering. Anyway, "sticking it to the Wolverines" is always a good thing.

 

[LitlBuck]

Northwestern will probably not make the NCAA tourney

Neither will Indiana. Rumblings about Crawford. So much for tradition

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

Really sorry to see him go Really didn't say anything why he was leaving which is sort of interesting. Most not like the place but who can blame him

Maybe he did not mind the smell, but drew the line when he stepped in it

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

espn.com

Hoosiers have just three returning players after dismissing McGee

Associated Press
Updated: May 22, 2008, 4:49 PM ET

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana coach Tom Crean dismissed forward Brandon McGee from the team on Thursday, leaving the Hoosiers with only three returning players for next season.
McGee was kicked off the team because of academic and team guideline violations.
"Our coaching and support staff tried to make this work out, but we felt that there were some basic standard operating procedures that were not being met," Crean said in a statement.
The 6-foot-7 McGee played in 17 games during his freshman season, averaging 1.5 points and 1 rebound.

Continued.....

 

[HailToMichigan]

Haven't seen it noted here, so a quick one: Michigan has signed a 6'10" center out of Germany - Robin Benzing. It sounds like a response to losing Udoh so late in the game. Questions still remain about his eligibility; the NCAA needs to to rule on it based on the basketball he played in Germany. Might not be available until '09-'10.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Haven't seen it noted here, so a quick one: Michigan has signed a 6'10" center out of Germany - Robin Benzing. It sounds like a response to losing Udoh so late in the game. Questions still remain about his eligibility; the NCAA needs to to rule on it based on the basketball he played in Germany. Might not be available until '09-'10.

Interesting...I had not heard about this...

 

[HailToMichigan]

Interesting...I had not heard about this...

Here's an article:

Meet the Wolverines' new Euro big man | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Expecting him to contribute in a big way this year is too much. I've never seen his weight listed (and I haven't taken the trouble to look) but I gather he's skinny. Beilein has this to say in a separate article:

"With a lot of hard work we feel Robin will be a valuable asset to the program," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "He is long, versatile and at 6-10 has a high skill level."

Not what you say about a guy who's ready to jump into the rotation.

 

[LightningRod]

The Buckeyes may have WVU on this year's schedule.

Charleston Gazette (bottom of p. 2)

West Virginia is involved in negotiating a game with Ohio State for next season, one that would be televised nationally.

 

[LightningRod]

Huggins, West Virginia will play Ohio State next two seasons

Rebuffed in his attempts to schedule Ohio State during 16 years as Cincinnati basketball coach, Bob Huggins finally will get his long-awaited game against the Buckeyes. Coach Thad Matta confirmed yesterday that Ohio State will play Huggins' current team, West Virginia, on Dec. 27 in Value City Arena and during the 2009-10 season in Morgantown, W.Va.
Huggins was an Ohio high school standout at Indian Valley South and was an assistant coach at Ohio State under Eldon Miller from 1978 to 1980. He was coach at Walsh College and Akron, as well as Cincinnati.

 

[LitlBuck]

Dispatch

Coveted guard commits to Indiana over Southern California, others
Indiana coach Tom Crean keeps reeling in recruits.

Malik Story, a 6-foot-5 guard who originally committed to Southern California, said he will attend Indiana this fall.

Story averaged 14.7 points last season for Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. He said he chose the Hoosiers over Kentucky, Oregon, Arizona and Georgetown. He also considered Marquette, where Crean coached until Indiana hired him in April.

He's the eighth player to accept a scholarship to Indiana since Crean took over as coach.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Haven't seen it noted here, so a quick one: Michigan has signed a 6'10" center out of Germany - Robin Benzing. It sounds like a response to losing Udoh so late in the game. Questions still remain about his eligibility; the NCAA needs to to rule on it based on the basketball he played in Germany. Might not be available until '09-'10.[/quote]

Or he might never play at scUM.

6-foot-10 German forward won't enroll for Michigan hoops

Robin Benzing, a 6-foot-10 forward from Germany who signed with Michigan this spring, will not enroll at the university, the Wolverines' program announced Friday.
Benzing failed to reach initial eligibility requirements set forth by the NCAA.
Michigan knew there would be issues regarding Benzing's academic credentials and status. He played last year with a German team that included professionals.
"We felt Robin had a very good chance of qualification, but in the end the NCAA Eligibility Center found him to be just short of eligibility to receive a scholarship from any Division I university," U-M coach John Beilein said in a statement. "While we were aware of the risk involved with this signing, and we are disappointed for Robin, it does not deter our confidence in finding the right student-athletes for the future of this basketball program."
Benzing was not expected to play a major role for the Wolverines in 2008-09, but his height made him valuable on a team with few big men. He was not in a position to replace center Ekpe Udoh, who transferred to Baylor, but he could have assumed some of Udoh's frontcourt minutes.

Entire article: 6-foot-10 German forward won't enroll for Michigan hoops | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

 

[LitlBuck]

6-foot-10 German forward won't enroll for Michigan hoops

That is truly a shame:)