Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The Victors | Project OSPREY

Drat! Sophomore guard Nik Stauskas & sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III have decided to forgo half of their four-year college eligibility & declare for the National Basketball Association (N.B.A.) draft. It is hard to argue against Staukas's prospects, but one has the tangible sense that Robinson would have been well served by another year (or two, one can dream) of development as a valiant Wolverine under Coach Beilein. On the one hand, there is a sense of betrayal, as their is with every college athlete who turns his back on his alma mater in order to pursue filthy lucre; on the other hand, there is a weary resignation that this is simply the way of things. In a very real sense, we are victims of our own success, as Coach Beilein has built the valiant Wolverines into a national power, a program that attracts top talent, exactly the kind of players who are induced to leave school early to play in the N.B.A. I've mellowed/matured enough* that I wish neither of the departing sophomores any ill will. Yet neither can I wish Messers. Robinson & Stauskas all the best. It is what it is, & what will be will be.

A worse betrayal is redshirt senior forward Jon Horford, who is taking advantage of an N.C.A.A. rule that allows graduating players with a remaining year of eligibility to transfer schools & have than mandatory year of riding the bench waived, & transferring to another, as yet unnamed school. He's not turning his back on Michigan to turn pro., no, no, he's turning his back on Michigan to play for another school, potentially a rival or tournament opponent. That snake in the grass I have not the least compunction about condemning. May misfortune & disappointment stalk Jon Horford the rest of his days! (At least the rest of his days as an athlete; I hope he has a long & fulfilling life away from the court.)

It seems as if sophomore forward-cum-center Mitch McGary will be back. If he recovers from last season's back injury, Horford's inconsistent minutes might not be much missed. As mentioned above, in recent years the valiant Wolverines have become a respected national program, which means we don't rebuild, we reload.

Go Blue!

*"I didn't sell out, Son, I bought in."

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