Phil @pcallihan and Clint @Clint_Derringer preview the game vs Purdue – SP+ analysis, commentary, and prediction. With QB JJ McCarthy, OL Trevor Keegan, WR Roman Wilson, TE AJ Barner, and Coach Jim Harbaugh.
Michigan players express frustration with national attention, but show resilience in face of adversity.
Phil Callihan and Clint Derringer discuss how Michigan’s undefeated season and recent controversies will draw extra attention to their upcoming game, with many rooting for an upset and scrutinizing every play.
The hosts believe the team will feel pressure to prove their dominance despite the negative attention, and they will need to separate the controversy from their preparation and performance on the field.
Clint Derringer and J.J. McCarthy discuss the importance of staying focused and executing well, even when facing adversity.
Michigan’s SP plus rankings remain dominant, with a rating of 29.2 and a three-point advantage over Georgia.
College football rankings and team performance.13:13
Phil Callihan notes that Michigan’s ranking in the college football playoffs rankings raises pressure on Ohio State, despite the Wolverines’ convincing win.
J.J. McCarthy credits staying humble and hungry for his success, despite a rough start vs Bowling Green.
Clint Derringer discusses the college football playoff rankings, emphasizing the importance of wins and losses on the field and the mixed methodology used by the committee to rank teams.
The top five undefeated power five teams are Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Washington, with Ohio State having the strongest resume based on their opponents’ strength.
Michigan football’s chances in the playoffs despite off-field distractions.18:18
Clint Derringer highlights Florida State’s dominance and Washington’s win over Oregon as standout performances, while Phil Callihan notes Ohio State’s potential to sneak into the playoff despite a loss if Michigan is their only defeat.
Roman Wilson enthusiastically endorses JJ McCarthy as a Heisman candidate, citing his ability to throw and run the ball, leadership, and community involvement.
Phil Callihan: JJ McCarthy’s performance could be a game-changer for Michigan, erasing stigma and shifting attention to on-field success.
Trevor Keegan: Player perspective on negative attention towards Michigan is frustrating, as they’ve worked hard to change the program’s culture.
Michigan football’s upcoming game, including analysis of the team’s passing game and defense.23:41
Clint Derringer predicts Michigan will win by 4 scores, with a final score of 40-10.
Ryan Walters’ defense will be challenged by JJ McCarthy’s proficiency in the passing game.
Michigan football’s kicking game and punting performance.26:42
Phil Callihan hopes to see Michigan’s kicking unit attempt long field goals in a game to gain reps and peace of mind.
Clint Derringer discusses Michigan football’s punting strategy and performance.
Phil @pcallihan and Clint @Clint_Derringer discuss Michigan’s prospects heading into the season’s home stretch, J.J McCarthy’s Heisman prospects, and the hoopla over Michigan’s sign scouting. With QB J.J. McCarthy, WR Roman Wilson, RB Blake Corum, and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.
Phil Callihan agrees that the current Wolverines team is better than expected, despite facing tough opponents like Purdue and Ohio State.
Clint Derringer notes that JJ McCarthy’s Heisman hype is unusual due to his limited playing time, with only four passes thrown in the fourth quarter of eight games.
Clint Derringer argues that JJ McCarthy’s Heisman case is based on his efficiency and leadership on a strong Michigan team, rather than just raw output.
Phil Callihan agrees with Clint, highlighting JJ’s great answer to the question about his Heisman chances.
Football player JJ McCarthy’s mindset and performance.8:16
J.J. McCarthy prioritizes humility and hunger, drawing inspiration from Kobe Bryant’s mentality.
JJ McCarthy’s Heisman candidacy and Michigan football.11:31
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy prioritizes injury prevention despite being a hard-hitting player.
Phil Callihan believes JJ McCarthy’s performance in a day game at home against Penn State could make him a Heisman contender.
Phil Callihan highlights JJ McCarthy’s leadership and all-around skills, with Roman Wilson praising his throwing and running abilities, as well as his community involvement.
The team’s supportive attitude towards JJ, including his humility and focus on the team’s success, is also noted, with Callihan suggesting that even if JJ doesn’t win the Heisman, he’ll be okay with it if Michigan wins.
Michigan Wolverines football program’s culture and leadership.17:42
Derringer: JJ’s ability to block out negativity and lead with positivity since 2020.
Distractions have been a persistent issue for the team, with the current one being the biggest.
Callihan and Derringer discuss allegations of sign stealing in college baseball, with Callihan sharing his surprise that the sign in question was still up after a staff member left the program.
College football program’s use of video to gain competitive advantage.23:54
Clint Derringer criticizes the NCAA for leaving too much wiggle room in the rules regarding sign stealing, allowing big programs to gain an unfair advantage.
Derringer believes the issue could have been solved 30 years ago if the NFL had implemented proper measures, such as microphones and speakers in helmets, to allow for direct communication between coaches and players on the sideline.
Clint Derringer expresses frustration with Michigan’s NCAA violations, hoping for investigation and potential sanctions.
Phil Callihan acknowledges that some coaches may cover their mouths when talking to avoid being recorded, but he doesn’t find it surprising or outrageous due to his background and expertise in the field.
College football program’s potential NCAA violation.31:06
Phil Callihan is unimpressed by the media frenzy over Michigan’s alleged rules violation, seeing it as equivalent to exceeding the speed limit by 5 mph.
Callihan believes the media’s outrage is misplaced, as Michigan fans and big donors are largely supportive of Jim Harbaugh and the program’s financial success.
Phil Callihan believes the NCAA is irrelevant and can’t take action against Michigan due to the potential backlash and legal implications.
Callihan compares the NCAA to an accountant who tells you what you want to hear but doesn’t add up, and the national media is stirring misinformation to remain relevant.
Michigan football’s NCAA investigation and potential PR strategy.37:23
Clint Derringer suspects a PR strategy against Michigan, timed to coincide with the team’s most challenging stretch of the season.
Clint Derringer and Phil Callihan discuss the legitimacy of allegations against Michigan football, with Callihan expressing skepticism and Derringer withholding judgment until more facts are revealed.
Phil Callihan questions the NCAA’s motives in investigating Jim Harbaugh’s alleged misconduct, citing inconsistent enforcement and prioritization of less important issues.
College football revenue sharing and alleged sign stealing.45:19
Jim Harbaugh advocates for revenue sharing with college student athletes.
Jim Harbaugh argues for revenue sharing in college sports, citing successful examples from other industries.
Jim Harbaugh addresses speculation about him being involved in a “hit job” on himself.
Clint Derringer and Phil Callihan discuss the Michigan Wolverines football team, with Clint expressing excitement to get back on the field and Phil pointing out the lack of resources dedicated to the team.
Jim Harbaugh compares the team to field corn, suggesting they have the potential to grow and produce energy with any available resources.
Yeah, it’s time for college basketball again. Sure, it’s another exciting season for the football team, but basketball games start this week. Let’s check out this season’s team.
Here’s my traditional standard description of this weekly column:
Yeah, it’s time for University of Michigan men’s basketball, and this is the place to read all about it: “Nothing But ‘Net” on UMGoBlue.com. Check back every Monday morning between now and the end of the season for a quick, concise wrap-up of the previous week, and a look ahead at the upcoming week, all in one easy-to-read article.
As always here at UMGoBlue.com, the perspective is “by fans, for fans”. I’m a fan (since 1974), and I go to all the home games, and watch/listen to all the away games. I don’t have any special access (other than being an usher in Sections 209-210), I don’t go to the press conferences, and I don’t interview high school recruits. I see the same things you do, and write about them as a fan.
Once again, it was a very busy off-season, with lots of surprises and changes. Let’s get to it.
Executive Summary
The big question: how good is Michigan going to be this season?
The big answer: not very good, but it’s hard to predict. There have been a lot of changes, and the era of the Transfer Portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money makes things really unpredictable.
What’s New?
The biggest news in the offseason was when Coach Howard had successful heart surgery on 09/15/2023. From the press release:
The scheduled operation was performed by Dr. Himanshu Patel, who successfully resected an aortic aneurysm and repaired Howard’s aortic valve. Patel indicated that Howard is expected to fully recover in six to 12 weeks and could return to the program in four to six weeks.
U-M’s associate head coach Phil Martelli will serve as the interim head coach during Howard’s recovery process. Saddi Washington and Howard Eisley will maintain their assistant roles, while Jay Smith will be elevated to the third assistant during the interim period.
The most recent update to his condition says “no timetable for his return”. I expect him back on the bench by the beginning of December.
There are lots of changes to the roster from last season:
Players Leaving:
1 senior graduated
3 players transferred
2 players left for the NBA Draft
Players Arriving:
1 incoming freshman
3 incoming transfer players
1 new Scout Team player
Graduating Seniors
Michigan didn’t really have any seniors on last season’s team. They did have 2 graduate transfers, and they were considered to have “graduated” at the end of last season. One of them (Jaelin Llewellyn) got injured 8 games into the season, applied for a medical redshirt, and was granted it, so now he’s back again as a graduate transfer. The other graduate transfer from last season (Joey Baker) also applied for a waiver, then decided that he was done playing basketball and retired. He was very uneven during his one season in Ann Arbor, but he will still be missed.
Players Who Transferred
Three players transferred to other schools after last season. They are:
Isaiah Barnes – In his only season at Michigan, Isaiah played in 15 games, and scored 16 points. He looked pretty good when he was out there, but he had trouble getting in the game. I wasn’t surprised when he announced that he was entering the transfer portal. He transferred to Tulsa. He might be missed.
Gregg Glenn III – In his only season at Michigan, Gregg didn’t play much (4 games, 11 minutes), and he didn’t score much (6 points). He didn’t look very comfortable out there in his limited action. He transferred to Tulane. He probably won’t be missed.
Hunter Dickinson – This was the biggest surprise of the offseason. Hunter played at Michigan for 3 years, and he was the most valuable player all 3 years. He was the heart and soul of this program, but he decided that he wanted to play on a team that stood a good chance at a national championship, and Michigan wasn’t going to be that team this season. He transferred to Kansas, where he will be an integral part of their team, and stand a good chance of winning a national championship. He will definitely be missed.
Players Who Left For The NBA Draft
Two players left the team to enter the NBA Draft. They are:
Kobe Bufkin – Kobe was probably the 2nd most valuable player on last season’s team as a sophomore, after a relatively quiet freshman season. He was certainly the most improved player on last season’s team. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1st round (15th overall). He will be missed.
Jett Howard – Jett was another rare “one and done” for Michigan. He had a good freshman season, but not great. The funny thing is, Michigan seemed to play better when he was on the sidelines injured. It must have been a chemistry thing. He was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round (11th overall). He will be missed.
Incoming Freshmen
Last year, Michigan had the #13 recruiting class in the nation. This year, the recruiting class is miserable. There is only one incoming freshman player this season:
George Washington III #40 (6’2”, 170 pounds, G) – George is a 4-star shooting guard, the #23 shooting guard in his class. According to reports, he’s a good shooter, including from 3-point range, and a good defender. He will be a key player on this season’s team.
Two other freshmen were committed to Michigan at one point, but they aren’t coming, maybe:
Lee Aaliya is a 6’9” forward/center from Argentina. He announced his commitment to Michigan back in late August, but he’s not enrolled at Michigan and he’s not on the official roster. The latest update I found says that his paperwork is very complicated, and there’s still a chance that he could join the team for the winter semester.
Papa Kante is a 6’10” forward/center from Senegal, by way of Connecticut. He committed to Michigan last winter, but didn’t have the grades and/or English language skills to get admitted, so he’s going elsewhere (Pittsburgh). He would have really helped.
Incoming Transfer Players
Let’s see: the three best players from last season’s team left (two to the NBA, the other to the transfer portal), and the recruiting class is almost nonexistent. What should Coach Howard do? To the transfer portal! There are three transfer players on this season’s team:
Nimari Burnett #4 (6’4”, 200 pounds, G) – Nimari transferred to Michigan from Alabama (2 seasons, one of them a medical redshirt), with a stop at Texas Tech (1 season) before that. He’s a graduate transfer, but by my count he has 3 seasons of eligibility left (2 regular and 1 COVID). He’s a combo guard, but he hasn’t been much of a scorer so far. His main contributions will probably be on the defensive end and as a backup point guard.
Tray Jackson #2 (6’10”, 215 pounds, F) – Tray transferred to Michigan from Seton Hall (3 seasons), with a stop at Missouri (1 season). He has one season of eligibility left. He’s a true power forward, rumored to have a decent shot. We’ll see.
Olivier Nkamhoua #13 (6’9”, 235 pounds, F) – Olivier transferred to Michigan from Tennessee (4 seasons). He has one season of eligibility left. He’s another true power forward, and he could probably play some center. He’s a good scorer, but not much of an outside threat.
New Scout Team Players
There’s only one new player on the Scout Team:
Harrison Hochberg #31 (6’7”, 225 pounds, F) – Harrison is a freshman “preferred walk-on”. Looking at his bio, he was quite the player in high school. He should be a valuable member of the Scout Team, and he might even get to play a couple minutes in blowout games.
Who’s Coming Back?
Once again, Michigan is a young team this season, with a lot of new faces. However, there is a solid core of returning players.
Let’s look at the returning players on the team:
Sophomore Eligibility
Youssef Khayat #24 (6’9”, 215 pounds, F) – Youssef played in 9 games last season, and scored 12 points. He looked a little lost out there at times, but he got better as the season went on.
Dug McDaniel #0 (5’11”, 175 pounds, G) – Dug took over as the starting point guard as a true freshman last season when Jaelin Llewellyn went down with a knee injury in game #8. He was a little “raw” at times, but he definitely grew into the job as the season went on.
Tarris Reed, Jr. #32 (6’10”, 265 pounds, F) – Tarris was a capable backup at center behind Hunter Dickinson last season, but he has suddenly been forced into the starting job with Hunter’s defection to Kansas. He’s a talented player, and he works hard out there, but he’s a definite step down from Dickinson. Center has been a position of dominance for Michigan for the last 3 seasons, but I expect it to be a liability this season.
Jackson Selvala #34 (6’7”, 230 pounds, F) – Jackson was a team manager who walked on as a player last season. He’s in grad school now, but he still has 3 years of eligibility left. He’s a valuable member of the Scout Team, and he might even get to play a couple minutes in blowout games. He played in 4 games last season, but didn’t score.
Cooper Smith #45 (6’1”, 180 pounds, G) – Cooper transferred to Michigan from Kalamazoo College last season. He’s a preferred walk-on. He’s a valuable member of the Scout Team, and he might even get to play a couple minutes in blowout games. He played in 4 games last season, but didn’t score.
Will Tschetter #42 (6’8”, 245 pounds, F) – Will was voluntarily redshirted his freshman season, and played a lot last season. He had a couple decent games, and too many mediocre games. He’s a nice guy, really likable, but he hasn’t produced on the court yet.
Junior Eligibility
Ian Burns #14 (6’6”, 205 pounds, G) – Ian is on the Scout Team. He played in 2 games as a freshman and 3 games as a sophomore. He has attempted one shot each season, but hasn’t made one yet.
Jace Howard #25 (6’8”, 225 pounds, G) – Jace has played for 3 seasons, but thanks to the COVID-19 rule he has junior eligibility. He’s played a lot, but he hasn’t scored much. He was often brought in for defensive purposes, and he contributed to a mean full-court press. I expect him to contribute even more this season.
Senior Eligibility
Jaelin Llewellyn #3 (6’2”, 190 pounds, G) – Last season, Jaelin transferred to Michigan from Princeton. He was the main point guard last season, until he injured his knee in the Kentucky game in early December.
Terrance Williams II #5 (6’7”, 225 pounds, F) – Terrance is a real enigma. When he’s “on”, he’s a force out there, but when he’s “off”, he’s a disaster. I’m still trying to forgive him for single-handedly losing the Vanderbilt game in the NIT last season.
Starting Lineup/Depth Chart
This is really tricky this season, with all the new players. My guess:
Point guard: McDaniel (backups: Llewellyn and Burnett)
Shooting guard: Washington III (backups: Llewellyn and Burnett)
Small forward: Williams II (backups: Howard, Tschetter, and Khayat)
Power forward: Nkamhoua (backups: Jackson, and Khayat)
Center: Reed (backups: Nkamhoua and Jackson)
Wow, there are a lot of thin spots here: an unproven freshman shooting guard, slim pickings at small forward, and no real backup for an undersized center. I don’t see anyone on the roster who can consistently score from outside, and I don’t see anyone on the roster who will scare any opponents. I’m also wondering where the on-court leadership will come from. McDaniel? Williams II?
Predictions
Here are my predictions for player stats for the upcoming season (last season’s leader in parentheses, all Hunter Dickinson):
Scoring: No one will score > 500 points. (629)
Points per game: No one will average > 15. (18.5)
Overall shooting percentage (minimum 100 attempts): No one will shoot > 50%. (56.0)
3-point shooting percentage (minimum 50 attempts): No one will shoot > 35%. (42.1)
Rebounding: No one will grab > 200 rebounds. (307)
Last Season
From last season’s Wrap-Up article:
Michigan started the season ranked #22 in the preseason AP poll, and big things were expected of them. Certainly, they were expected to contend for the Big Ten title and make it to the NCAA Tournament. That’s not how things worked out.
There were 31 regular season games and 3 post-season games, but one game ruined the whole season: the Central Michigan game in Crisler Arena on 12/29/2022. Michigan played like they expected to win by just showing up, and by the time they realized that they could actually lose to a lower-division MAC team in their own arena, it was too late. They lost 63-61, and the season was in tatters. It really didn’t matter much how many quality wins they got the rest of the season, that one horrible loss kept them out of the NCAA Tournament.
The theme for that game, and the rest of the season, was “keep the game close, and lose in the last 2 minutes”. Michigan lost to the following 13 teams by 6 points or less, or in overtime:
They could have won every one of those games, but they managed to lose them all, often in creative new ways. They often had double-digit leads late in the game. It was heartbreaking.
On the positive side, Michigan did have 9 impressive wins:
Most of those wins were against teams that eventually made the NCAA Tournament, and several of them were by impressive margins (Pitt, Maryland, Northwestern, and MSU).
The remaining 12 games were a mixed bag of blowout losses (3) and unimpressive wins over lesser opponents (9):
03/09/2023 (Loss) – Neutral site vs. Rutgers: 62-50 (Big Ten Tournament)
All of these losses were away from Crisler, and two of the three were to NCAA Tournament teams (Arizona State and Penn State).
Looking at the complete season, the real story was the CMU loss and all the close losses in the last 2 minutes. That’s where the season went down the drain.
This Season
Let’s look at Michigan’s schedule for this season:
The 11/13/2023 game vs. St. John’s is being played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Michigan won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas the last time they were in it (2019). They will have a tough time repeating that feat.
The Jumpman Invitational game vs. Florida in Charlotte, NC, is going to be challenging. Sure, the game is technically at a neutral site, but Charlotte is much closer to Florida than Ann Arbor.
As last season’s disaster vs. Central Michigan showed, there is no such thing as a “guarantee” non-conference game any more for Michigan.
Check out the day/time for the home Ohio State game of 01/15/2024: noon on a Monday. Who is going to be there?
Each Big Ten team plays 6 teams once (3 home/3 away) and 7 teams twice, for a total of 20 games. This season, Michigan plays:
Once: Indiana (home), Minnesota (home), Penn State (neutral), Maryland (away), Wisconsin (home), Northwestern (away).
Normally, I like to divide the games up into 3 categories (“Should Win”, “Should Lose”, and “Toss Up”), but after last season’s collapse, and with all the roster changes, I have no idea any more. Looking at the schedule, I can only see 4 games that look pretty winnable, and more than a dozen that look pretty hopeless. I’m expecting Michigan to finish well below 0.500 overall and in the Big Ten, say 11-20 overall (6-14 in Big Ten). I think the ceiling for this team is 16-15 (10-10 in Big Ten).
This Week
This week, Michigan only plays one game. On Friday (11/03/2023, 7:00 p.m., B1G+) they play Northwood in Ann Arbor, in their only exhibition game.
Northwood was 2-26 (2-18 in the G-MAC) last season. They are a Division II team, and they lost badly to the only Division I school they played last season. They don’t have any noteworthy players, but they do have a little height: a 6’10” guy. This should be a relatively easy exhibition game.
Check back next week to find out what happened and why.
Phil @pcallihan and Clint @Clint_Derringer discuss Michigan’s 49-0 victory over michigan state. With QB J.J. McCarthy, OL Zak Zinter, LB Junior Colson, TE A.J. Barner, and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Also, exclusive expose on NCAA investigation into Jim Harbaugh leaving the cap off of the toothpaste.
Michigan Wolverines’ victory and new app for fans.0:00
Tom Brady co-founds app to recognize biggest Michigan fans.
Michigan Wolverines’ dominant victory and team improvement.1:22
Michigan football continues to improve, with increasing margins of victory and a vision for future success.
Phil Callihan: Michigan’s dominance over Michigan State was cathartic after past losses.
Clint Derringer: Michigan State’s superiority in the trenches made games against Michigan unenjoyable in the early 2010s.
Michigan Wolverines’ victory and program’s baggage with coach Jim Harbaugh.6:16
Clint Derringer and Phil Callihan discuss the Michigan State football team’s loss to Michigan, with Derringer expressing little sympathy for the team and Callihan acknowledging the poor coaching hire that led to the loss.
Callihan criticizes Michigan State’s administration for not resolving the Mel Tucker contract situation before the season, leaving the players in a difficult position.
Phil Callihan and Jim Harbaugh discuss the Michigan Wolverines’ execution and focus during their game, despite criticism and distractions.
The team shrugs off negative comments and keeps working, with players like Zak Zinter and Clint Drew saying they’re focused on their own performance.
Michigan Wolverines’ mental toughness and leadership.12:27
Clint Derringer praises Michigan football’s mental and psychological fortitude in shutting out Michigan State despite distractions and noise.
Derringer highlights the leadership of players like JJ McCarthy and assistant coaches in compartmentalizing distractions and executing cleanly in a rivalry game on the road.
Michigan Wolverines’ dominant win and backup players’ performance.15:36
Phil Callihan: Michigan players showed no signs of complacency despite being up 42 points, giving maximum effort and staying locked in throughout the game.
Clint Derringer: Michigan’s final touchdown drive was notable for the team’s decision to take the kneel down with eight seconds remaining, rather than trying to score again and potentially risking a turnover.
Clint Derringer analyzes Michigan’s depth chart decisions in blowout win over Michigan State, praising the fourth and fifth stringers for their hard play.
Derringer notes that the backups’ opportunity to play in a rivalry game is not a sign of disrespect, but rather a sign of the depth and talent of the Michigan team.
Michigan Wolverines’ dominating win over Michigan State Spartans.21:41
Michigan fans filled the stadium and drowned out Spartan chants with “Let’s Go Blue” chants, while the Spartans slow-updated the digital scoreboards during the final touchdown.
Michigan dominates Michigan State in all facets of the game.
Clint Derringer analyzes Michigan QB JJ McCarthy’s performance, noting he’s done well despite limited garbage time plays.
Michigan football’s recent win and national championship prospects.28:32
Clint Derringer: JJ McCarthy playing better than any QB in the country, Michigan’s offense difficult to shut down.
Phil Callihan: Michigan’s schedule not the toughest, bye week crucial for players to rest and heal, looking forward to Penn State vs. Ohio State game.
Phil Callihan and Junior Colson discuss Michigan football’s dominant performance in a game, with Callihan highlighting the team’s strong rushing game and Colson sharing an amusing anecdote about a touchdown return.
Phil Callihan shares his enthusiasm for Michigan’s dominance over Michigan State, highlighting the team’s impressive performance and the joy of watching them play.
Callihan addresses the sign stealing controversy, dismissing claims of shenanigans and emphasizing that Michigan’s success is due to the players’ talent and hard work.
Jim Harbaugh’s NCAA investigation and its impact on Michigan football.36:08
Clint Derringer: Separating team’s performance from investigation is key.
Jim Harbaugh’s feud with the NCAA continues, with personal attacks and suspensions.
Michigan Wolverines football game and team performance.40:40
Phil Callihan questions the NCAA’s motives in investigating Jim Harbaugh’s alleged infraction, citing inconsistent treatment and the organization’s history of being on the “wrong side of history.”
Phil Callihan and AJ Barner discuss Michigan’s offensive talent and mindset, with Callihan highlighting the team’s improvement and Barner praising their overall skill.
Clint Derringer highlights Junior Coulson’s performance in the game, noting his ability to make tackles and play in the backfield.
Jim Harbaugh emphasizes the team’s focus on preparation and execution, citing their success in playing their best Football.
