Trey Burke is Returning to Michigan For His Sophomore Year, and the Wolverines Are a Final 4 Contender
John Beilein breathed an enormous sigh of relief when his point guard, Trey Burke, announced today he won’t be going to the NBA, and instead will return to Ann Arbor for his sophomore season.
Without Burke (14.8 ppg, 4.8 apg), Beilein was looking at a sweet, street-ready vehicle with all the trimmings … except a point guard. The Wolverines lose one starter (Novak) to graduation, another guy who started 17 games and is out of eligibility (Douglass) and another to transfer (Evan Smotrycz).
How does a team that was bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament lose three of its top six players and still warrant a Top 10 ranking and the label of Final Four contender? Easy: Burke’s back, the recruiting class is loaded, and there’s some decent basketball roots in a few of the players.
My super early guess at the top five in the Big Ten: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State and Minnesota. If I had to pick a deep sleeper, it’d be Iowa. The Hawkeyes return five of their top six players.
Previously: Six Potential NBA Defections That Could Significantly Impact the 2012-2013 College Basketball Season
Previously: College Basketball Top 25 For 2012-2013 [Very, Very Early Edition]
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37 Responses to “Trey Burke is Returning to Michigan For His Sophomore Year, and the Wolverines Are a Final 4 Contender”
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April 9th, 2012 at 2:12 PM
You’re got damned right he is.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Good for the Big Ten, although you have to mention how much Burke’s play tailed off at the end of the year when he started worrying about the NBA. Now he’ll be worried about his stock all season, just hope for his sake he doesn’t sustain a terrible injury that could affect the rest of his basketball-playing career.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Thanks to Darius Morris for being the “Why you Should Stay in School an Additional Year” poster child.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:18 PM
OSU’s still better.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Shit. Does this mean more of those horrific jerseys on tv? They blind me.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Final Four of the B1G tourney? I could see that.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Trey Burke is playing for Baylor next season?
April 9th, 2012 at 2:20 PM
You’re quite the psychologist. And you have to mention how in their last 3 wins he went: 24-37 FG, 7-11 3FG, 15-19 FT, and averaged over 23 ppg
April 9th, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Don’t let facts get in the way of outwardly hoping by not hoping the kid has a career ending injury.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Trey Burke is playing for Baylor next season?
Those were worse. Thankfully, Scott Drew has put an end to seeing Baylor on TV for awhile.
/crosses fingers
April 9th, 2012 at 2:24 PM
HOLD ONTO THE FUCKING BALL
April 9th, 2012 at 2:24 PM
but if Deshaun Thomas leaves for the NBA????
April 9th, 2012 at 2:25 PM
VladimirCrouton: noted lover of Detroit Pistons, Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, yet complete hater of Detroit Tigers and any college football programs in Michigan. Truly fascinating.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:26 PM
That’d be foolish.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:26 PM
He’s coming back. But I’m guessing your being sarcastic.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Was not at all impressed with McGary when I saw him play against Noel’s team earlier this year. I am not buying the Michigan hype.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
…and always looks at life in a positive perspective.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
hmm, I somehow only remembered his last two games with all the NBA hype ran wild when he went 6 for 26 in two losses.
Good luck with that stiff coming back!
April 9th, 2012 at 2:28 PM
That was refernce to the top 25 thread
April 9th, 2012 at 2:31 PM
I remember now why I stopped following Anthony Lima on Twitter.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:31 PM
fixed. and he is not really a Pistons fan, IIRC.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Yeah, it’s pretty common for NBA hype to really pick up and affect players right after the B1G quarterfinal game. There’s just something about that Friday night/Saturday morning that really increases it and starts wearing on kids.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Scalia, if you can’t see that I’m fucking around, I don’t know what to tell you.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:33 PM
I can never tell with some of the shit you say.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:35 PM
I think the Big Ten will be freaking stacked next season at the top, for once I’m being serious
April 9th, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Scalia only takes the word at the stated meaning.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Ha! that’s hilarious.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:37 PM
U of M will be good next year, but will miss Novak, Douglass, and Smotrycz who accounted for a TON of their 3 point shooting and a good amount of their defense.
They do have more talent coming, plus Burke and Hardaway on the perimeter. However, Michigan had very little margin for error this year. If they played poorly, they lost. If they played well, they won most.
But, I don’t think that they are in the same class as IU or OSU (or maybe even Sparty with Gary Harris). Of course, they managed to get a share of a Big 10 title this year, so Beilein can perform miracles at times.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Good stuff right there.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Even as a homer I can’t tell you this is a wise idea. The goal for next year is probably to finish 6th in the B1G and get a bid.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Remember at the beginning of last season when everyone said Michigan State was the 5th best team in the Big Ten? How’d that work out? Just sayin’.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Correct.
IU we’ve heard about. OSU will be very, very good again now that Deshaun is coming back. UM as noted above. Sparty is Sparty, period (although likely losing Nix may make a difference). Minny with Mbakwe back will be solid. Wisky will be Wisky and may even be better without Taylor (but just as painful to watch).
Purdue, Northwestern, and Illinois are all a bit mysterious. Boilers lose a ton and don’t have a lot of great talent, but Painter seems to find guys who make due. NW loses Shurna, but has a bunch of others coming back and coming in who play the system. Illini loses Leonard and Michael Jordan Paul, but brings in John Groce, who will make them better instantly.
PSU, and Nebraska will struggle mightily next year
April 9th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
You skipped a team, Wally.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:44 PM
WHO? NHOH
April 9th, 2012 at 2:47 PM
For you!
I like Fran and think he is at a good place at Iowa. He’s probably a year away. But, your call of a bid for next year is a good one. They need to be 7th and above Ill, Purdue, NW, PSU, and Neb to get that bid. That won’t be easy. Some of that depends on the schedule and who they play once instead of twice.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:47 PM
This what I get for building the exhaustive (and incomplete) list of TBL commenters on twitter? Last time I ever roll up my sleeves on such an endeavor
April 9th, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Michigan was significantly overrated this year, and they will be next year as well.