ESPN blogger says Michigan basketball can contend for a national title this season
One ESPN writer agrees with Trey Burke's stance that the Michigan basketball team can contend for a national title this season.
Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com
He believes they're national title contenders.
And, apparently, he isn't the only one.
ESPN.com recently blogged its top summer story lines and updated expectations for Big Ten teams in 2012-13, and in accordance with Burke, writer Eamonn Brennan says the Wolverines have what it takes to contend for the big one.
"Trey Burke told the media he saw his team as a national title contender," Brennan wrote. "That's a very optimistic best-case scenario, sure, but in such a wide-open hoops landscape, I'm inclined to agree.
"This is unquestionably the most talented Michigan team in a decade, and if the freshmen excel early Burke's opinion won't seem farfetched."
So far, Burke's easily been the boldest Wolverine prognosticator this summer, saying at virtually every media session he's been involved in that he sees Michigan as a national contender this season.
John Beilein hasn't touched on the subject, which is no surprise, and most players have been somewhat tempered when asked what exactly this team can do.
Tim Hardaway Jr., however, wasn't too far from Burke with an assessment earlier this spring.
"The sky's the limit," he said.
As far as Brennan's worst-case scenario for Michigan? He says the team could slump due to the lost leadership of Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, and the overall lack of 3-point shooting depth.
But he doesn't see that happening. At worst, he says the Wolverines are just Big Ten title contenders.
"I think Beilein will make it work, and I think Michigan will be very tough to beat," he wrote. "But increased success is far from guaranteed."
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Howard the Duck
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
Jump shooting pretty boys! Never make it past the first weekend.
mookienation
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 6:33 p.m.
This is a classic example of the auto-suggestion psychological technique. If you tell yourself something over and over again, it will actually begin to translate into its physical equivalent. If everyone on the Michigan basketball team truly, honestly believes they will win the national championship, the odds of that actually happening are exponentially greater. This is practiced by nearly all of the most successful people in the world. Hopefully it works for Trey!
Tom
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
Hey, Trey - BEAT OHIO...then talk!
Tom
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
Sure...and pigs can fly! What a joke!
rocco
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 10:26 p.m.
Beilein is an unproven commodity when it comes to coaching talented players. I don't trust his coaching scheme or style. We should never have lost Smotrycz. Manny and Sims didn't want to play for him. Neither did the point guard who left too early for the NBA. What Beilein has now is another nice talent pool. But can he coach them into a winning unit, one that can compete for a national title? I don't think so, but we will see.
The1Cool
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
I like what Burke is doing. Hopefully he can back it up. I believe he is doing this to put pressure on himself and his teammates to push themselves to work even harder than they are already. I'm looking forward to this fall/winter/spring.
Mohawk
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 7:04 p.m.
They need to win on the road.
ferdcom
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
If you make the NCAA tournament you're "contending" for the national title.
mookienation
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.
Title contenders are Top 10 teams. They're the 1 and 2 seeds. You very rarely see teams winning a championship if they're lower than a 2 seed. Uconn did it as a 9 seed a couple years ago but that pretty much never happens. If you're in the Top 10 for the majority of the regular season, you're typically considered a title contender. That's where Michigan is expected to be.
Tom
Sat, Aug 11, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.
Orlando...teams like Butler, George Mason and VCU have done it. Cornell nearly did so a few years ago. When you make the tournament stuff happens! BEEEEELYING STINKS! He won the NIT once....LOL!
orlandomichfan
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
that's insane to think that, so your saying if middle Tennessee makes the tourney by getting hot and winning their conference with a losing record, that means they are title contenders??? that's crazy... you need to rethink that.. making the tourney does not make 1 a title contender
redwingshero
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
Someone is getting their tires pumped pretty early in the season.