It was an eventful news day with Michigan adding a commitment from Moustapha Thiam and learning that Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. were declaring for the NBA Draft. Dylan and Eric recap the news, discuss Michigan’s new frontcourt, and the current state of the roster after the NBA Draft deadline.
The UM Hoops Podcast · Episode 252 · 55:52
Show notes
Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. declared for the NBA Draft while leaving the door open to return, and Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam committed to Michigan within the same hour. Dylan Burkhardt and Eric Shapiro agree both departures make sense after a national title run.
They then work through the new frontcourt of J.P. Estrella, Thiam and LSU transfer Jalen Reed, and a top five of Cadeau, McKenney, McCoy, Estrella and Thiam. They close on the open roster spot, Juke Harris as the ideal fit, point guard depth and how much budget remains.
- nba draft
- frontcourt
- roster
- transfer portal
- nil budget
- recruiting
Worth hearing
34:26 · Thiam as a recruiting win
“Landing Thiam at this point in the process is a huge recruiting win and it solidifies Michigan’s floor at a very high level, I would say.”
Dylan Burkhardt
8:37 · A new look for Michigan
“I think there’s a sense that it’s almost healthier for Michigan to move on and have a new sort of team construct, new everything.”
Dylan Burkhardt
2:50 · Why Mara and Johnson are leaving
“But the reality is they were among the best players in the sport this year.”
Dylan Burkhardt
44:38 · Last roster spot and Juke Harris
“He just checks a lot of the boxes of what you think you’re missing on this roster.”
Dylan Burkhardt
Chapters
- Big news day: Mara, Johnson and Thiam
- Why Mara and Johnson are leaving
- A new look for Michigan
- Budget and the Florida comparison
- J.P. Estrella's fit
- Moustapha Thiam's upside and gaps
- Thiam as a recruiting win
- Top five and young depth
- Jalen Reed's health question
- Last roster spot and Juke Harris
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Join the conversation · 14 replies on the forum
The conversation
14 repliesJoin the discussionDavis104
Late Friday podcast incoming! Can’t wait to hear the breakdown on the Lions and Commanders draft…which is what I assume this podcast is about.
joshgersh
Emergency Friday night pod??? Have to imagine the gents have some cold ones in front of them.
GoBlueScrewOSU7
Haven’t listened to this yet, but will we get a pod on the over/unders from last season?
mike_davidson
Can’t wait to listen! Will listen tomorrow on my exercise ‘jog’ for an hour.
DMB43
“I haven’t watched a full Moustapha Thiam game yet”
Wow. Eric outing himself as a fake fan…