Michigan Basketball: What could Ohio State possibly want with Andrew Dakich?

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 24: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Butler Bulldogs reacts in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 24: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Butler Bulldogs reacts in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Michigan basketball will see yet another transfer end up in the Big Ten conference, this time with Andrew Dakich going to Ohio State.

To be honest, when Andrew Dakich announced that he was transferring away from Michigan basketball shortly after the season, I didn’t think twice about it. In fact, I was glad.

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I had no problem with Dakich and in fact, I enjoyed listening to his father, Dan Dakich announce most of the Michigan basketball games for ESPN. Even though the references to Andrew did get a bit annoying.

But for the most part, I just didn’t think Dakich could hack it at Michigan. And if you look at the facts, it’s a pretty accurate assessment.

In 49 career games over three seasons, Dakich averaged just over four minutes per game. He also scored 0.4 points and shot just 33 percent from the field. Most of the games that he played in, he didn’t even score.

So I have to be honest, my first reaction to the news that he was transferring to Ohio State was, why, why would they want him?

Michigan Wolverines Basketball
Michigan Wolverines Basketball /

Michigan Wolverines Basketball

That might sound a little harsh, but I just don’t see Dakich as a Big Ten player. He’s a decent shooter and he can do the basic things as a point guard, but he’s a liability defensively and really shouldn’t be playing big minutes for a contending team in the conference.

So it got me thinking, is Ohio State looking for secrets? Does ESPN have some secret requirement that Dakich play in the Big Ten so Dan Dakich can announce his games and annoy another fan  base?

Obviously, the real reason Dakich is going to Ohio State is different. He didn’t get into the journalism school at Quinnipiac and after the coaching change at OSU, the chance opened up.

For Michigan basketball, there shouldn’t be much of a sting. Yes, Dakich went to one of the team’s bitter rivals, but at the end of the day, it’s doubtful he plays much of a role. He will be the trusted veteran, not much more.

Yet, even though Dakich wasn’t a big-time contributor, it’s always weird to see someone switch sides. Transfers within the Big Ten are becoming more common, but Michigan to Ohio State is still pretty rare.

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All in all, it won’t matter much. Dakich will wear a different color in warmups, but game minutes against Michigan don’t seem likely. And as mean as it sounds, if he is playing for Ohio State, it will be a sign that the Buckeyes rebuild has a ways to go.