Michigan basketball: Depth chart update without Nojel Eastern

Nojel Eastern will not be joining Michigan basketball due to an academic issue. Therefore, the depth chart must be updated.

The Michigan basketball community received some sad news when Purdue transfer Nojel Eastern announced that he was no longer going to be a Wolverine due to a credit transfer issue.

“I want to start off by thanking Coach (Juwan) Howard for the opportunity he would have given me by attending the University of Michigan. I was extremely excited and grateful for him taking a chance on me,” Eastern tweeted. “But, I was not admitted to the university because of many credits that weren’t transferable because of my major. That is the only reason why I was not accepted. I want to thank Michigan and the entire staff and organization for trying to do everything in there (sic) power to get me into the University of Michigan.”

Shortly thereafter, legendary coach and broadcaster Dick Vitale attacked the Michigan basketball staff for talking about Nojel before he was formally accepted into the school.

"This is embarrassing as someone messed up . The ⁦@umichbball⁩ staff should have had his academic record evaluated before making announcement on Nojel Eastern"

In his Tweet, Dick alleges the basketball staff announced the transfer, and in reality, which apparently eludes Dick, Howard was asked questions about the transfer, and he answered them. They never said it was a done deal.

And then when he gets called out for his ignorance, Dick doubles down.

"This tweet is for all the ⁦@umichbball⁩ lovers saying they never announced Nojel Eastern was coming .There r several articles quoting Coach Howard about Eastern .My claim is that there should be ZERO said until school knows the player is accepted ."

Translation: Back in the 60’s we did things differently, and the world shouldn’t change, it should conform to the old style of basketball.

I guess we should all follow the arbitrarily constructed rules that only exist within the sound mind of Dick Vitale. In that case, there will not be an update on the depth chart until I’m certain projecting starters for 2020-21 don’t violate some sort of asinine rule that isn’t written.

I guess, under the oppressive rule of lord Vitale, here’s the starting five for 2020-21 without the guy who I can’t name because he wasn’t formally accepted and is now no longer intent on attending and there’s another guy that might be a starter, but I guess I should withold his name from consideration until he clears the very convoluted admissions process.

Just kidding, here’s the starting five with Nojel Eastern out and Chaundee Brown expected to clear the waiver process and admissions.