Michigan Basketball: Could Wolverines start on time?

With Michigan football pushed to the spring, there was little hope for Michigan basketball to start on time. Until now.

It’s impossible to avoid the buzz surrounding college football, and more specifically, the Big Ten.

The dissent has begun.

Players are speaking out. Coaches are demanding the season begin on time. Families are bringing legal action against the leadership. It’s a PR nightmare for Commissioner Kevin Warren.

Things have not gone as planned for the presidents and if conference college hoops were postponed as well, would the crowd grow rowdier? Too loud to ignore?

Most certainly.

Michigan basketball and Big Ten basketball nation might not have as many members as their football counterparts, but you can expect the same response.

Besides, you have to wear noise-canceling headphones to block out every coach, star player (many have already declared for the draft in lieu of participating in two seasons the same year), and parent as it is.

It seems the administration and the Big Ten are holding on by a thread; unsure of their future and if the conference will continue to be in existence. Another cancellation could signal the end of one or more of the Power Fives, especially if three of the five successfully go on as scheduled.

A cancellation or postponement may not be in the cards, however.

While it unclear who exactly is discussing when games will begin, Big Ten basketball might go on as scheduled, or a couple of weeks after the initial start date. If true and applicable to the conference, this could bring back jobs in athletic departments and save those in administrative positions higher up on the food chain.

“Sources: November 25th and December 4th have emerged as the two likeliest start dates to begin the 20-21 college basketball season,” CBS sports insider Jon Rothstein said on Twitter.

Matt’s musings

Without an indication as to who is doing the talking, it’s hard to be optimistic we will see Michigan basketball in November.

Pessimism is counterproductive, however.

The best way to look at this: at least someone is sitting at a table somewhere trying to develop a plan to get things going sooner than later instead of brainstorming hundreds of vague excuses to delay – and possibly destroy – a sport.

Thousands of scenarios are being laid out and considered with review and advice from medical experts. If it’s safe, those in charge must pick a plan and give the kids – in football, a majority have insisted on competition – what they want.