What’s next for Michigan Basketball after Caleb Love?
By Nick Popio
No Hunter Dickinson, no Jett Howard, no Kobe Bufkin, and now no Caleb Love to save the Michigan basketball program from what appears to be a looming disaster.
The remnants of a catastrophic season continue to rare its ugly head. Michigan’s whale of a catch in the portal is gone. Caleb Love was supposed to be the go-to guy in crunch situations, but that was taken away from them. Now they have to find someone to replace him and pair with others, where the pickings are slim, to begin with at this late in stage of the process.
Whether you want to blame Juwan Howard or the admissions at the university for this abundant blunder, they have to get on the same page and not let embarrassments happen like this anymore. It occurred last offseason as well and it makes the football program look invincible, while the basketball side suffers.
Howard has to dig deep and swing for the fences now. He’s got to have the mindset of a lame-duck coach who is fighting for his job. Another abysmal season will have the fanbase grow more and more impatient. Anything else besides being in the hunt for a Big Ten championship and an NCAA tournament berth, with a run, will not be accepted. That’s standard and should be the norm that Howard inherited from John Beilein.
With little to work with the maize and blue look to be still in the mix for Olivier Nkamhoua. He would solve one of the problems in the starting lineup, but he’s only one body. The Wolverines have three spots to fill in the starting lineup and Tarris Reed Jr. has no backup to speak of.
Sad because he really wanted to come. Feel bad for Caleb Love. Why Michigan offers anyone that isn’t a grad or a freshman is beyond me.
— GBM Wolverine (@GBM_Wolverine) May 17, 2023
Other names who would make fans jump for joy would be Grant Nelson or Julian Phillips. Neither of which have been linked to Michigan as Zach Shaw of 247sports reports. Although Michigan can offer them and MAC player of the year RayJ Dennis, who becomes more important than ever, 30 plus minutes a night and a first-class NBA-ready opportunity.
Jaylin Sellers of Ball State is another name to be aware of. Michigan has indeed reached out to him and he is weighing his options, but maybe now they will push harder for him because they have an open spot for him. Tyrin Lawrence, Arthur Kaluma, and David Johns are all worthy names to call and offer interest also.
As far as 2023 recruits go there is nothing left unless someone reclassifies from 2024 or gets out of their commitment due to unforeseen circumstances. Flory Bidunga may reclassify, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on him.
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He’s visiting Michigan basketball after Memorial Day and is a heavy lean to Cincinnati. He would claim a spot and put renewed faith in the Howard critics if he can land him instantly.