Michigan's seemingly imminent ascension back to contention in Big Ten has once again suffered a significant setback.
Darius Morris, Michigan's leading scorer and assist-maker last season, will forgo his final two years of eligibility, hire an agent and remain in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is currently projected as a borderline first-round pick who could easily slip to the second round depending on his workouts.
"This was a difficult decision; however, in the end I decided to go with my heart," Morris said in a statement. "Playing professional basketball has always been a dream for me. I feel this is the right time for me to pursue that goal. It will be hard to leave the University of Michigan; however, I truly believe the basketball program is moving in a very positive direction."
Morris' departure caps a whirlwind six months in which he went from total unknown in a mediocre program, to budding star on an NCAA tournament team, to legitimate NBA prospect. He recorded the largest margin of improvement in scoring in the Big Ten this past season, leaping from 4.4 points per game as a freshman to 15 points per game as a sophomore.
Had Morris returned to school for his junior season, he would have been taking a calculated risk.
Continued steady improvement on a likely top 25 Michigan team probably would have cemented his place in the first round. On the other hand, a dropoff in production -- even one due to less scoring opportunities because of the development of his teammates -- could have sent Morris' stock tumbling.
There's no question Michigan will miss Morris' ability to create for himself or for his teammates on ball screens, but there's reason to believe the Wolverines can still contend for an NCAA tournament berth in what should be a weakened Big Ten.
Emerging star Tim Hardaway Jr. will likely have the ball in his hands at crunch time next season. And promising incoming freshman Trey Burke will have every chance to win the starting point guard role vacated by Morris, though guard Stu Douglass also may have to run the team for long stretches.
The absence of Morris doesn't squelch all the momentum Michigan built rebounding from a 1-6 Big Ten start to make the NCAA tournament last season, but it certainly makes a Sweet 16 run seem unlikely next March.
With Morris, Michigan would have been a preseason top 20 team. Without him, they're probably just one of a handful of Big Ten teams jostling for position behind Ohio State in the conference pecking order.
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