men's basketball

I was just reading an article by Jason King over at the WWL about the strength of the Big Ten this year. Toward the end of the article, King discussed some random things about the season so far, and this was one of them:

4. Random thought here, but the race for National Coach of the Year is going to be an interesting one. Lots of good candidates but no hands-down favorites. At least not yet. Here are some guys who may be considered: Dana Altman (Oregon), Brad Stevens (Butler), Bruce Weber (Kansas State), Tubby Smith (Minnesota), Gregg Marshall (Wichita State), Larry Shyatt (Wyoming) and Larry Eustachy (Colorado State).

And for the record, I tend to favor coaches who have surpassed expectations set forth during the preseason, which tends to put guys like Mike Krzyzewski and Bill Self at a disadvantage. But I would have no problem if the coach of a top-five-caliber team ended up winning the award. Staying at the top is often as difficult as getting there.

To be honest, I was surprised that he didn't mention Beilein with those other coaches. Granted, I'm sure he wasn't trying to provide an exhaustive list, but I still feel like Beilein has to be on a short list of coaches in the running.

Your thoughts? I'll hang up and listen.

Results: The B1Ggest disadvantage goes to MSU, then to Indiana.  The B1Ggest advantage goes to Penn State, then Iowa.

The remainder of the teams on a list of scheduling difficulty vary in their positions depending on the analysis used.  To list the order of schedules this early in the season, it seems assumptions have to be made (note: I assume that the teams in 2013 exist on four separate tiers: (i) Indiana ("IN"), Minnesota ("MN"), Michigan ("UM"); (ii) OSU, MSU, Wisconsin ("WI"); (iii) Illinois ("IL"), Purdue ("PU"), Iowa ("IA"); and (iv) Northwestern ("NW"), Nebraska ("NU"), PSU).  I struggled with assuming that Illinois did not belong on tier 2, however getting itself blown out at Wisconsin did not help the Illini cause.  Wisconsin is not on tier 1, because it has at least one too many losses outside of the conference.

One analysis scored (using numbers) the difficulty of the games (in light of each of their venues) by ranking the teams using four tiers equally separated.  The following is a representation of the scoring and the resulting list of teams with the most difficult schedules:

8             @IN, @MI, @MN (9)

8              IN, MI, MN (7)

6              @WI, @MSU, @OSU (7)

6              WI, MSU, OSU (5)

4              @PU, @IL, @IA (5)

4              PU, IL, IA (3)

2              @NW, @NU, @PSU (3)

2              NW, NU, PSU (1)

Difficulty of Schedule:

1. MSU
2. Indiana
3. OSU
4. Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois
5. Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Northwestern
6. Iowa
7. Penn St.

The second analysis scored (using numbers) the difficulty of the games (in light of each of their venues) by ranking the teams using four tiers also, but they were not equally separated. The following is a representation of the scoring and the resulting list of teams with the most difficult schedules:

7              @IN, @MI, @MN (8)

7              IN, MI, MN (6)

6              @WI, @MSU, @OSU (7)

6              WI, MSU, OSU (5)

4              @PU, @IL, @IA (5)

4              PU, IL, IA (3)

2           @NW, @NU, @PSU (3)

2              NW, NU, PSU (1)

 Difficulty of Schedule:

1. MSU
2. Indiana
3. Michigan, Minnesota, OSU, Illinois
4. Wisconsin, Nebraska
5. Purdue, Northwestern
6. Iowa
7. Penn St.

Finally, I provide the B1G teams ranked (as they are today in the B1G standing) with the play-once games for each team also listed, so that you can do your own analysis at your convenience and leisure. 

#5 Indiana(IN)  3-0/15-1

has no rematch for games: WI, @NW, @IL, NU

Wisconsin(WI)  3-0/12-4

has no rematch for games: @IN, UM, @NW, PU

#2 Michigan(UM)  3-1/16-1

has no rematch for games: IA, NU, @MN, @WI

#8 Minnesota(MN)  3-1/15-2

has no rematch for games: UM, @WI, PSU, @PU

#22 Michigan State(MSU)  3-1/14-3

has no rematch for games: @IA, @PSU, IL, NW

#15 Ohio State  (OH)  3-1/13-3

has no rematch for games: @PU, IA, @PSU, MN      

Purdue(PU)  2-2/8-8

has no rematch for games: OSU, @NU, @WI, MN

#12 Illinois(IL)  1-3/14-4

has no rematch for games: @MSU, IN, PSU, @IA

Iowa  (IA)  1-3/12-5

has no rematch for games: @UM, MSU, @OSU, @PSU

Northwestern  (NW)  1-3/10-7

has no rematch for games: IN, @NU, WI, @MSU

Nebraska  (NU)  0-4/9-8

has no rematch for games: @UM, PU, NW, @IN

Penn State (PSU)  0-4/8-8

has no rematch for games: MSU, OSU, @IL, @MN

The next 6-8 weeks will be a crazy ride, but I like Michigan's chances even if it has much work to do.

#GoBlue, #HAIL, #Wolverines, #TheTeamTheTeamTheTeam, #2012defendingB1Gchampions #WantMoreSuccess

The Alumni Association and the Athletic Department have announced the details of the 2012 Coaches Tour of local alumni clubs and Horace Greeley would approve if he were able. This year, the coaches and Dave Brandon will visit Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Dave Brandon and John Beilein are scheduled to attend each event. Brady Hoke is scheduled to attend each event except for San Diego. Red Berenson is scheduled for Chicago only. John Paul (Men's Lacrosse) and Jennifer Ulehla (Women's Lacrosse) are scheduled to attend Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Chaka Daly (Men's Soccer) is scheduled to attend Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

U of M Club of Chicago 2012 Sports-O-Rama
Monday, May 14, 6 p.m., Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, 540 N. Michigan Ave.

Click here to register for Chicago

The Chicago event will feature:

• Athletic Director Dave Brandon
• Alumni Association President Steve Grafton
• Head football coach Brady Hoke
• Head basketball coach John Beilein
• Head ice hockey coach Red Berenson
• Alumni Association members: $35.
• Nonmembers: $55
• Limit of two tickets per member. Additional tickets may be purchased at the nonmember price.

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U of M Club of Phoenix 2012 Coaches Tour
Monday, May 21, noon, The Chart House, 7255 McCormack Parkway, Scottsdale

Click here to register for Phoenix

The Phoenix event will feature:

• Athletic Director Dave Brandon
• Head football coach Brady Hoke
• Head basketball coach John Beilein
• Head men’s lacrosse coach John Paul
• Head women’s lacrosse coach Jennifer Ulehla
• Head men’s soccer coach Chaka Daly 
• Alumni Association members: $40
• Nonmembers: $55
• Child 13 and under: $35

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U of M Club of San Francisco 2012 Coaches Tour
Tuesday, May 22, noon, Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF, 1675 Owens St., San Francisco

Click here to register for San Francisco

The San Francisco event will feature:

• Athletic Director Dave Brandon
• Head football coach Brady Hoke
• Head basketball coach John Beilein
• Head men’s lacrosse coach John Paul
• Head women’s lacrosse coach Jennifer Ulehla
• Head men’s soccer coach Chaka Daly 
• Alumni Association members: $45
• Nonmembers: $60

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U of M Club of Los Angeles 2012 Coaches Tour
Wednesday, May 23, noon, The Conference Center at Cathedral Plaza, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles

Contact um.coach.tour@hotmail.com to register.

The Los Angeles event will feature:

• Athletic Director Dave Brandon
• Head football coach Brady Hoke
• Head basketball coach John Beilein
• Head men’s lacrosse coach John Paul
• Head women’s lacrosse coach Jennifer Ulehla
• Head men’s soccer coach Chaka Daly 
• Sponsor table of ten: $1,500
• VIP table of ten: $1,200
• VIP single: $100
• Alumni Association members: $55
• Nonmembers: $75

Parking: Park in the Cathedral Plaza structure and take the elevator to the second floor. When you exit the elevator, you will see the registration area right in front of you. Bring your parking pass into Convention Center with you — validation will be given at check-in. VIP and sponsors will receive free parking at check in only – all others and after event ends will be validated for $10 parking.

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U of M Club of San Diego 2012 Coaches Tour
Friday, May 25, noon, Crosby Golf Club, 17102 Bing Crosby Blvd., Rancho Santa Fe, California

 Click here to register for San Diego

The San Diego event will feature:

• Athletic Director Dave Brandon
• Head basketball coach John Beilein
• Head men’s lacrosse coach John Paul
• Head women’s lacrosse coach Jennifer Ulehla 
• $30 for Alumni Association members
• $45 for nonmembers
• $400 to purchase a table with reserved seating close to the head table with the coaches (10 person table)

If you live in one of these cities, here's your chance to meet and greet with the AD and the coaches. If you are active in one of these clubs, please feel free to add in additional information about what is planned in the comments. For instance, when the UMDC Club hosts these events, it typically includes an auction of coach signed Michigan sports memorabilia to raise funds for the club's scholarship fund.

Now that I've stopped grinding my teeth (and cursing up a storm) in frustration during the entire game against Ohio University, and now that I've accepted the loss to that solid team (led by an outstanding performance by DJ Cooper); I realize that despite the upset tonight, Michigan was a great team in 2011 -- 2012.  Looking on as a dedicated basketball fan, I believe Michigan overachieved when it captured a share of the Big Ten championship for the season.  In retrospect, it looks like that overachievement also led to the team losing some of its hunger--some of its edge.

Now, I'm not suggesting the team didn't prepare enough for the post-season tournaments.  I just think the mentality of the team changed the moment it won a share of the title.  Before that moment, Michigan (like the previous season and even like the season Beilein first took Michigan to the NCAA tournament) was out to prove people (the naysayers and doubters) wrong.  It often acted like its back was to the wall.  That mentality is how it beat MSU and Ohio at home and also went on the road and won at Illinois and at PSU.  Winning the big ten title, however, validated Michigan's great season, and Michigan never seemed like it could thereafter adjust its mental approach (from that of an underdog to that of a champion) to play well going forward.

You may remember that the team came out flat against Minnesota.  Michigan still won because the gap between Michigan and the Gophers is apparent.  I think the gap is less apparent against Ohio University and inapplicable relative to Ohio.  Michigan was hungry when it won out after losing to Purdue; and, if it had that same edge tonight, I think we would have advanced to Sunday.  Instead, Michigan now has the off-season to learn how to play as a favorite, as a front runner. 

And who knows? Perhaps Beilein also isn't used to being the favorite.  It's possible. Ultimately though, I have  no doubt that Michigan will perform better in the tournaments next year.

Despite the disappointment of tonight's game, I gotta give it up for the seniors and the rest of the team.  The team was undersized the entire season and still earned a championship in the best conference.  Would advancing to the second weekend--the sweet 16--been a notable improvement over last season's finish?  Yes, without question. 

Was winning a big ten title this season a notable improvement over last season's 9-9 finish in the conference? Yes, without question.  Would I trade the championship for a sweet 16 finish?  No, without question;  absolutely not.  Next year, I want the championship and the sweet 16 (at least!). 

So, anyway, thanks, Michigan, for a great season.  For basketball, I see a bright future with a team hungrier in 2012 -- 2013 than it was when it finished 2012 -- 2013.  As Denard once said: "This program's been starving for a while.  It's time for us to make something happen.  We've been starving. It's time for us to eat."

GO BLUE. 

(EDIT update: UM 66 NW 64 final; OT) Michigan looks to continue its success defending home court.  A win tonight would move Michigan into a tie with Illinois for second place in the conference.  Of course no game is guaranteed for the favored team (e.g. OSU losing again last night).  Game starts at 630 EST.  Current standings:

Morris is going into his junior year of high school.  Has interest from big ten programs, but Michigan is one of the first to offer him.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110707/OPINION03/107070423/1004/SPORTS/Flint-Beecher’s-Monte-Morris-earns-U-M-offer--might-wait-for-others 

"(Michigan) actually showed a lot of interest in (Monte)," said Morris' mother Tanya. "He loved the way the team came together in the tournament. He loves the way Coach Beilein handled the team. They are very high on his list. Very high." "They're at the number one spot right now," Morris added. "It's the support they've shown me — showing me how serious they are recruiting me. I like their campus and their offense — how they spread the court and how they like the point guards to have the ball for at least six seconds. I just feel like their style of play will fit mine."