On to the Tournament.
Mitch Mcgary can't get here soon enough.
We need his inside presence. It's a sad day when your point guard leads your team in rebounds.
(yes I know we out-rebounded OSU, however, lack of an inside presence was frustrating i.e. watching Jared Sullenger go 9-13, and 3 offensive boards.)
All in all, one loss can't mar the incredible season MBB has had. Look for John Beilein (who imo is one of the best tourney coaches in the league) to pull us back together and make a strong run in march.
Remember, we have the 3 seed all but locked up. I've seen some really favorable mock-draws for us, and once our shots start falling, we're hard to beat.
Here's to a tourney to remember. Go blue.
Perhaps the players "were" like that at some point years ago (maybe when they couldn't win B10 championships), but who cares? It's in the past.
Unless that was supposed to be "we're," in which case I agree. Y'all are soft in the head and limited in the grammar talent department.
Your team's motion offense, three point shooting, and alternating defensive looks will give OOC teams fits. You guys struggle against teams like Ohio and MSU because they're built to neutralize your strengths, play to your weaknesses, AND they play you multiple times.
You beat MSU; Izzo's team turns into a buzz saw with a carefully crafted plan next meeting; same thing with Matta and Ohio. You can't sneak up on MSU (last year notwithstanding) or Ohio twice. Not yet anyway.
But those are both top 10 teams. Most teams in the NCAA field will be as baffled by that motion offense and alternating defense as MSU was during the first game, and Ohio during the second (probably more so; I can say as an opponent that it was very frustrating to see so many backcuts for easy layups against a mastermind like Izzo). These one-off events that are the Tournament are good for this version of M.
It's amazing what Beilein has done with a decidedly undertalented team (relatively speaking), and a slumping star in Hardaway.
I particularly agree with your thought that M is best off sneaking up on a team unfamiliar with Beilein's sets. If you don't know his tactics, M becomes a real headache, despite (currently) being at a talent disadvantage. I am still looking forward to seeing what he can do in the (hopefully) second game of the NCAA tournament, when a team seeing M strategy for the first time will be the opponent.
Four paragraphs of truth.
Learn from it... move on. Lots of teams go into the tourney coming off losses.
March 10th, 2012 at 10:51 PM ^
and Michigan certainly didn't give future opponents any good film to watch today, either. As long as MSU and OSU stay in their game and, particularly with OSU, don't start getting selfish, they should all go far into the tourney (at least 2 or 3 wins). Wisky, Indiana, and Purdue, I'm just not ready to say that they'll be quite as crafty (although of the three, I'll give Indiana the best odds of going furthest).
Bartelstein had a pretty nice game...
and go to bed - try not to hit your wife or kick the dog as you will probably regret it in the morning. It is a GAME.
Is anyone on this board claiming that Michigan is not talent/depth deficient at this point? Did you read any of the stories this year talking about a scrappy team with only 1 top 100 player on the entire roster? This team plays its ass off to even compete with the talent and height advantage that OSU and MSU have at this time. They have over achieved, just as they have for most of the past few seasons. Help is on the way in the form of some true bigs next season. If Michigan is still "soft" in your eyes then, you will have a legit gripe.
Now lets hope Burke doesn't do something foolish like go one-and-done. (knock on wood)
GO Blue.
See, what you are typing isn't objectivity. It is trolling at it's finest. It is also idiotic. Any time you say a team that took home a share of the B10 title (arguably the best conference in college basketball) is "weak" and plays like a soft Catholic church league team knows absolutely nothing about basketball. I do find it funny that you said you were around for the Fab Five years and you want us to play more like them, even though with all their power and might and interior toughman basketball, they failed to take home a B10 championship like this team did. I look forward to when you are banned.
March 10th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
March 10th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^
I'm curious why you decided to "enlighten" us right now, after the most lopsided loss of the season. Why didn't you share your remarkable expertise earlier?
Also, I'm still wondering how Novak is an "average shooter," and how recruiting guys like Ben Cronin, Jordan Morgan, Robin Benzing, Jon Horford, Max Bielfeldt and Mitch McGary fits into your narrative of Beilein not wanting post players.
March 10th, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
Do not insult me by blaming your poor spelling and grammar on your phone.
March 10th, 2012 at 10:53 PM ^
How on Earth is Novak an "average" shooter? He's shooting 42% (52-125) from 3-point range, 48% overall and 86% from the FT line this year. How good does he have to shoot to be "above average"?
we are going to be playing a bad team on Thursday or Friday. With the exception of Arkansas, which had sort of a flukish start, we haven't lost to a bad team all year. So we win that game and get some confidence. Then we likely play a team not familiar with our style of play and obviously this is where Beilein historically excels. This team is still in great shape to get to the Sweet 16.
there was the Iowa loss.
but Iowa went 8-10 in B10. I don't consider them a bad team.
excuse I can come up with is that Michigan had to of been tired after that OT bout with Minnesota last night. Had they of avoided OT and got the job done against the Gophers they could of gone into this game with some more momentum and maybe come out much better unlike they did today. This is a Michigan squad that's had some amazing wins this year both conference and non conference and their conference record proves they ARE a good B10 team this season! They won a share of the B10 title you can't deny that whoever you are, beat MSU and OSU, The passing and shooting today was just awful but the dribbling was horrible too! Burke, Novak and Hardaway Jr all fumbled the basketball several times and Morgan just couldn't sink an easy jumper to save his life! They had to of been mentally fatigued or exhausted, This is not a bad Michigan team and judging them on one game for how they will do tournament time isn't at all accurate but they need to do some serious work and make some improvements before their first game. Most importantly they need rest. They're exhausted.
As for Ohio St, you'll see Sparty lay the hammer down the Buckeyes tomorrow. This is a team that is thirsting for OSU blood and they'll drink plenty tomorrow. State has the best team in conference this year and there's no way in hell OSU beats them twice.
Burn the Boats!!!
This blog is for people who have a brain. People who lose their shit when a team with limitations everyone is keenly aware of loses one game to a top notch opponent do not qualify.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/basketball/recruiting/commitments/2012…
I'm sorry he doesn't have the power to brainwash unwilling high school athletes at your whim. Considering the limitations of the human mind and the space-time continuum, most folks seem to think he's doing an okay job recruiting.
Now please do us all a favor and wash down your dinner with a gallon of Magic Johnson's blood.
I think everyone on this blog knows that this team has some (major) flaws, but you are just acting like an idiot about them. You do realize that 3 years ago this program was in the basement of the Big Ten, did you expect Beilein to get Mcdonalds all americans back then? We have size coming in next year with Mcgary and Robinson III, calm the eff down. Beilein isn't intentionally not recruting big guys. Horford got injured this season, so our only legitimate center is Morgan (Evan is a PF to me) and he played like shit today. Get over it.
I have accepted that you are clogging this thread with idiotic comments.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Michigan beat ohio this season?
at home, but were smoked at discount town arena.
You clearly know nothing about MGoBlog. Suggestion: sit around and read the blog for a while before posting. this blog is one of the best because hate and trash is kept in check.
For whatever reason we came out flat against MN and expended a lot of energy coming back, and playing the OT. Some of that carried over to today...and Ohio was on their game. Beilein has time to get everything settled this week and he will.
Overall this team has wildly exceded expectations...and we beat both MSU and Ohio this year.
I thought both Nance and Kellog were getting a little carried away dissing Michigan...don't get too caught up in reacting to that.
I disagree. I think OSU is the best team and will dominate Sparty tomorrow. I'd prefer it that way.
Has us as at the top of the 3-line. With Marquette and G'Town out early Baylor or Missouri (depending on the B12 title game) should be the only teams that can knock us off that spot. But that just means that we wrapped up the second 3 spot. So this game wasn't too important, so that's fortunate.
I am disappointed to see us play so flat the last two games, especially in a tournament situation, but hopefully, they can learn from this. Remember Sweet 16 or bust. We still have the horses to do that.
Lets not overrreact. We had a great season and we still have a chance to do damage in the tournament. Believe.
Believe in Beilein. That is all.
To Michiganman14. Your username is a blatant lie.
What's your opinion exactly? All I've gathered from your posts is that you think Beilein doesn't want to recruit big men.
Spartyman 14 has made his opinion clear: Only he can identify Michigan BB's shortcomings, and they are that the team is "weak" and "soft." With that kind of precise analysis, it is clear that he is recommending building a team out of seven foot stacks of reinforced cinderblocks.
That's genius. No one has ever done that before.
We won so many close games this year. This speaks well for the team in some ways - in particular, our maturity and ability to not go to pieces in key moments. However, it also reflects that we really played to the limits of our talent (and had great coaching, obvs), and we didn't have a lot of margin for error.
Do not look at the cover of the National Enquirer. Off topic I know. Just trying to warn you.
Michigan just looked tired. Especially Burke. Get rested up and run the tables in the tournament! Go Blue!!!
The way Craft played defense was also demoralizing. I am sure there is no one Trey would rather play well against.