Tonight was a season defining game
We go down by 8 early and we fight back to only be down 2 at halftime. Our best player in Glenn Robinson iii goes out with an apparent knee injury early in the 2nd half. We fall back down by 6 and fight back to take the lead. Irvin and Walton play like the players we all hoped they could be right out of the chute. I love this team! I love 2014!
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
I agree with the OP completely. Just like tonight, few wins for this team are going to come easy, but if they play their game they can match up with any team in this conference. They can get it done.
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^
much needed indeed, great to start off the B1G season with a road win. Hope Glenn is okay and not too injured or hurt. Horford played a great game today.
Why was Mitch on the sidelines, when is his surgery?
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
The BTN guys said Mitch's surgery is Tuesday
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
this win could be huge for determining bubble teams and/or seeding. In the B1G, every win counts for a lot, as 10-8 would likely get us in safely.
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
With McGary out it's hard to force the issue, as it leaves us with Morgan, Horford, and Bielfelt(sp) for bigmen and we're to young with Walton and Irvine to put ourself in foul trouble. I believe it was Walton who got called for a foul when the goofer player chest bumped him with both players moving down the court. Huge win. That place was crazy loud and we kept our composure, great way to start the B1G off ! " GO BLUE "
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
This felt really, really good.
Horford really looks like he's emerging as a leader. Really cool to see him step up on and off the floor in this game.
January 2nd, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
Horford is another recruiting find for Beilein. He was rail-thin and had next to zero recruiting buzz when Beilein surprisingly offered him. Fast-forward a few years and he gives us 14 and 9 against a big Minnesota front line.
January 3rd, 2014 at 1:36 AM ^
He did seem to make a big step forward this game though. The smoothest he has looked as well as the most aggressive. That dunk was a significant play. Also had some nice tough on a jumper.
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
that make the difference between making the tournament or at the very least bumping us up a seed or two. Great win!
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
agree, big big win. without mcgary, this is closer to a bubble team, especially till we get walton going.
speaking of, i saw him make the most cerebral read i've seen from him yet ( i thin it was down to horford who missed the bunny). hopefully a sign the game is slowing down for him.
cool to see irvin blowing up. seriously, 5 threes on the road in your first big ten game? i think this was as impressive as any regular season game by a frosh last year (saying a lot). caris is having a great season (wasnt great tonight) but irvin is breathing down his neck for that starting spot.
i think horford/morgan is just good enough that if the rest of this team gels (read, figure out pg thing) we could still really get rolling.
i gotta think 9 B1G wins puts us at least on the bubble. very do able.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:11 AM ^
I thought Walton had some great minutes tonight including his own personal 5-0 mini-run which included drawing a charging foul on Minnesota. He also had a couple of tough rebounds. He's not yet an opening tip to final buzzer take command, floor general but Beilein has other tricks, like running the offense through Stauskas which they did quite a bit tonight.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:38 AM ^
he isnt up to speed on the offense but he clearly has tools. i wouldnt mind seeing him play the 2, but i dont think we have the depth at pg - and probably too much depth on the wing anyway.
i trust he'll figure it out eventually. beiliien always gets alot from his pg.
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
January 2nd, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
Great to find diff ways to win. No Robinson, Caris not good, Morgan in foul trouble, Stauskas neutralized, but still won. Pays great dividends.
January 3rd, 2014 at 7:44 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:12 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:59 AM ^
I took a picture with him, my sister and girlfriend after the game tonight. He was in a boot. He said it was just a sprain though. He did try and warmup midway though the 2nd half and then sat back down.
January 3rd, 2014 at 1:07 AM ^
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
But Robinson is not our best player.
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
Any conference road win is HUGE!
January 3rd, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
an opening night win when the reality of seasonal expectations haven't been dimmed by actual performance in key matchups. Nobody won easily on the road this week in their openers besides the Badgers who beat up on Northwestern last night.
Michigan showed character, chemistry and patience in their victory despite failing to put the game out of reach with a three possession lead in the final 40 seconds. Playing through injuries enables this team to understand how valuable every contribution and execution is when you are seeking to close a team out. I think Walton showed great will, passion and desire to lead along with Stauskas who has become the creative leader of this offense.
The defense made three straight stops that enabled Michigan to grab the lead and hold off the Gophers when the back and forth action seemed to suggest Minnesota might prevail.
I love the way Belein coaches this team in a way that alwys suggests he is imparting a game lesson and that the consequence of winning and losing is secondary to getting his kids to constinue learning how to play when faced with adversity. I think that is the message of this long season and that contest will help going forward especially in Madison.
There's only one team I want Michigan to beat this year above all others, and that is Wisconsin.
Of course beating the rivals and winning the conference is paramount, but I will take special pleasure in beating the Badgers, especially in Madison.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:15 PM ^
I've followed JB since before he arrived at Michigan. I think he is he best x's and o's technician in the game today. If there is a way to win he will schematically put his players in that position. That's one of the reasons he was successful with Nobody rosters.
Give him great players and you saw last year what can happen.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
Great win to start conference play on the road no less. I think the team is starting to find its identity and gel at this point. While I'm not sure this team is as bad as some lamented previously I still had high hopes as all but one of the teams they have lost to are top 15 teams.
This team could be better than most think, but by no stretch are they yet the best in the conference. Here's to hoping they keep improving and notch many more conference wins. 2014 has been good to us thus far.