B1G Hoops Preseason Poll: Michigan 5th
B1G Media Day was today for basketball, and the preseason rankings voted by the media are out:
1) Wisconsin 378 points |
2) Ohio State 322 |
3) Michigan State 305 |
4) Nebraska 299 |
5) Michigan 286 |
6) Minnesota 226 |
7) Iowa 214 |
8) Illinois 196 |
9) Indiana 163 |
10) Maryland 162 |
11) Purdue 95 |
12) Penn State 84 |
13) Northwestern 78 |
14) Rutgers 27 |
Source: http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2014/10/1…
October 15th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
We just won a deeper and more talented B1G last year by 3 games. It seems like Wisconsin is a pretty clear #1 in the league going into the season this time around, I wouldn't be totally shocked to see them do it too. Especially as they have one of the better home court advantages in the league.
One thing that might prevent it is Michigan's relatively favorable conference schedule. Our single plays (Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota in Ann Arbor, Maryland, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue on road) are seriously tilted to having the tougher games in Ann Arbor.
October 15th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
Er...exactly. Special, special program.
October 15th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
We have them right where we want them.
October 15th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
5th? I mean, I know we have a lot to replace, but we did just post a more efficient offense last year when having to replace Burke and McGary. I have faith.
October 15th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^
Ehh, it's just a preseason poll. I don't agree with it, but I'm not getting worked up over it. I do think that we will finish the year second or third to Wisconsin and maybe Nebraska.
October 15th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
October 15th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
I know they're trendy now, but I really, really doubt they finish in front of us
October 15th, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
- Wisconsin makes sense.
- OSU - Good recruitng class?
- IZZO
- Nebraska - New shiny things
- SAY MY NAME!
October 15th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
We often lament about the lack of quality with the current/recent FB coaches in the B1G. However, that is not the case in B1G BB. The coaches of the top five above would be welcome just about anywhere. Tim Miles, the shiny new thing, is a great coach. If Nebraska can hold on to him then the corn lovers can say, not just a football school. I don't know his contract status, but they should pay the man.
October 15th, 2014 at 10:39 PM ^
I am the danger
October 15th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
OSU and MSU seem completely unpredictable right now, save that MSU will probably win 18-20 games and be good but not great. I know Izzo is regarded as always having elite teams, but what players are coming back for MSU to make people think they'll be a top-3 team in what is probably one of the top 2 conferences in America?
October 15th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
It's so much fun to be able to look at a pre-season poll like this and just laugh, because we already know that we're going to exceed expectations (again). It's so refreshing, especially on the heels of football season. It's like John Beilein is a frosty glass of coconut water on a scorching summer day.
October 15th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
fun conference season. Just looking at the lineup of teams, if things break the right way, the B1G could very well get 9 teams into the tournament, assuming the top 7 from this poll make it and two of Illinois, IU and Maryland sneak in. If Illinois can get some wins against Memphis/Baylor, Villanova, Oregon and Mizzou in the non-conference, it seems likely.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
Lol at OSU being ranked that high with zero experience and no big man. Same with them, how will they score > 50 pts/game?
October 15th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
last couple of years yet we are always underrated. And Nebraska by the way, loses nobody and adds quite a bit. They will be really good.
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October 15th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
MSU's roster is stacked with blue-chip recruits almost every year. Izzo does a crappy job of developing many of them.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
Pre-season polls are just that, pre-seson. I think polls are basically opinion peices until we get into conference play...
October 15th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
I think Beilein is where Dantonio was a couple years ago. Media perception (and perception is all that matters to them) was, "Yeah, he's had a nice run the last few years, but was it just him hitting the lotto with some diamonds in the rough who went boom, or is it actually long-term sustainable?"
It turned out to be the latter with Dantonio, and I believe it is with Beilein as well. And I also believe Michigan will turn out to be significantly better than MSU this year.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
That's shows a lot of repect for Beilein when he's replacing the player of the year with a freshman. Michigan is looking at six freshmen in the rotation this year and a recruiting class that no one considers elite. I dare say we're only ranked this high because of Beilein.
October 15th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
Right, but what I am getting at was I think they're wondering if he's going to be able to continue to match the performance of the five who went to the finals. And yes, they were replacing Burke and Hardaway last year, but they still had Stauskas and Robinson and were expected to eventually have McGary.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
No major quibbles. I'd put us ahead of Nebraska. But they have a couple really good players returning while we lost 3 to the NBA (though one didn't play much). I trust JB and we'll be competitive once again. If Caris makes another major jump and the bigs are decent, we'll challenge for the regular season title.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
That's some craziness right there.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^
Wisconsin deserves the #1 spot until someone takes it from them. That team could be very, very good this year. Which pains me to say because of my seething hatred for Bo Ryan.
I guess OSU had a good recruiting class from what I've heard, but until they can prove they can consistently score some points, I'll play wait and see with them. Matta is a good coach, and they'll undoubtedly be solid defensively again, but as of right now, who on that team can score?
MSU....ehh I don't know. They've got the Izzo factor, sure, but a lot of talent left last year, and from what I understand, not a lot came in. They'll be good as always, but I don't know that they're better than us right now.
I like what Tim Miles is building at Nebraska. They'll definitely make the tournament again this year, but I'm not really sure they're better than us at this point. We're the only conference team that beat them in their own house last year, and they looked like a deer in headlights against Baylor in the tournament last year.
I'd probably put us somewhere around 2-3. Lack of a front court presence is going to be a problem until Beilein can get Donnal rolling. But if there's anything I've learned over the past 3 years, its to never question Beilein's ability to develop talent and get the absolute most out of his players. He knows X's and O's as well as anyone in the country, and he'll put this team in position to win basketball games every time it steps onto the court. If Donnal can quickly develop into a good option down low, we'll be in great shape come March.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
What exactly is the "Izzo factor"? Taking 5*'s and making them average? Getting some extra calls due to incessant complaining? Falling short of expectations year in and year out? Getting trucked by UNC when the spotlight is bright?
October 15th, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
Izzo does have a great resume. He is the last B1G coach to win the Big Dance. That streak of senior classes at least one Final Four is something....... and it was funny when that streak was snapped this year.
October 15th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
not too worried. Coach B always gets his team better as the season goes on. Happens every year. I think we will start slowish then the team will start to gel...class coach B style.
Hail!
October 15th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
So it looks like there are some tiers here in the media rankings (based on how the # of votes group together):
1: Wisconsin
2: OSU, MSU, Nebraska, Michigan
3: Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland
4: Purdue, Penn State, Northwestern
5: Rutgers
Nothing there seems too crazy to me.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
If Doyle and/or Donnal can play above replacement value, then we good.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
To outside observers, losing 3 players to the NBA plus the only 2 bigs with starting experience on the roster while only bringing in 1 top 50 recruit is going to leave a lot of questions about the team. OSU brought in a very good class, Izzo has an unjustified reputation at this point, and Neb is returning almost everyone from a pretty good team. Also, the teams ranked 2-5 are not seperated by much, there is a bigger jump between 1-2 and 5-6 than there is between teams 2-5.
I also think people here are also overestimating Beilein a bit, the sample size is too small to have as much confidence as people have in him turning so many players into stars. People tend to forget the players who didn't turn into stars like Smot and a few others I can't even think of at the moment.
October 15th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
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October 15th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
October 15th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
People keep ignoring that he does not develop his players at all. Yes, he gets them to play well in the tourney, but that won't continue. This whole idea that izzo and msu are elite is laughable. Especially since recruits are rejecting him for the likes of Minnesota, Villanova, and Texas. And we have gotten to the heavyweights: Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, and Louisville. I've been saying it for years and will continue to say it: izzo is only as good as Michigan is bad. If Michigan is good, izzo is average.