Basketball team wins 80-58
Maybe this got buried after a depressing loss yesterday to Wisconsin, but the Basketball team won today against Gardner-Webb 80-58 to go to 3-0 on the young year. Morris had another good game with 21 points and 10 assists. Jordan Morgan also scored 20 to go along with 8 rebounds,Tim Hardaway Jr. added in another 15 points. Next game up is Syracuse at 7:30 on Friday.
November 21st, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Hardaway is an absolute stud in the making
November 21st, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
against small conference teams. You always want these wins later when discussing post-season eligibility.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^
but isn't it important to win all of your games in regards to post-season eligiblity?
November 21st, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
I think he just means that losing to a terrible team always looks really bad when it comes time to deciding who gets in the tournament. It's like a black eye that just won't go away.
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:15 AM ^
but if Michigan was ever in danger of losing any one of these three games....
yikes...
November 21st, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
The team has won games it should have won. Win against Syracuse would be a whole other thing altogether. GO BLUE!
November 21st, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
I think the way they've been winning so far is the real story. Last season, Michigan's shooting % was generally pretty poor, even against bad teams. So far this season, the team is hitting their shots, protecting the ball, and grabbing a good # of rebounds. These are all good signs even if the competition has been sub-par. Syracuse should be a pretty good measuring stick, though. Hopefully they can keep it going against some real teams...
November 21st, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
to the season.....
November 21st, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
Syracuse had a scare against an 0-2 William & Mary team today. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
November 21st, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
Cuse has been starting games really slow so far. That's been a trend even going into last year. This year, their 2-3 zone hasn't been clicking as well as the last few seasons. They've been forced into playing a lot more man to man so far. I think Michigan might fair better that way.
I think Michigan should keep it interesting through the first half, as long as shooting is at least consistent to what we've seen this year. Obviously, if we go cold, we go cold. If we can force the Orange into another 1-for-21 stretch like they went against Detroit in the first half, I think we could even keep it close late into the 2nd half.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^
but this:
If we can force the Orange into another 1-for-21 stretch like they went against Detroit in the first half, I think we could even keep it close late into the 2nd half.
is such a great summation of what it's like to be a Michigan fan at the moment. It sure is going to be nice when the young talent on Michigan's teams becomes experienced talent.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
Honestly, if we pull out a defensive effort to pull out a 1-for-21, I really think we'd win. The keep it close to the 2nd half was more a commentary on how all sports are going for me right now.
That NFL open thread should put my perspective more plainly. The Texans recover a fumble, score, intercept, kick a field goal. I make mention that this is either too good or just setting me up for a more epic defeat. They're up 4 with 50 seconds to go, Jets have no time outs. They must go 72 yards. Texans still lose.
At this point, I just wait for my teams to find ways to depress me. It's like I'm a Lions fan or something.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^
I just became legitimately optimistic about everything, which is so far against my nature that it's absurd. I have to be one of the few Michigan fans in existence who is legitimately encouraged by the football team.
November 22nd, 2010 at 7:05 AM ^
if you make a profit off of games you wager on.
Vs. a man to man defense, Michigan will fare better.
grammar police . . . sorry, kthxbye.
November 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^
Too bad the word better has nothing to do with betting. I think you are looking for bettor.
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
This is a nice try at out-grammar-nazi-ing the grammar-nazi, but Webster's says "better" is an acceptable alternative to "bettor" for the noun meaning "one who bets." See this.
November 22nd, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
November 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
bettor = better. You can use either when referring to someone who is betting. It's as simple as that.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:17 PM ^
Before watching the first two games this year that Syracuse game looked scary, but now it's starting to look like we might be able to compete, not necessarily win but play them tough. This team may only be a year or two out from what we initially expected with Beilein. I am starting to feel like this team is on its way up, officially this time. Now that he truly has his players to go along with his style, I am excited again.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
Congrats to John Beilein on his 600th career coaching victory:
Also: The Syracuse game on Friday is scheduled for 8:00, not 7:30. That's an approximate time because it's the second game of a doubleheader. Georgia Tech faces UTEP at 5:30 in the first semifinal game of the Legends Classic. Will be televised on HDNet.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^
What is HDNet? I am pumped to be back in MI for the holiday so I can hopefully watch this game and see how this team fares in its first game against big-time competition.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
Cable/satellite channel cofounded by Mark Cuban. You can check this page to see if HDNet is available where you are. It's not available in Ann Arbor on Comcast; these appear to be the local options:
HDNet is available on Providers:
AT&T U-verse Channel #1105
HDNet is available on Satellite Providers:
DirecTV Channel #306
Dish Network Channel #362
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 AM ^
Thanks for the explanation. Hopefully I can find it at a bar somewhere.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
I thought that would be our big time QB-TE connection this year.
But seriously, I think they beat Kentucky 2 years ago. Good show today.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:17 PM ^
Not trying to discount the victory too much, but that Gardner-Webb win over Kentucky came three years ago (Nov. 2007) and with virtually an entirely different roster (this year's squad has only two seniors). I don't think this year's Gardner-Webb team is very good.
As I mentioned on another thread, I'm pleased with the team's start, but the next three games (Syracuse, Ga. Tech or UTEP, and Clemson) will provide a clearer indication of how good a season Michigan might have.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
I wasn't trying to hype this W too much. Maybe the water boy was still there for the 07 game. Just something to make us optimistic.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
It would be woefully embarassing to lose to a furniture store.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
I was at the game and kept mistakenly calling the opposition "Garner White". I look forward to our upcoming game against Art Van and Oscar Rau
November 21st, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^
Is the key. If he finishes like he did today that will keep defenses honest and open up space for our shooters. Hardaway has a ton of confidence in his game and everything looks like it comes easy to him; he is going to be a beast. Smotrycz was getting a little emotional during the game but he has a lot of upside and his jumper looked pure. Colton Christian is an high energy player with great athleticism and he looked good playing next to Morgan. I know it's early and the comp has been subpar but we just look more balanced and the ball is really moving. The unselfish play should lead to a lot of open looks and (hopefully) a higher team shooting percentage.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^
I have not seen any of the games but in looking at the stats how come Jordan Morgan has only played about 20 min a game in just looking at the number I would think he should be getting 30 min a game.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:54 PM ^
Beilein's been splitting the time at center between Morgan, McLimans,and Horford. It's possible Morgan could get more minutes if he keeps playing as well as he has been, but he hasn't exactly faced stellar competition.
The odd thing is that McLimans was supposed to be more of a scoring threat than Morgan, especially from three-point range, but he has yet make a three-pointer.
November 22nd, 2010 at 8:28 AM ^
Yesterday was a blowout, there was no need to play Morgan. Morgan will get as many minutes as he can handle. Conditioning may be an issue with Morgan, Belien said Jordan is too big.
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
The radio crew mentioned during the game that Morgan has already dropped from 280 to 240. Does Beilein still consider him to be too big, or was that a statement from a while ago?
November 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
Unless I heard Belien in incorrectly in his presser yesterday, Belien said Morgan was "too big", Belien was laughing and in a joking mood when he said it, but I am pretty sure he said it, and meant it.
November 22nd, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
Thanks for clarifying this because it seemed puzzling to me. I suppose this is open to interpretation, but I just watched the press conference video posted at umhoops.com, and I think Beilein was talking about Morgan when he arrived in Ann Arbor last summer--not the way he is right now. (On the video, Beilein starts talking about Morgan around 2:38.)
Beilein first says that coming into summer school (in 2009) "he's got this really bad knee injury" and then he says "he also weighs two hundred--he weighs too much, let's just say that." He's using the present tense but he's referring to Morgan when he arrived on campus--not now.
On a related note, Rothstein wrote a good article about Morgan that talks about him getting into better shape and also has a telling quote about Bacari Alexander and the impact he's already having:
“The more I work with coach (Bacari) Alexander, I just get physical and finishing in the paint, and I guess I feel a little bit better in the paint,” Morgan said. “… He makes a difference not only in skill level but in intensity you bring on every aspect, every play, whether you’re away from the ball. A lot of little things that help you in your all-around game.”
November 21st, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
We look forward to many more.
Congrats also to a very game Michigan hoops squad. One game at a time... one game at a time.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
Wow, 20 for Morgan. Does Gardner-Webb have any size?
November 21st, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
Only 1 player over 6'7, a 6'10 freshman.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:26 PM ^
I gave the big ten network money so I could watch this game.
Regardless, the game helped get some of the bad taste out of my mouth after Wisc, and it helped me mentally transition to OSU.
So I guess it worked. $8 well spent
November 21st, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^
Why do you hate yourself for that? It's in our best interests for the BTN to succeed. Its profits filter back to Michigan and the other member schools.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
Well, yeah I get all that, but the quality of their announcing is awful. I guess I should be thankful that there is a media to watch all UM games.
This game was particularly terrible, though. I think they let students announce these kinds of games. The sideline reporter was pathetic, though you could tell she was trying
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:14 AM ^
Consider it a donation toward the expansion of the BTN's production budget.
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:25 AM ^
I guess it says a lot about the product they're selling. The network itself is nothing short of awful, but it survives b/c people love Michigan and the big ten.
Go blue!
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:04 AM ^
The team looks very strong. I think we are going to suprise some people this year. Go Blue!
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:30 AM ^
The game against Gardner Webb is being re-aired tomorrow at 2:30 under Student U on the BTN....Great start so far for a young team. But are def. playing as a team which is great to see from passing the ball for 30 seconds and then letting Manny go one on five. Tough test Friday. Go Blue!!!
November 22nd, 2010 at 12:39 AM ^
BT channel is playing the game sometime in the middle of the night, circa closing time.
November 22nd, 2010 at 1:28 AM ^
Morris has an amazing stat line to date in the season: 65% shooting, 25 assists to seven turnovers, and 14.7 ppg. Nice.
More stats below:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mich/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/cumulative-stats.pdf
November 22nd, 2010 at 8:26 AM ^
The game against Syracuse is at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, and while I am not a college basketball expert by any means, I remember reading about how the shooting background there is very odd due to the configuration of the venue (it was in a larger article about the strange venues that have assembled in the proliferation of Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments). Syracuse is used to Dome shooting, which might exacerbate the situation.
It's something. It might be nothing, but it's something.
November 22nd, 2010 at 8:44 AM ^
Morris' improvement to this point is really phenomenal. I know everyone always says the biggest improvement is between the freshman and sophomore years, but his development is amazing. If he can consistently provide what he's done so far, that really changes the expectation level on this team. Maybe he just needed the year to adjust (played lower level HS ball in California) and Manny to be out of the way of his running the team.
Morgan's touch around the basket is great to see. He is decisive and quick and seems to have really soft hands. He looks like a legit Big Ten 5 and that is something we haven't seen in a while.
McLimans just doesn't look like he has "it." I know this is a rush to judgement after only seeing two games in person, but I just don't think he'll ever be a factor. I thought the same thing about Vogrich last year, and that seems to have panned out. Horford is small and raw, but I would venture he'll be the primary backup at 5 by the time the conference season comes around.
If I had to guess, by the time the Big Ten season comes around, we'll see an eight man rotation of Morris, Novack, Douglass, Hardaway, Smotrycz, Morgan, Christian, and Horford. Vogrich will probably still get 7-10 a game, but I think his and Blake's PT will fade.
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
Given that you declared Morris to be a bust in this thread from last month, I for one am not going to put much stock into your assessment of McLimans after he's played all of three games at the collegiate level.
The bottom line is some players take longer to develop than others. It's still too early to write off Vogrich, let alone McLimans.