Thursday M v. MSU open discussion
Predictions, key matchups, keys to victory, jokes about Keebler and Sherman, predictions as to "butterfly" reference totals, maize or white unis, everything Michigan v. Michigan State if you care to comment.
Avoid unnecessary insults and discussion killers such as "Prediction - Michigan and Michigan State will play a game on Saturday" or "in other news, water is wet" type garbage. If you don't want to comment just don't.
Five predictions for Saturday:
Izzo gets a first half technical foul
Summers >10 points; Lucas <20 points
Much more 1-3-1 from Michigan than at any point during the season.
A Zach Novak lead-extending 3 pointer sends Crisler into a frenzy late second half.
Michigan's end-game foul shooting continues to be a problem.
that when a Viking dies they put his body on a ship, set it on fire, and send it out to sea. So, that must mean that when an MSU grad dies, they put his body on a sofa, set it on fire, and put it out in the street!
...but queme los barcos is refering to Spanish soldiers burning their boats, so that they couldn't return home and had nothing to do but fight.
I know you don't want discussion killers, but the least you could do to prevent it is spell Zack Novak's name correctly....
lookin out.
this blog is a different place than it used to be.
Such is the dilemma of space and time. 1 second from reading this, this will be different from what it is now.
Darius Morris goes for more than 20.
Hardaway is right around 20.
Lucas tops 25.
We get at least one shot of Izzo doing his deflated squat.
Michigan student section gets to end the game by chanting "NIT, NIT, NIT" at MSU.
NIT chant more than anything.
I was planning on painting my chest 1 for the 146 days since MSU beat Michigan in football or basketball. Does anyone else want to be a 4 or a 6? I have been doing pushups all week and tanning at least twice a day. Let me know.
of those assclowns at Breslin, throw it up here. That's great stuff.
just how excited about it they are. To a person, they are just so intensely committed to their task. Biggest moment of their lives. Really funny.
I still think the guy all the way to the left looks like tebow
Todd McShay?
Don't forget the Axe body spray. Lots and lots of it.
You think the babes can get that vibe through the tv? I guess w/ HD and all these days. Good call.
Shouldn't we have Smell-o-vision by now?
Due to my basketball career, this is actually the FIRST game I'll ever see in Crisler... I don't think I could have picked a better game. GO BLUE!
I would sure hope so if Selection Sunday is only 8 days away from Saturday.
PAIN!
WE PITY THE FOOLS!!!
Since the game is on CBS, I doubt we'll hear any butterfly references.
A sold out Crisler Arena on Saturday afternoon.
A chance to sweep Sparty
Lock up a tournament bid
Knock little brother OUT of the tournament
Celebrate in Ann Arbor for hours afterwards.
That, my friends, is a TREMENDOUS DAY.
We'll be in Section 1!
Predictions:
1) Durrell Summers stays irrelevant
2) Draymond Green and Kalin Lucas are annoyingly clutch and keep MSU in the game when they have no business staying in the game
3) Our best crowd and atmosphere of the season
Durrell Summers. Hate to even comment due to fear that he will break out of it on Saturday, but that guy actually looks physically and facially different than years past. I thought he was going to be a legit All-American candidate, can't explain that one.
He still scares me but this isn't just a little "slump"... 8 straight games he hasn't even been in double figures, he's just so uninvolved on the court now, it's a really bizarre case. He did have 13 and 10 against us the last time...
Not sure where all the hype was coming from. As of today, he is averaging more points per game than he was ever averaging in his career. I think expectations for him were greater than reality because of a few of his tourney performances.
I don't know why I expected so much more out of him, I just thought he would expand his game a lot more than he has.
I'm right there with you.....he showed flashes of greatness but never was able to continue it on a consistent basis. The big thing about this year, is that he rarely even showed those flashes of greatness.
The potential was there. He has a nice 3, good height, decent strength, athletic, and can finish at the rim. That was my analysis from the tourney. Didn't really watch him during the regular season ever.
What he seems to be lacking is the ability to create his own shot. Not sure why he hasn't been worked into the offense more to set him up though. Maybe opposing coaches are game-planning more against him.
He is averaging 11.9 ppg versus 11.3 last year, but the other stats are not even close. He shot 45% from the field, 80% from the line, and 38% from 3s last year, and improved substantially as the year went on. MSU had a lot more offensive weapons last year than this year and how he stepped up without Lucas was impressive.
This year he's under 40% from the field , 67% from the line, 36% from 3s...and he was averaging 15 or so a game through the non conference season and has just completely tanked in conference play. I didn't expect him to be an All American but I think expectations for him to be an All Big 10 caliber player were merited and therefore it's pretty surprising what he's done (or not done) this year.
Key matchup: Smotrycz/Horford/McLimans/Christian v. MSU's big men; They just need to manage to make the simple plays and not get hammered on defensively. Anything in the positive we get from them would be great
Scoring: Morgan with 12, Morris with 15, Hardaway with 18
Prediction: Michigan by 7 in the grind-it-out style it seems like these two usually play.
will try to persuade MSU into a 3 point contest to combat States size. I see foul trouble if they get us pinned man to man down low. State is going to try to get into the bonus quickly with Roe, Nix, etc. just fumbling their way to the hoop. Think we will go zone early, not really extending it, but really more packing it in.
I talked to Beilein today and he assured me that he is gonna pee in Izzo's butt
"ACT score" chants from the Maize Rage.
More like NIT chants from the Maize Rage
are there going to be enough students in town to ensure a good crowd with spring break and all??
are hard to get right now, so I'd say the crowd will be alright.
Maize unis, please. They are our best by far.
Maize out= Maize Unis
MSU keeps it close, but unlike last year MSU won't escape with a cheap win. It will be VERY loud all game, though, but hopefully the good guys are the reason everyone is cheering.
That's a pretty big claim. MSU has been playing much better, but Michigan plays pretty well at home and obviously has the win over MSU earlier in the season. Michigan better beat them. The sweep is what will make this year for me
Student section will be about 1/3 of its usual size :( Hoping the rest of Crisler steps it up in UN-old-Michigan-fan fashion
scUM, yellowbellies, little sister... my feeling are so hurt right now, I want to cry because I have been verbally assaulted by a thirteen year-old.
When Izzo has to "find a way a way to beat Michigan," the gap has been closed... bitch. Fuck State and everything they respresent, can't wait to sweep Sparty.
Fuck Dantonio, Valenti, and the whole lot of 'em.
Pride something something fall?
tim brando will be doing the play by play. here is the coverage map: