the number of fantastic coaches that he seems to just flat-out outcoach is insane.
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Argh, But All Right
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This is not a muppets post. I'm not even sure what this is since I don't think Michigan's had a team like this most recent edition of basketball since the blog's existed, and probably not since the 1997 football team went from "M stands for mediocre" to a national championship.
Expectations this year were on the floor, like "I hope they win ten games" on the floor, and they end it watching a runner to tie the defending national champions clang off the back rim. They swept Michigan State for the first time since 1997, breached Tennessee's reactor core, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, and didn't bother to have a senior day. A friend kept saying he just wanted to keep seeing them play basketball, and that's about right, and when's the last time you could say that about Michigan anything?
The team is hereby awarded the above image of slightly silly looking Vikings charging headlong to glory. Denouement Monday.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:41 PM
#2
John Beilein can coach my team any day
March 20th, 2011 at 6:52 PM
#3
Hopefully he can start to
Hopefully he can start to out-recruit in addition to out-coach. Been pulling in some great hidden gems (Morgan, Hardaway). Let's build on this and start beating MSU on the recruiting trail. Landing Amir Williams would've put us over the top in terms of a legit national power.
March 21st, 2011 at 10:11 AM
#4
Meh
I wanted Amir Williams but he is overated and doesn't really fit in with Belien's offense since he has zero outside shooting ability. I think we will get a very good recruiting class in 2012, especially if we finish up next year on a high note, which I fully expect.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:41 PM
#5
I'm with your friend....I
I'm with your friend....I just want to see them play. I love these guys.
But...geez....wouldn't it have been proof of the existence of some kinda deity if Darius had made that last shot?????
March 20th, 2011 at 8:16 PM
#6
Incontrovertible proof
Incontrovertible proof would've been if Darius had kicked it out to Zach behind the arc and have him drain it for the win. At least that's how it played out in my imagination. Sad it's over for this season, but man, was that ever fun.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:42 PM
#7
Well Stated..
...this team was something special. Character and heart. I hope they can find this space again next year. I just about walked away when Duke hit the three to go up 13 but for the last 6 weeks this team has been great in the last 10 minutes. They proved it again today.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:43 PM
#8
Just Short
Against every top team we played this year. Have no problem with that last shot by Morris. It's one he usually hits.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:45 PM
#9
Awesome
I love Vikings. Hopefully won't have to see them too often in place of muppets, but yet my pride in this team still glows knowing they deserve these vikings more than anyone.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:11 PM
#10
Potential game scenario for Vikings:
Vikings = close, heartbreaking loss that inspires for the future
March 20th, 2011 at 6:21 PM
#11
Yeah, I mostly meant "I love
Yeah, I mostly meant "I love Vikings" as "I love them for this situation". Not meaning I want more of them, because the heartbreaking losses will come to an end in place of good wins.
I would much rather have these heartbreaking losses than crushing defeats, because being as young as we are, we can definitely swing the games by 3 points with another year's experience.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:49 PM
#12
I love rooting for this team!
Not a Coach K fan, but he's all class about the Michigan team and Coach B in this clip.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20110...
March 20th, 2011 at 5:57 PM
#13
Was never a big Duke fan, but
Was never a big Duke fan, but Coach K always seemed to respect the opposition. A great run.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:09 PM
#14
I've always liked Coach K
I still remember when Duke got shelled in the '90 final against UNLV. He was so classy in defeat.
That was back when I used to feel bad for Coach K, as he'd gotten to several Final Fours and never won it all. That seems like so long ago now.
March 20th, 2011 at 7:18 PM
#15
Where the first video was,
Where the first video was, stay there and there will be a little scroll box and one of the choices will be the post game interview.
March 20th, 2011 at 7:17 PM
#16
The guy is class and does it right.
You all might know this story: After Laettner tore the heart out of anoutmanned Kentucky team in the classic 92 regional final in Philly, Coach K made it a priority to console the Kentucky players. But it got better. Immediately thereafter he asked Kentucky's radio broadcaster if he could have a microphone to address the Kentucky fans directly. He took the microphone and gushed about the tremendous heart and effort of their team and how proud they should be. Told them they deserved victory that night.
Radio was still kind of a big deal back then and Kentucky is loaded with very rural areas where seeing the game was no absolute given. There are many fan bases who view Coach K as some sort of Darth Vader like figure. Kentucky's fan base loves him. I think that interview after today's game gave us all a little flavor of that level of class that he has always exhibited.
March 20th, 2011 at 7:24 PM
#17
You go your way and I'll go mine.
Sorry - this post and a couple others blew my mind. Let's judge Coach K by his overall body of work.
He's peformed some graceful actions, yes, but most will find that overall he's a disingenuous weasel whose carefully crafted public image doesn't match his on-court demeanor (streams of profanity directed toward the refs, especially in "Cameron Indoor Stadium").
March 20th, 2011 at 8:58 PM
#18
Word
It sounds like all the "Tressel is classy" talk.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:52 PM
#19
I'm proud
of this team and what they've done this year. Great group of young men, and they represent us well.
Go Blue.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:54 PM
#20
Great run by the team, and
Great run by the team, and should be even better next year. Excited about the future of this team, which hasn't been relevant since I was in HS back in the mid-90s. Go Blue!
March 20th, 2011 at 5:54 PM
#21
John Beilein should be coach
John Beilein should be coach of the year. I will keep saying this until it becomes true.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:56 PM
#22
Just a great post
I couldn't agree more, I JUST WANT TO KEEP SEEING THEM PLAY!!! The beauty is, we get another year with the ENTIRE team! Thank you coaches and players for giving the Michigan Faithful something to get excited about! GO BLUE!
March 20th, 2011 at 5:56 PM
#23
I love this Michigan team!
I love this Michigan basketball team.. and so glad we will have them together for a while! The future is bright and I could not be more proud of what these guys did this year! Cannot wait for next season- lets try for a conference championship! These young players gained a lot of experience and really found themselves the last month and a half or so. Proud of you guys- GO BLUE!
March 20th, 2011 at 5:57 PM
#24
Vikings are apropos
The Viking image is appropriate, because I would like to see Durham sacked and razed.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:00 PM
#25
How do I love thee, let me count the ways
* You never wilt against even the toughest opponent
* Only 7 turnovers against the best team in the country
* 13-3 run to finish the game, no FG's for Duke in the last 4 or 5 minutes
* You hit some truly cold-blooded shots in the last few minutes of the game
* You came much closer to knocking Duke out of the tourney than that other Michigan team that was led by underclassmen
* Today you killed for good any idea that your torrid finish to this season might have been a fluke
* All of the above, plus the fact that you will all be back next year
They say there are no moral victories. But perhaps today was a morale victory for Michigan basketball. It is sooo nice to be back on the map again. Thank you, men. Very much looking forward to next year.
March 21st, 2011 at 6:40 AM
#26
Overall, I agree
* You came much closer to knocking Duke out of the tourney than that other Michigan team that was led by underclassmen
I agree that this was a great, great performance. But I'm not sure you can compare this Duke team with Laettner, Hill, Hurley, etc.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:02 PM
#27
Not
needed. the denouncement that is. I'm by no means satisfied with these young upstarts. but expectations will be through the roof if this team gets another big man that just takes fowls and blo.. alter shoots and take up space.
as always go blue.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:03 PM
#28
Denouement, not Denouncement.
Denouement, not Denouncement.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:21 PM
#29
But denouement means like,
But denouement means like, denouncing French people, right?
March 20th, 2011 at 6:04 PM
#30
denouement
what a knot to untie...
I bet we'd still dominate Duke in football though, even with last year's defense.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:04 PM
#31
Great game, great season. I
Great game, great season. I can't stand duke and the reds helped put us in a whole. Once this team gets bigger and stronger they will be even better
March 20th, 2011 at 10:50 PM
#32
Yeah, those damn
Yeah, those damn commies.
But seriously, I don't know how you could not love this team. High class, high character guys.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:08 PM
#33
Extremely proud of our boys.
Extremely proud of our boys. Never gave up, showed true grit, and fought till the last second. I can't wait for next season; buckle up because Michigan's bball program is about to take off and reach heights we haven't seen since the early 90s.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:09 PM
#34
Contrast with all the dumb
Contrast with all the dumb play we've seen in the past couple days.
Think of the development: first Morris, then Jordan, then Hemingway, then Smotrycz. Now Horford has added a third dimension to his frame.
The future is bright, go blue.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:19 PM
#35
Hemingway?
Hemingway?
March 20th, 2011 at 10:28 PM
#36
Well...
He does have Junior in his name
March 20th, 2011 at 6:10 PM
#37
So proud...made a few fans
So proud...made a few fans today, no doubt. can't hurt recruiting either.
Go Blue!
March 20th, 2011 at 6:11 PM
#38
ʘ‿ʘ
ʘ‿ʘ
March 20th, 2011 at 6:11 PM
#39
Like every game
Duke gets every call, "hands on defense" so many hand checks and nothing called. I love this michigan team, if we can work on rebounding this coming of season we will be in great shape.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:17 PM
#40
I have never been more proud of a team after a loss.
And don't expect that I ever will be.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:39 PM
#41
word.
this team has big hairy balls.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:57 PM
#42
Indeed.
They have the good face.
March 20th, 2011 at 7:18 PM
#43
posted from iPhone
Seconded.
I would have found muppets acceptable regardless of the outcome. What a team.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:18 PM
#44
wont keep missing opportunities
With how well this team has played down the stretch and the coaching, I cant imagine we'll keep missing these close games. Morris' passing is ridiculous - I look forward to more thrilla dishes as they get to know each other even better
The in-game and practice coaching is impressive. Late this year there were very few times that I've been frustrated by what the team was doing to itself in the game, and this passes my eye test for playas knowing what to do and where to be.
Sad for today and geeked for tomorrow!
March 20th, 2011 at 6:20 PM
#45
That is exactly the best image for this team
They are scrappy, tough and skilled. They never run away from a fight and even when they are getting hit left and right, they still keep fighting...
Plus with all their tough hard games they do cause a lot of drinking to occur...
I do so love this team. Next year we'll be a lot better, but I will always love this years version. What a great bunch of kids.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:27 PM
#46
Go Blue
Go blue. This is my senior year. I have been to ever basketball game for the last four years. This year’s team was amazing. Thank you guys for giving Michigan sports something to be PROUD off. They’ve played their asses off, hats of to this team. I could not be happier with the way this season ended. GO BLUE, and good luck in future seasons!!!
March 20th, 2011 at 6:35 PM
#47
Is Duke on the schedule for
Is Duke on the schedule for next year I'm ready for a rematch!!!
GO BLUE!
March 20th, 2011 at 6:35 PM
#48
Duke has an extremely large
Duke has an extremely large team and we never quit.I cant wait to see what next years team brings to the table.Kudos to Coach Beilein also.GO BLUE.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:41 PM
#49
It's fun to cheer for this team
You can't help but cheer for these guys. They exceed expectations and there's no quit in them. I'm happy we're bringing this team back but more importantly I'm happy we're bringing people of this caliber and class back to the U of M for another great year of bball.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:42 PM
#50
Very Proud!
Thanks to Coach Beilein and the boys -- what a great season. I'm proud to be a Michigan Wolverine.
March 20th, 2011 at 6:46 PM
#51
Been Awhile
I am probably one of the "seniors" on this board...an Ann Arbor native who grew up watching Campy Russell and Wayman Britt and Steve Grote and Ricky Green give me the thrills of a lifetime as a kid.
Then came Frieder's teasers in the 80's, the miracle run in '89, then the walls (and banners) came tumbling down after that.......and we got lost in the wilderness. Threatened to emerge a few years ago when we finally made it back into the tourney...but now we are really back.
I appreciate the fantastic coaching and class shown by Belein and this year's team...it really is unparalleled in my experience. We may not have gone as far as some of those other Michigan squads but I have never been more proud.
Go Blue...we always have and always will support you!
