A free throw is a 15-foot shot.

And that was the worst thing ever.

But life goes on. This team has played a good, but not great season, in arguably the toughest conference. 

Go Blue!

As much as it hurts, here are some things to keep in mind:

In Burke's possibly worst game this season, Stauskas and Robinson finally showed up on the big stage, carrying Michigan for much of the game as Burke worked out of his funk.

Hardaway started attacking early, but reverted back. If somehow he could dial that first half back in...

Role players were gritty, doing things not on a stat sheet, but contributing where they could. Spike comes to mind.

We are 25-6 with losses from the following:

An in and out three ball by Burke against OSU after one of our worst first halfs of the year.

A halfcourt miracle by Wisconsin

A now seemingly trap game against PSU, a team that is playing as well as any in the B1G.

A one point loss against the probable best team in the conference, where the game was gifted away.

The luck that seemed to benefit our sports teams, such as football last year, hasn't been on our side this season. But that's the beauty of things. We can sit here and complain about the little things, and sure, that criticism is valid, but a bounce here and there, and we are possibly 29-2, 28-3. We will be a #2 seed, #3 at worst depending on this weekend, a team that probably won't be as talked about as others. Perfect. Let's go get some revenge this weekend, and make a run into April.

GO BLUE

Let's peak and get hot starting Thursday... I'm seriously hungry for revenge.

Sadness.  Go Blue into the post-season.

like while we missed our free throws which ended up being huge, I think we lost because we relied on Burke too much, too late in the game again... Everything seemed to be falling into place in the first half because everybody was a part of the game... Then again he is potentially the Player of the Year so I can't really blame Coach B.

Coach stated at presser that rebounding "was on him".  Totally not true and the players are going to have to step up.  Two instances stand out in my mind:

1.  Oladipo's tip with the shot clock running out.  If you look at the play, Stauskas is just standing there expecting the shot clock to go off.  Well it didn't and two for them

2.  Will Sheehey comes out of nowhere to tip the ball in, probably his first of his life time and Trey Burke standing there flatfooted watching the action

They scored on 60% of their offensive rebounds-we were lucky to be in it with that statistic

And, of course, with the strategy of fouling at the end of the game, if you can't make your free throws, at least play some defense and don't just concede two points.

This still has been a great season but I'm very afraid of the lapses this team goes thru.  The Big Ten championship should have been theirs!

Rough ending, but great game. Burke has a chance lay down a damned fine coda. '89 all over again. Bank it.

I think that last paragraph really expresses the disappointment Trey and everyone else feels after such a grueling season. The emotional feelings regrettably resemble I dare say the '93 championship game. I hope this provides motivation for Trey and the rest of the team for a strong showing in both tournaments.

Earlier in the season they were abused in physical games like this, but not today. They play like that and they will have a shot to play in the final four. Really hoped they would call that an intentional foul at the end. I know it's the end of the game, but I think you could make the argument that it's part of the reason for the rule in the first place, to not allow a cheap foul to take guaranteed pouts away.

Ace, I think you're a little harsh about the team "not rising to the occasion" and whatnot.  We gave almost certain #1-seeded team all it could handle.  Yeah, some guys didn't shoot well but that's going to happen in a game like this, where two strong teams bring their A game.  Lots of IU guys struggled from the floor.  I would sum it up by saying that we played well enough to win for 39 minutes, and just didn't finish.

This is a blast from the past - an agonizing one-point loss to IU in basketball that costs us the Big Ten title.  It's been awhile.  Sucks as much as it did then.

And Burke climbed Pauline Blvd to where it intersected Maple Raod, and there the Lord showed him the whole Big Ten, from Nebraska to Maryland.  From the valley of corn, to the city of wind, all of the forest land of Penn, and to the heathens who worship trees with eyes. 

Then the Lord said to Burke, “This the conference I promised on oath to give to those who will play point guard after you.  I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not hold sway over it.” 

Then Burke, the point guard for the Wolverine, left for the NBA.   They mourned for his loss in Ann Arbor, and no one is sure where he will be drafted.  Trey was a sophomore when he left, and his jump shot was not weak nor his strength gone. 

The Michigan fans grieved for Burke for the basketball offseason until the time of weeping and morning was over.

Then Derrick the son of Walton was filled with the spirit of a Wolverine so his future team mates would listen to him and did what the Lord had commanded Burke. 

Few players have risen in the Crisler arena like Burk, who knew greatness face to face. For few have ever shown the mighty cross over or performed the awesome deeds that Burke did in the sight of all Ann Arbor. 

At least this is the best explination I can come up with for the last few minute of this game, and some others...

obviously this one.  The game was ours to win and we simply didn't take it.

I believe we are every bit as good as IU ... tho I don't think IU is the best team in country either.  The seeding sucks, but I like actually playing a warm up game before playing Wisconsin.

Go Blue!

In a hockey game, that's a penalty shot ten times out of ten. Yet in basketball, they can go to video replay and look at a guy getting taken down on a breakaway and not call it. Still doesn't cover all the warts and it just feels like a sad ending and waste of Burke's talent given we'll all be watching him play for some NBA team next year.

They obviously competed to the max and the difference is our good FT shooters couldn't make 'em.

Crean should zero class and yet our kids kept their composure. Kids showing more maturity than a 45-year old coach.

Proud of their effort. They've been soft in a few games, but today the older team just muscled out a 1-pt win.

Go Blue.

I think the inability to defend a lead from the free throw line does not bode well for the NCAA tournament. Also, rebounding. On the other hand, maybe Burke can draw a foul.

Our flaws were on display this game, start to finish. We have enough talent to beat anyone, but enough flaws to lose to anyone.

Make a FT, win the game. Box some poeple out, win the game. Maybe get a call, win the game. Make a tip in that is there for the taking, win the game.

We got destroyed on the glass, a continuous achilles heel. Burke, for as amazing as he is, neve rhit a game winner all year and had tons of chances. (Yes, hes the reason we won 25 games, but still, facts are facts). Indiana is not much better than we are, but they are because they have the heart to close out a game when it matters. We, do not.

Hardaway continues to be the most vexing player on the planet. 1-6 3's, missed front end of a 1-1 at end. This just hurts. Admittedly, I said before season began that Sweet 16 was the goal, and now, that seems about where we can get to, but it will feel like a failure regardless, because of how much we showed this year. Perhaps, we'll get lucky and grow a few balls and make a tourney run, but anyone truly expecting that will/should happen is kidding themselves.

We are a good team in a year with no great teams, so all is up for grabs, but this is a low feeling that you could just see coming once we didnt get the call (even though it was a tough one, it should have been called) and then split at the line from GR3. The rest, you could just see it happening before your eyes like a premonition. Fuck.

Wow, is there another coach in the country that's lost as many big game heartbreakers in the last 3 years as John Beilein?

I can think of these . . . 

- The last second runner miss against Duke in the NCAA's.  Goodbye sweet 16,

- The Wisconsin backboard buzzer beater,

- The game-ending Alley Oop miss against MSU,

- The OSU half court buzzer beater in the Big Ten Tourney,

- The Wisconsin half court buzzer beater this year,

- The rim-roller miss against Indiana.  Goodbye Big Ten Championship.

Each one of these left me totally numb.  There are probably more that I'm not remembering/repressing.  

Hopefully things start to even out . . . quickly.

I really disliked pulling all of M's players off the foul lane in the last  minute while the shooter is taking his 1 & 1.  First, if he misses, there is a chance to get the rebound.  Second, for the shooter, it just feels different not to have at least two players in there. 

Definitely should have won the B10.   Wisky, PSU and today's game should all have been W's.  

The good news is that this team can and should keep on getting better.

Go Blue

The post by Ace was well written and quickly posted



Second, I had not heard from my good friend and IU grad in a while:



So close......yet so far.....