Iowa 85, Michigan 67
There's no way I'm recapping, uh, that on a Saturday afternoon. Consider this an open thread (as always, keep it civil) and try to keep in mind that Michigan bounced back pretty well from a similar outing last year.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
After watching the Indiana game and now this game, it is becoming clear what is currently holding back this years team. We simply don't have an energy guy that will rally the team when things are not going our way. When teams are able to take away what Michigan wants to do, we seem to shut down and play with less energy. This is seen in the 50-50 balls and getting destroyed on the boards.
In the past it has been:
2010 - 2011: Zach Novak
2011 - 2012: Zach Novak
2012 - 2013: Trey Burke / Mitch McGary
2013 - 2014: No one with McGary injured
Until McGary returns, we are missing a spark plug to rally and bring energy to the whole team. When things get tough, this team tends to get soft. I've been waiting for Michigan to make a run this whole game, but have come to realize that it was never going to happen as we are currently missing the type of player to jump start the rally and get the whole team energized.
On the snowflake side: Irvin is showing more and more of his overall game and I am really enjoying it. By the end of the year, he will be Not Just a Shooter.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
McGary was able to do this even from the sidelines... missing 'Coach M' now... pivotal role.
February 8th, 2014 at 6:35 PM ^
Did Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson have any sons? That guy was the best energy man ever!
February 8th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^
For most of this season, Nik has been that "I'll carry you guys on my back"-type leader. But he's just seemed out of it the last couple of weeks. I don't think it's just the defensive changes he's facing. I wonder if he's got a nagging injury we don't know about.
February 9th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
There's only 3 ways guys "energize" the team: pouring in a bunch of 3's, getting scrappy boards or blocks, or setting up dunks/lay ups.
Pretty much the same thing as doing the things to win a game. All three can be shut down by a good defensive opponent.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
I'm sure this was unintended, but you do realize your most excellent gif looks a hundred times sadder in combo w/ your signature --? The total effect ends up reading like biting sarcasm; kinda funny, but taken together they seem to make a stinging mockery of anyone rooting for Michigan....
Ouch!
February 8th, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^
Definitely unintentional.
February 10th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^
Still a nice touch, all things considered.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
This team cannot shoot this bad and win. Its just who they are.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
Shooting was the least of our problems today. Not that it was good, but the effort on defense, on the glass, getting to 50/50 balls . . . that was putrid.
February 8th, 2014 at 6:37 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
At least not without McGary and defensive intensity/integrity.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
There are just way too many guys leaving big holes in the box score. Marble outscored Albrecht, Walton, Stauskas, Robinson, Horford, and Morgan combined. MAX BIELFELDT OUTSCORED GLENN ROBINSON III. Meanwhile, our sophomore two-star from Pickerington had 22. Why can’t everyone put that kind of effort in?
On the other side of the ball, well, I don’t think any comment is needed.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
Nik is still the key. He's the best distributor in the halfcourt set. We have to get him the ball and get the pick and roll going. Otherwise, not only does he not score, but our posts don't, either. The pick and roll is where almost all of our interior scoring comes from.
Beilein needs to go back to the drawing board and get more creative at getting Nik the ball. If Nik scores 20, we will be in any game, because he opens things up for everyone else. Caris scoring 20 is not a guarantee of that.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
Right. Taking Stauskas out of the game means that you've taken out both him and whichever center is playing. As it turns out, three on four offense is hard.
February 8th, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
also seems to shut down the other players. No one seems to be able to get the flow of the offense going. The book on Michigan is out there, stop Nik, stop Michigan.
February 8th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
I think you have to run it with Nik. He has much better floor vision than Caris. (When LeVert drives, you pretty much know he's going to shoot at the end of it.) We have to find ways to get him the ball up top to set it up. Maybe run him off some screens first.
February 10th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
I also wonder if we will ever start Zak Irvin over GR3. Or at the very least, play him at the end of games if needed.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
there. Hopefully the boys can bounce back against osu. Iowa had been terrible shooting coming in, but went all YOGI on us. Can't let osu do the same
February 8th, 2014 at 6:25 PM ^
It gives shooters confidence when they can watch film and see that we never contest 3pt shots.
February 8th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
We give open threes even after a guy has already made 3 or 4 in a row (Yogi, Marble).
February 8th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
hoped they would be. It just was too much to ask.
February 10th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
Not so fast, there is still many games to be played. And we haven't even had our chance against big opponents at home (outside of Iowa (W)).
February 8th, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^
Defensive effort was pathetic... We're not going to be able to shoot well every game, so we need to bring defensive intensity every single game. On the bright side, this was our last road game against a ranked opponent (not sure where Ohio will be come Monday)... Really need to bounce back if we want to keep competing for a B1G Title.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
OSU is 18-5 and just beat Wisconsin and Iowa on the road. How would they not be ranked?
February 9th, 2014 at 9:23 AM ^
Iowa had more 3's before the first TV timeout against us than they did vs. ohio for the ENTIRE GAME. PLUS ... Iowa has 1 (that is ONE) FG the last 15 minutes of play against Staee and lost in OT.
Then they go ape shit all over us ... WTF ? This is what makes BB unwatchable sometimes.
Go Blue!
February 8th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
a basketball game broke out? Obviously, there is no one ready for the NBA on this team. Well, I guess NBA players do tend to take alot of days off.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
Basically a carbon copy of the Indiana game against a far more talented team. No ball movement with Stauskas being face guarded leads to poor shooting numbers on our end and atrocious defense leaves the opponent's best player with a ton of open looks from three, which he knocks down.
I also think Beilein didn't play Walton enough, at least he was aggressive.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^
WTF?! WE'RE STILL PLAYING ABOVE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS SEASON CONSIDERING ALL THE PLAYERS WE LOST. LOUD NOISES!
February 8th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
The Indiana game was a four point game with a minute left. In what universe is that a blowout?
February 10th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
What's concerning is that Nik hasn't done much in those games and GR3 is so inconsistent.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
a true floor general. The only player that seems to fit the bill is Albrecht, and he doesn't play enough right now.
February 8th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
February 10th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
He's definitely getting there. Nik used to be. Big game tomorrow.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
I'm sure that GRIII is a great human being, one who I expect to win a Nobel Prize some day, but I just think he would serve this team in a much better way if he were on the bench.
On the bright side, next year's trio of LeVert/Irvin/Walton plus what seems to be a very solid supporting cast should be phenomenal.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:58 PM ^
Any NBA GM who drafts GRIII after this season should be fired immediately.
Honestly, this kid looks like a 4-yr complimentary player. The level of hype over him is insane and completely unwarranted.
It's gotten to the point where I am surprised when his shots go in. Just awful.
And he turns the ball over and isn't particularly good on defense either!
I just don't understand the hype. What grates me is that it seems like every game we hear an announcer saying "Glenn Robinson really needs to step up in this situation..."
Well this just in Mr. Announcer guy:
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!
February 8th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
We really need to learn to play with a target on our backs... We played well when nobody expected us to, but we haven't played well when expectations have increased. While this is concerning, I'm hoping it's just another big learning experience. Again, I'd rather see it pay off in March than on a crappy February Saturday in conference play.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
February 8th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
The silver lining is that I don't see anyone on this team heading to the NBA next year.
February 8th, 2014 at 8:49 PM ^
but most likely will.
February 10th, 2014 at 9:20 PM ^
Meh, that's what we said this time last year about THJr. Now he's a stud for the Knicks.
February 8th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
Other than that what is there to say????
February 8th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
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