hoops game recaps
2013-14 iowa #2
nope

Iowa 85, Michigan 67 Comment Count

Ace

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.

Comments

Wolvercane

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.

Joined: 03/01/2011

MGoPoints: 523

CLord

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. 

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: -6341

Z_Wolverista

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!

Joined: 01/19/2014

MGoPoints: 2673

LordGrantham

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.

Joined: 01/01/2014

MGoPoints: 15404

RobM_24

February 8th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^

LeVert is the key to our team. GR3 takes himself out of games. Opponents take Nik out if the game. LeVert is the only guy that can compete against any level of competition. Does he get sloppy and turn the ball over? Yes. Does it seem like he could play better defense on shooters? Yes. However, he's blocked a handful of shots by hustling back in transition. He does hustle. The trump card though, is his ability to drive into the teeth of the defense. He's the only guy we have that can knife it in. Stauskas & GR3 take long swooping dribbles and drive toward the hoop, but eventually swing wide of it. Zak goes right to the baseline. Spike probes the D and then backs out. Walton has shown some ability lately, but he's not a very good finisher. LeVert can drive right at the rim, he can drive through it and make layups, he can jump stop and hit the bunnies, and he can kick it to the wings to find open shooters after the D collapses on him. The downside is that he will turn it over sometimes ... but is that really much worse than a long 2 from GR3 or a shot-clock heave from Nik? LeVert is the key. He's also the only one who shows up when the rest of the team is letting their missed jumpers affect their defensive effort.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63325

jmblue

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.

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102751

RobM_24

February 8th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^

The problem is that Nik can't dribble against the smaller guards. He just gets stripped or turns it over. I'd try running some pick & roll with Caris and stick Nik on the wing to keep defenses honest. Nik has looked lost with smaller defenders on him. I gave Yogi the benefit of the doubt bcus he's good, but even the Spike-like guards on Iowa locked him up. Can't wait to see Craft on him. Ugh.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63325

Boom Goes the …

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

Joined: 02/24/2013

MGoPoints: 4292

Generic MGoBlogger

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.

Joined: 09/02/2012

MGoPoints: 3546

Indiana Blue

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!

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

UMMAN83

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.

Joined: 11/26/2009

MGoPoints: 1491

enlightenedbum

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.

Joined: 06/06/2009

MGoPoints: 64388

RobM_24

February 8th, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^

This team has relied on other teams missing open (and semi-open) threes. Unless we improve our defense and rebounding, we won't be doing much this year when it counts.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63325

evenyoubrutus

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.

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178179

caup

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!!

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 4275

Generic MGoBlogger

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.

Joined: 09/02/2012

MGoPoints: 3546

Roy G. Biv

February 8th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^

Coaching staff needs to come up with a plan to combat Stauskas' dribble/passing game being taken away. Levert has stepped up and Walton could really make a difference with his strong drives. Unfortunately, I think any hopes of Robinson being a stud have faded. I fear he is playing himself out of the NBA.

Joined: 09/03/2010

MGoPoints: 6957

JTrain

February 8th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^

I did think his comment about Robinson was good though. Cool is for camp. Kid needs to do something or be needs to be on the pine. Irvin looked good. Levert looked great. Stauskas looked uninspired and slow. We are not a good team defensively. We can't afford to get out hustled too.
Other than that what is there to say????

Joined: 12/08/2012

MGoPoints: 8459