2014-15 basketball
nit

Michigan Not Selected For NIT Comment Count

Ace

Michigan did not make the 32-team field of the NIT, which was revealed in somewhat excruciating fashion over the last half-hour on ESPNU. John Beilein has already ruled out an appearance in the CBI or CIT tournaments, so this marks the end of the 2014-15 season. It will not be missed too much.

Comments

umumum

March 15th, 2015 at 10:32 PM ^

this guy's post are the very definition of trolling.  And its not just here, almost all of his past ones are nasty too.  If this doesn't qualify for Bolivia or worse, then I don't know waht does. You must be pleasant to be around.  And don't delude yourself into believing you're a realist.

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 7882

CrazyMichiganFan1

March 15th, 2015 at 10:39 PM ^

I am very pleasant to be around thank you. People like me. My wife likes me. I like me. I am a realist, but I do appreciate you meaningless opinion of me based on very little evidence. I think you are sensitive and you're arrogance of thinking you have the power to decide anyone's position of this blog leads me to believe you're a crappy person to be around. I'm guessing your wife left you and your kids never call.



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bronxblue

March 15th, 2015 at 9:30 PM ^

It was also the team that just crushed Illinois and put up a great fight against a #1 seed. But yes, let's dwell on two losses months ago. This team didn't have a great year, but it isn't garbage by any stretch of the word.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172034

CrazyMichiganFan1

March 15th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^

Ok those losses don't count because that wasn't apart of this season at all was it? Maybe the northwestern loss fits into the criteria. Or should we say we went to the final four 3 years ago so we're going to next year too. I'm being realistic. A 16-16 team one year should improve to possibly a 20-12 team and make the NIT. What gives you guys the idea that this team, made up of all the same players is all of a sudden going to win 30 games and be a 1 seed?? I love Michigan, but be realistic!



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Moleskyn

March 15th, 2015 at 10:26 PM ^

Nobody has said Michigan will win 30 games and be a 1 seed. There are many people here who think Michigan will make the NCAA tournament next year (there are 64 teams that get in). Are they influenced by homerism? Of course. That doesn't mean they're any more right or wrong than you. I personally think this team will do better than 20-12 next year (which, by the way, could be good enough for an NCAA bid, depending on the losses) and make the tournament. That's based largely on the observation of how certain players seemed to come together toward the end of this season. You're welcome to disagree if you'd like, I really don't care.

Joined: 06/28/2010

MGoPoints: 10287

Yostbound and Down

March 15th, 2015 at 9:18 PM ^

I think the team could use the rest. Everybody looked tired as hell. Not a "good" season by results but happy with how the team busted their ass, especially down the stretch, and with the promise of some of the younger players.

Joined: 07/27/2011

MGoPoints: -86513

Yostbound and Down

March 15th, 2015 at 9:35 PM ^

They look worn out. I dunno man. Do you really think playing a few more games is going to give us gobs more experience? I'd rather everyone takes the time we'd spend playing in a meaningless tournament to recharge. Players gonna need it for Camp Sanderson, Beilein's going to need it to figure out what he's got heading into next year.

Joined: 07/27/2011

MGoPoints: -86513

LJ

March 15th, 2015 at 11:58 PM ^

I think the extra NIT experience would matter about 0% in terms of getting ready for next year.  I also think the extra rest from not going to the NCAA/NIT heading into spring/summer training will matter about 0%.

The NIT would have been a few more chances to watch the team; nothing more, nothing less.  It's too bad we didn't get picked; not a huge deal.  But we don't have to turn every bad thing that happens to Michigan into a positive to make ourselves feel better about it.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 18306

Yostbound and Down

March 16th, 2015 at 1:16 AM ^

Well, I was turning one bad thing into a positive, but your point is fine. I personally don't know how much more of this year's team is worth watching...It just seems like the Little Engine That Could getting screwed each game in more depressing ways. I would have loved to get selected to the NCAAs but that wasn't going to happen. This feels like we missed out on going to the Buffalo Wild Wings bowl. Which was a complete waste of time.

Joined: 07/27/2011

MGoPoints: -86513

xtramelanin

March 15th, 2015 at 9:22 PM ^

that based on heart and 'pluck' alone, they deserved to make the NIT. 

oh well, onward and upward. 

Joined: 12/09/2014

MGoPoints: 15438

stephenrjking

March 15th, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^

Not too upset here. It's the NIT. Michigan simply lost too many games. But this might have been one of the most enjoyable mediocre seasons of any team I've ever followed. After Levert and Walton went down, it was a given thaf the season was lost; watching a team assembled in an episode of Junkyard Wars grow into a competitor twice every week was a delight. There was no pressure, and every game seemed to reveal a new feature of a player we had never seen before. And because there has been so much recent success, and because Michigan doesn't have a huge basketball reputation to uphold, a down year is ok. It is much less discouraging than watching a mediocre football team with an uncertain future, or a hockey team that ought to be in the tourney every year fall short. This is a team having a blip year, suffering from defections driven by recent success and injuries, growing into a contender. It was fun. Wait till next year.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

Yostbound and Down

March 15th, 2015 at 9:33 PM ^

Down the stretch it was good. The first half of the year when they were healthy was just miserable. Yes there were the bad losses but I think the team had more than enough talent to do well in the nonconference. But I agree about the Big Ten part of the season.

I think they're going to be good next season, somewhere around what we thought they'd be going into this year, even if Levert leaves.. 

Joined: 07/27/2011

MGoPoints: -86513

DCGrad

March 15th, 2015 at 9:30 PM ^

we didn't get in at essentially 15-16. Yes this team was playing better at the end of the season but the OT loss to NW pretty much sealed it unless we made a real B1G tourney run. Keep in mind this team started playing together last summer in Europe so they could use the time off. No problem with Coach B declining a CBI invite.

Joined: 09/20/2014

MGoPoints: 9261

acnumber1

March 15th, 2015 at 9:31 PM ^

Is there anything that can help get me through the time between now and the beginning of basketball season? Anything? Perhaps something starting with an H? And then an A? perhaps involving the outer surface of a four legged animal which can be salty and delicious? ....the lag from April fourth to late August is going to be frustrating...

Joined: 10/19/2009

MGoPoints: 18817

Nitro

March 15th, 2015 at 9:35 PM ^

How many games did this team give away this season? The disappointing thing really is that they'd finally figured out how to play and win over the last three games and could've actually made a run in the NIT. They just blew one too many before finally getting there. This season is definitely one to forget.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 17040

victors2000

March 15th, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^

This team could have won the whole NIT, they had improved a lot as a team and were on a roll. The big bonus is the experience the team gained; they were beginning to look formidable towards the end of the season. I anticipate big things from this team next year.

Joined: 03/21/2009

MGoPoints: 12972

Wolvie3758

March 15th, 2015 at 9:43 PM ^

if you ask me but then again over the years I have little faith in common sense amongst these selection committee types..A team that just went to the title game and another elite 8 with big name recognition HUGE TV and ticket draw that played one of THE toughest schedules in the nation not to mention the injuries and close and OT games against alot of very good teams...ie Wisconsin twice, Villanova, MSU SMU...just seems really shorth sighted IMO but if your goal is to have as few people watch as possible   MISSION accomplished

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Erik_in_Dayton

March 15th, 2015 at 9:56 PM ^

It would have been nice for the guys to have extra experience. I'm far from a wild-eyed optimist generally, but I believe this team will be much improved next year. Yes, they lost to EMU and NJIT, but they also almost beat two One Seeds (Wisc. And Nova) and lost number of games in OT. And we saw lights go on for Irvin, Dawkins, and Rahk by the end of the year. Add some shooting from Robinson, a healthy Walton, everyone being older, and maybe LeVert, and this team will compete with everyone it plays. And things could be even more interesting if Michigan can add Murray, Wagner, or (unlikely as it may be) Brown.

Joined: 12/03/2008

MGoPoints: 59334

alum96

March 15th, 2015 at 10:39 PM ^

People underestimate the benefits of experience.  We have simply not been able to enjoy it here since everyone who can does jet at the first chance they get to the NBA.  See MSU this year as an example of a team full of good players but not great players but chock full of experience.  They looked silly at times thru mid season but picked it up as they went along.  When they lose a senior they plug in a junior.  When we lose a sophomore we plug in a freshman.  It makes a difference.   A higher calibar example is Wisconsin - but they have skill with height/hops that we right now don't; our high octance guys are more 1s thru 3s.

Our entire projected starting lineup we played the last 15 games returns to start next year which has not happened aorund here probably in 5 years.   Look at a guy like Costello who was a decent not great player - but he looked a lot better as a JR than a SO.   So yes guys get better from just being older.  And you have the potential for 3 "plus" players (fringe NBA types) in Irvin,Walton and now Dawkins.  Maybe none make the NBA but if you have 3 of those guys at once on your roster surrounded by decent talent you basically have MSU this year (Dawson, Valentine).  Trice will never be a NBA player but has played his ass off here the past month.

UM will return 3 guys next year (assuming Caris is gone) that could be 1st or 2nd team All Big 10 - Irvin, Walton, and Dawkins.  Thats a nice trio to work around.  And unlike this year when we had a "trio" surrounded by a bunch of freshman, next year's trio will be surrounded by sophomores.  We wont count on a freshman for a damn thing next year for the first time in many years. And hopefully the 5s which were uber young can make a "Costello like" step next year to be functional and plus players 1 out of every 2 games.

Sure it would be nice to add a 1 and done super frosh like Russell but it's not happening, but we'll be more like a typical MSU or Wiscy team next year which has experience and builds from within.  Remember the type of progress players make under Beilein WITHIN a season.  Not starting from 0 for so many of those players next year will be huge.

Now we just need to learn to friggin box out, rebound, and have anyone not named Spike be able to execute an in bounds pass.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82669

Richard75

March 16th, 2015 at 1:25 AM ^

Your last sentence is the key—will Mich improve much inside?
Doyle looks promising, but he's the only known quantity we have in the post next season. Donnal's playing time evaporated by season's end, Wilson virtually hasn't played and Bielfeldt may not be around. All this excitement over the returning perimeter guys won't matter if we get crushed in the lane and on the glass like we did this season.

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