The Announcers
I know one of them was Jay Bilas, I did not catch the name of the other one. Anyway, I thought the announcing tonight was absolutely awful. Which ever team scored, became the "best team in the Nation." That's annoying on it's own, but to add on to it, they would not give credit to where credit was due. I recall several times where Morgan was playing tough, "Big Ten D," and stopped Sullinger from scoring. But everytime, it was a foul according to Bilas. Adding on to my last point, they thought anything close to a foul, should've ben called. Example, Sullinger had a nice move around Morgan to score, and Bilas thought Sullinger should have been called for the foul. Then when Burke/Morgan blocked Craft at the end. Bilas said "thats Big Ten basketball right there," kind of contradicting himself. It was not a foul, but the fact that Bilas wanted everything called, was not "Big Ten basketball." I dont know, maybe I'm over exaggerating, but it was nearly impossible to listen to, and I find it very hard to watch, while the TV is muted. Just thought I would state my opinion. Anyway, they don't matter because Michigan played a hell of game. I'm pumped for the both tourneys and I pray that Michigan wins out though. It will be tough but wouldn't that be something?
February 19th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
Jay Bilas is a tool. I was especially upset when he was calling us out for flopping on blatant charges. I have a newfound hatred for that guy now.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:04 AM ^
Coach K and the Dukies are all a bunch of whiners. That's why the ACC just continues to get worse, it's such a soft conference now. Add to that that Bilas has never hidden his distain for Michigan after firing his boy, Tommy Amaker, and you'll see why he's consistently digging into Michigan.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:07 AM ^
No, the ACC is down because of all the shit coaches that everyone hired. Like Sidney Lowe and Paul Hewitt.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:22 AM ^
Say what you want about Paul Hewitt but he did take that basketball juggernaut we call Georgia Tech to the finals a few years back.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
Jay Bilas was awful, it was complain, complain, complain. You could tell he had no respect for Big Ten basketball or Michigan.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^
The guy is just grating. He takes the joy out of watching a game.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
Enough said. Move along.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
Jay Bilas called a foul on your post.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
Jay Bilas SUCKS!
The weird thing is, I like him when he's not calling a game. I think he has great insight and great diagnosis of matchups etc. But when he's calling games, he turns into the biggest idiot. Everyone is wrong, the Refs are wrong, the Crowd is wrong, the Coaches are wrong, except for Bilas.
I actually think he's the worst calller on tv of all sports right now. I'd take the chick football announcer over him any day.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:24 AM ^
Lol oh God Doris Burk
February 19th, 2012 at 12:32 AM ^
I generally don't mind Bilas, even when he is doing games. As long as you separate his bias, he's fine.
However, tonight was just flat out bad. I got the feeling he wanted Ohio to win, and I'm not sure why. Without a doubt, he does have respect for Novak, and probably Burke. Beyond that, he has no use for Michigan.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
I did like the part where oe of them was talking about Hoke and how he was ready to commit after seeing Hoke with the recruits today.
But other than that, yeah, it was terrible.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:24 AM ^
Talked about the officiating the whole game to an extent ive never witnessed before from an announcer. There were bad calls both ways but it sure seemed like Bilas was rooting for Ohio. I wonder if he is still a little bitter about his buddy Amaker being fired ?
February 19th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^
It still sticks in his craw that Michigan fired Amaker. That is his boy. I'm sorry but Tommy got 6 years. Sorry Bilas. I think your a great analyst, but when it comes to Michigan, you can't be unbiased. Same with Speilman and Jim Jackson. Clark Kellogg and Herbstriet are less biased given the Ohio ties.
Bilas just doesn't watch much B1G besides Ohio or MSU.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:13 AM ^
I have no been more annoyed with a person or word in my life. It was just mind blowing how many times he said "foul" to the point where every time he said it, I was literally screaming at him from my TV. I was laughing with rage because it was comical how annoying he was. O god, I just never want to hear the word again...
February 19th, 2012 at 9:07 AM ^
Bilas was allowed to play "Duke Defense" for four years. This means that, at best, any of what he was calling "fouls" on Michigan would just be business as usual whenever he decided to play defense. Really, though, Duke did and does much "worse" than what Michigan did, and never gets called for it.
Bilas is still angry with Michgan for firing his pal TA. While I admire his loyalty to his friend, I don't think he should ever be allowed to call a Michigan game again.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
Thank you for posting this, he drove me crazy. I wanted stick socks in his mouth everything he spoke. He's still mad bc UM fired his buddy Amaker. Worst announcers ever
February 19th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
And like I said above, he shouldn't be saying stuff about tough, big ten basketball. When he wants every thing called a foul.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:23 AM ^
So Jay BIAS was announcing this game?
February 19th, 2012 at 12:24 AM ^
was talking so much trash about Michigan and just all over Sullingers junk on how he wasnt charging and getting fouled on every play. I actually spent the half swearing at him more than the two teams playing. Plus did anyone catch right after the half the nice SEC symbol ESPN put up right behind the score and scoring leaders of the half? I was sick
February 19th, 2012 at 12:28 AM ^
ESPN is having some issues lately, with that and the whole "Chink in the chain" headline for Jeremy Lin.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:30 AM ^
so I wasnt seeing things I swore I saw that dang SEC logo behind the score.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:15 AM ^
I had to laugh when I saw the SEC logo appear, because it's obvious that ESPN is on it's knees for the SEC already, but to throw the SEC logo up on the screen when two B1G teams are playing (when not even 1 team playing was an SEC team)...That was just pure comedy. Guess they have that SEC promo locked and loaded to play at a moments notice, even if during a Big 10 battle.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:24 AM ^
After the day we had, even Jay Bilas couldn't ruin my mood.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:26 AM ^
Jay Bilas is an asshole. The guy commented on the officitaing 47 times tonight. Yes, I counted. Just STFU, call the game, and stop acting like the god damn snake anus lawyer that you are.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:27 AM ^
This looks like something I would read on RCMB..
February 19th, 2012 at 12:33 AM ^
This thread does not discuss jailbait in Starbucks. Thus this is no RCMB thread.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:37 AM ^
Well, I suppose there wasn't much to whine about the refs tonite so someone had to whine abut something.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:00 AM ^
Jay Bilas sucked as bad as one person could in a two hour window
February 19th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^
I think Bilas was equally asinine both ways. His comments were almost unanimously just plain wrong. Whenever I would see a play and think it was either a foul or not he would call it the opposite. He appears intelligent in pregame discussions but it certainly doesn't translate to calling the game.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:28 AM ^
but I didn't think Bilas was that bad. He's certainly better than listening to Urban Meyer and Chris Spielman call a Michigan football game.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:28 AM ^
F*ck Duke
February 19th, 2012 at 12:29 AM ^
The best commentator there is.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:40 AM ^
Wow. Why have I not heard of this guy?
February 19th, 2012 at 1:10 AM ^
Follow the live update account on twitter to fully appreciate how truly magisterial Ray can be.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:10 AM ^
I would watch games just to listen to that guy. The Scottish accent makes it even better.
February 19th, 2012 at 2:57 AM ^
I know it's the scots thing, but there sure was a lot of Willie the Groundskeeper going on there.
"Would you stop talking to me about tee-nis players and stupid Hollywood Actors, Phil! Tom Cruise, the (?). If he smelt a socker jockstrap he'd faint dead away!"
I think he called Tom Cruise a prick, but that may have just been what I wanted to hear.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:29 AM ^
But all forms of exaggeration are over-exaggeration. I don't think it's possible to "under-exaggerate" something.
It's like "mis-underestimating" something (as that last president-like person once said).
February 19th, 2012 at 12:31 AM ^
like I'm complaining too much. I was just really irritated with it. Nothing, I mean NOTHING, could ruin this day though. GO BLUE
February 19th, 2012 at 12:30 AM ^
Bilas likes pretty boy, soccer on a basketball court, game. Too bad Tirico and Len Elmore didn't do the game.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:31 AM ^
On the UVA board, there were people wondering why Bilas was "stroking OSU's junk" as one poster put it. They definitely picked up on the "everything Michigan does is a foul" thing.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:33 AM ^
Bilas is a joke, complaining about Michigan players flopping. He went to Duke where flopping is an art form. I seem to remember flopping being his best form of defending with that 4 inch vertical leap he had.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:35 AM ^
Bilas is exhibit A why everyone besides Duke fans/alumns hate Duke.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:35 AM ^
Bilas is the JJ Redick of announcers.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:42 AM ^
97.1 in Cbus actually had better announcers than the TV broadcasters. They do a pretty professional job covering Ohio athletics.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^
Bilas was being a total tool tonight. He didn't hide his dislike for Michigan one bit. Didn't have a good thing to say about us all night. Completely unprofessional, but precisley what I'd expect from him
February 19th, 2012 at 1:03 AM ^
Except for his singing the praises of Burke, Novak, and Douglass the entire game...and talking about how Sullinger couldn't run the floor with Morgan. I could continue on, but this is just blind homerism.
February 19th, 2012 at 1:55 AM ^
he also had nothing but praise for beilein. said he has always been a great teacher and developed systems to make up for lack of talent. now he's at michigan and getting the talent. he practically said that the program is back and will continue to be a force.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:49 AM ^
Bilas can suck a bag of dicks. I finally switched to MGoBlue audio and didn't even care that it was ahead of the TV.
February 19th, 2012 at 12:54 AM ^
So are you picturing the plastic bag with like with chicken parts or the paper bag with the baguettes?