Awesome Spike Quote & Spike Appreciation
I just saw this quote by Spike Albrecht posted on the Michigan Basketball twitter feed.
"Coach tells me to stay ready, that's my roll. I don't care that they target me, if I saw me out there, I'd probably go at me too."
It may not be post worthy, but it made me laugh for a solid minute. It shows how self-aware Spike is, and it probably helps explain why no moment is too big for him. Just the thought of Spike seeing a Spike-clone on another team, and then going right at him, is very funny to picture in your head.
In all seriousness, he has performed admirably in the tournament:
- SDSU - 5 min, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 TO
- VCU - 15 min, 3 pts, 50% FG, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 TO
- Kansas - 11 min, 3 pts, 100% FG, 1 reb, 1 TO
- Florida - 14 min, 7 pts, 75% FG, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl, 0 TO
- Syracuse - 4 min, 6 pts, 100% FG, 1 reb, 0 TO
- TOTALS - 49 mins, 19 points, 78% FG, 5 rebs, 4 ast, 3 stl, 3 TO
Not too bad for a 5-11 170lb True Freshman with no major offers, playing against pressing defenses, in the biggest games of his life.
Spike is a self-aware irrational confidence guy. Love his ball handling skills.
And he has done so in limited playing time.
We may not have the same level of success next year but this tournament makes me much more confident in next years team if Trey Burke decides to go pro.
haha "if"
in beating Louisville. Burke is a steady ball handlet, but can he do it for 40 minutes? Spike will need to come in and provide much needed stability when Trey needs a break.
gets top-talent and diamonds in the rough alike.
Spike and Novak need to have a self-deprecation-off.
I love this:
The steal alone would have been GREAT, especially when you consider the circumstances, but the WAY that he finished the bucket. I'd expect a finish like that from Trey or Glenn, but not the short little white guy on the team!
this 50 times now. Took me five minutes to post this too since your post comes up in the reply.
I liked last night how the announcers were talking about Spike being so small and the next play you see is Spike grabbing a rebound.
Not to take anything away from the young man, but he didn't really out jump anyone for that ball, it just sort of came right to him. The kid is a suprising performer though.
I hate to advocate the Freep, but they actually had a pretty cool article on Spike Friday (didn't know his name was Michael until I read that, or that he got his nickname because he always wore his baseball cleats everywhere). It discussed how he had only one offer (from App State) and how he didn't really believe his coach when he told Spike Michigan was interested in him.
I don't think we are where we are without Spike. It's easy to forget that a lot of these guys are only freshman, they're really going to blossom.
A couple of tantalizing details from that article is that Spike's dad maintains he's still a better baseball player than hoops player--and that when Beilein signed him JB said "I'm either in big trouble or I'll look like a genius' or something along those lines. Heh.
I think they mean that's how he rolls
lets not forget y'all that Spike started the "somewhat comeback" vs. OSU in Cbus. He seemed like the only one who showed up in the first half if I recall
Just like Spike says, they're gunning for him like he's easy pickings when he's out there but he almost never turns the ball over and he's good for a clutch three every game as well.
...had some pretty good quote material (HERE):
"Everyone wants the ball, and the media, and all that stuff. But this is just basketball and he’s just going out there and hooping like he’s in the backyard in Indiana. Smiling. And we just happen to be on a big stage." - Josh Bartelstein, on Spike
That is perhaps the best part about watching this rather breakout performance in limited time by Spike in this Tournament - on top of everything else, he seems to genuinely have fun out there to boot. Once again, it speaks some to the culture around this program - in the time he does play, he really does give 100% and does everything he can to help out the team. Everyone on that team has the same attitude, which is wonderful.