Discussion: Strategy vs. IU
Okay, now that we've won the regular season outright...does this change your strategy vs. IU?
NCAA Tournament seeding is the only thing that is hurt by a loss and there isn't a huge difference beween a 2 and a 3 seed.
However, a chance to pay IU back from last year. A chance to beat Crean. And just the fact that these are 18-22 years olds and "how much rest do they really need?" are all valid points.
What are your thoughts? Discuss.
My thought, treat it like any other game...with one caveat. If you have ANYONE who's banged up. You sit him. But screw the "trying to avoid injury factor." You can always get hurt or injured so I don't let that change my thinking. However, for someone like Morgan who's a little banged up. I may lean on Horford for 28 minutes and Bielfeldt for 12.
You play... to win... the game.
Win the Game.
You don't burn a redshrit for 5-10 minutes in a game that doesn't really matter.
Max B can give you that. Hell, you can play Irvin, GRIII, Stauskas, Levert and Walton for a few minutes if you had to. Just run 1-3-1, you have the PG protecting the basket anyway.
AND I'M ANGRY
This isn't the pros. Play to win.
JB will approach this game like he has every game before this. There is a routine the team is in right now, he will not stray from it.
You never want to instill in your players that a game doesn't matter, especially in March. I expect a 10pt victory and it's business as usual out there.
It's senior night and Morgan is the only senior. There is no way he sits unless he is actually unable to play.
does this answer your question?
And all after that fucker got the most digusting gift from the refs on Watford's intentional.
He didn't even fucking deserve to win the game, that manic shitbag.
Lots and lots of lobs. Preferably thrown by Horford to Spike. They'll never see it coming.
I hope they try to win. I would love to see Michigan beat every Big Ten team in the regular season. But if they play Dakich and the walk-ons and give alot of rest to the starters, I would understand.
The objective should be to try and win by one hundred milliion-jillion-bazallion points. Here's why:
1. Try and get on the two line for seeding
2. Destroy any tiny, remaining bubble hope Indiana might be clinging to
3. Make Tom Crean cry
All. Damn. Day. YES.
If the third one happens then I don't really even care about the first two.
WIN THE GAME
Practice domination.
you play to win. no question. it changes ncaa tournament seeding and we won't have another game for 5 days. plenty of time to rest.
Might play IU in the very next game we play, in Indy. Plus, its payback time. I would have to think the entire crew, minus Morgan, will be out there playing hard.
Play this video over and over.
Make Tom cry.
Sit Belein for the game. Have Jeff Meyer assume coaching duties, and run up the score.
Seriously, screw Tom Crean.
Belein deserves to rest before the tourney, too.
Assuming McGary is back... would love to see him plow over Izzo with a giant grin when he's employing his 6th man routing. I wouldn't want Izzo seriously injured as that's tasteless but some soreness, a T and possibly his head exploding would suffice.
y u on court IZZO? doh!
you do not change a single thing unless there's a significantly injured player who really needs to sit.
WIN THE GAME
REVENGE
And then I want them to win the 8/9 game in the 1st round and I want to beat them again in the B1G tourney.
they owe you money.
Can someone explain the beef between Crean and Meyer?
I think Crean is the only one who can answer that.
Crean assumes Meyer is dirty because he was on Kelvin Sampson's staff, even though Meyer was cleared of wrongdoing. Either that, or Crean is just frustrated that Meyer (our lead Indiana recruiter) has repeatedly pulled good recruits out of his home state.
Also is Crean a textbook...
a.) chode
b.) douche-nozzle
c.) assclown
d.) ball-licking turdcutter face
e.) or, all of the above
a. Chode
(The hair is textbook Chode... the superior attitute, while having that hair, is "poster-child" chode)
It's nice to see the word "chode" survived the decade.
Do you seriously think Beilein is going to tell his team "this game doesn't really matter so just play at half speed and try not to get injured?"
I would think that we still have a slight shot at a two seed. If we beat the pants off of IU and do well in the B1G tourney (with some help from Syracuse tanking some more) the selection committee might take notice. The CBS RPI has us higher than Syracuse, but the ESPN one doesn't.
than a slight shot at a two seed. Right now I think the last two are some combination of Michigan, Wisconsin, Syracuse or Virginia and I don't think there's any chance of both going to the ACC.
This is J Mo's last game in AA, win it for him first and foremost. Secondly, it's Indiana, none of the underclassmen have ever beaten them and there are what 4/5 guys from that state on this roster? Yeah, they wanna beat them. Third, its Tom Crean, I want his tears. At lastly
See them driven before us and to hear the lamentation of the women.
It may be the difference between a 2 and 3 seed which may be the difference between Milwaukee/Buffalo and Orlando (close vs far)
Plus, you can make Tom Crean angry and probably eliminate any last glimmering hope of Indiana making the tournament as a bubble team.
I hope we do to them what we did to Illinois last night