Isaiah Livers Went Through Full Practice Yesterday
Per Brendan Quinn of The Athletic, Isaiah Livers was a full participant at practice yesterday and "looked pretty good."
Hopefully, this means he will play tomorrow and provide some desparately-needed shooting. It would also be nice if Jeff Simpson has a solid game tomorrow as well.
Link to his tweet: https://twitter.com/BFQuinn/status/1225779569736720389
February 7th, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
Now can he play tomorrow and stay healthy? I think he can! We just need to take it one game, one play, one moment at a time. Win or lose, Go Blue!
February 7th, 2020 at 9:28 AM ^
I will take him on the court even if it means he isn't cutting to the basket hard and going for dunks. Stay on the perimeter, create some spacing, and drill some shots.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
Thanks jake!
February 7th, 2020 at 9:36 AM ^
We're about to lose 5 in a row to them with or without him. They will PnR with Winston all day again.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
One would hope Juwan and the coaching staff have been practicing adjustments to MSU's attack. They will need to prevent MSU's transition game and really work hard on those Winston screens.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:49 AM ^
The team is what it is at this point. I don't think anything will change. Besides home court, what advantages do we have tomorrow?
Most games Crisler isn't even a factor.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
I mean it's pretty ridiculous to say a team "is what it is" in early February. Michigan along with several other teams change throughout the season.
Michigan has shown that if it is shooting well, it can beat anybody in the country. Beilein teams would change a lot throughout the season.
I'm not saying Michigan will shoot the lights out and blow MSU away, but you can't say it's a forgone conclusion that tomorrow will be like the previous 4. It's college basketball, it never really makes sense.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
It's definitely possible that we have a breakout performance. Personally i find it hard to believe that all of a sudden we start shooting well against one of the better teams in the country. Our shooting has been abysmal long enough for me consider it the norm for this team. We make far too many mental mistakes and our defense is not there to compensate for the offense any longer.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:36 AM ^
If one were to try and make a slogan for the team this year, the most accurate would be "inconsistent."
One game you get Brooks going off from 3, others you have Teske being dominant down low, but it seems you can never tell what you're going to get on a daily basis.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
When you say better teams, how would you quantify that? They don’t even have a better win than the team you hold in such high esteem! Some people just blow, Hard.
February 7th, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
Lol at MSU being one of the better teams in the country
February 7th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
It's not ridiculous to say a team is what it is. There are almost exactly 4 weeks left in the regular season. They don't exactly play an NBA 3-4 game/week schedule. You have limited time for things to change.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:52 AM ^
Not ridiculous, just--possibly--quite wrong, especially since they played the first part of the season without Wagner, the second without Livers. And are under a new coach, etcetera. Lots of teams come together, and some fall apart, as the season goes along.
I'm with those who think winning tomorrow would be fantastic, but it's putting the team on a smooth footing during the rest of the month--making the dance, becoming a threat--that's truly important. And while some of these losses have made me vomit in my mouth, it's also true that a lot of guys, including weird guys like Davis, have struck some sparks. Castleton is the only guy I feel really disappointed by.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:25 AM ^
Our record at home over the past few years would disagree with the assertion that home court isn't a factor for us.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:52 AM ^
Personally i don't find Crisler to be all that loud or intimidating. Historically you will always do better at home. They've lost 4 at home this year and the season isn't over.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
You’re right Scottie. But you have been here long enough to know that there’s a type of person that exists whom enjoys the negative type of view. That’s without any type of knowledge of the past, or present situations.
February 7th, 2020 at 9:37 AM ^
Logged in just to up vote the Jeff Simpson reference.
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February 7th, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
We like the 3 letter abbreviations around here. I'm fine with calling him JJS
February 7th, 2020 at 10:27 AM ^
Or in this case, he's been X, he's been Z, he's now J. How about XZJ?
February 7th, 2020 at 11:22 AM ^
Sounds like a luxury British sporty automobile.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
Mr. Alphabet
February 7th, 2020 at 9:46 AM ^
Yeah, if Jeff Simpson plays well, this could be a win... Combine Jeff and Isaiah and I like our chances to keep it close. And a close game can be won by either team - which is what I hope for. Hopefully, the home crowd will help.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
This may be an unpopular opinion but if there's even a chance Livers could re-aggravate the injury he should skip the MSU game. Assuming Michigan takes the L on Saturday (which they might do anyway even with Livers in the lineup) they'll probably have to finish 5-3 down the stretch to be on the right side of the tournament bubble. They can definitely do that with a healthy Livers; if Isaiah tweaks his groin/hip and has to sit out again, finishing 5-3 becomes much more difficult.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
I think the most attainable path to the NCAA tournament is a fully 100% healthy Livers to try to win the BTT. If their is even the slightest chance or re-injury he shouldn't play. I don't think this Simpson business is over and I have to be honest, I think MSU is going to shoot us out of a cannon tomorrow. I believe the OSU loss ended any real quest for an at-large bid. The narrative that Michigan should be considered in the field right now is nonsense. The BIG is going to get 10 teams. We are not in that 10 right now.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
That's not true at all. Bracket Matrix currently has us as the last 8 seed, ahead of fellow Big Ten schools Indiana, Purdue, and Minnesota (who is in their First Four Out category). The OSU loss did not end our quest for an at-large bid in any way, shape, or form.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:51 AM ^
OK, good luck with that.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
How does anyone see this team getting in? Who the hell have we beat since the Bahamas? Have we even beaten a team with a pulse?
February 7th, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
I don't know. In my opinion it is truly a blind spot right now locally and nationally. We are the 12th place team in the BIG. We are 4-7 in conference and 13-9 overall. Making the tournament as an at large right now is a Hail Mary. I don't care what KenPom, NET, or any other algorithm says. We can't win basketball games. There is no reason to think this is a tournament team absent a very substantial turnaround. We need to win 4 of 5 starting tomorrow to even be in the discussion.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
You might not care what KenPom, NET, or other algorithms say, but that is what the selection committee looks at when making those choices.
You're ignoring the exact measures that are used to decide tourney teams. That's a joke
February 7th, 2020 at 12:29 PM ^
That’s because they know more than the computers themselves. Didn’t you know that? Plus they’re related to Nancy.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
"I don't care what all the algorithms say - including the one that the selection committee uses to determine the March Madness field - we're not getting in because I say so."
- ijohnb
February 7th, 2020 at 12:17 PM ^
ijohnb is reflexively contrarian all the time. If everyone had said we were eliminated from tourney contention, he'd be trying to keep hope alive.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^
I’m not being contrarian. In my opinion a team that is three games below 500 in their conference, and creeping up on a 500 overall record is not a tournament basketball team.
We have losses to three of the four other bobble teams in the conference, two of them single plays, and a return trip to Mackey with probably our best player sidelined with a serious injury. If you are expecting that team as currently constituted to make the NCAA tournament you are being delusional. I would like nothing more than to be wrong, but let’s see what the bracket matrix says if we fall to 4-8 in the conference, with the last four losses being home games. if we beat State tomorrow that changes things, but I will believe that when I see it.
February 7th, 2020 at 1:12 PM ^
If Michigan falls to 4-8 in the conference with a loss to MSU on Saturday Bracket Matrix will probably say they're a 9-10 seed. Which is, like, still in the tournament.
February 7th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
Do you believe a team that finishes 4 games under 500 in the BIG is going to be in the NCAA tournament? Really? The soft part of our schedule is over man.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
Beat a really good Purdue team. Beat an Iowa team with the Big Ten player of the year. Beat a top 25 Rutgers team.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:07 PM ^
Look, obviously there's a fair chance Michigan misses the tourney. But when you're given facts and statistics, you back it up with your own personal feelings and subjectivity.
There's a reason they are still projected in the tournament. They have solid non-conf wins against Creighton and Gonzaga, an OT loss to a good Oregon team, and they've been playing without their best player for most of the conference season.
Get your trolling "how does anyone see this team getting in" ass out of here man. Clearly A LOT of people still see this team getting in.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
We just beat a likely tournament team (Rutgers) on a neutral site, six days ago. And we may get back our leading scorer soon.
February 7th, 2020 at 1:56 PM ^
Rutgers (oy)
February 7th, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
Good luck with what? You made a statement that isn't supported by any actual facts. Do some research first next time, it isn't all that hard.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:16 AM ^
If you're waiting for 0 chance of re-aggravating he's probably not playing this year.
February 7th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
I’m not advocating for holding Livers out of a game he’s definitely healthy enough to play in. I’m just saying if it’s close they should wait the extra game. Losing to MSU on Saturday would not be a death blow to Michigan’s chances of getting into the tournament; losing Isaiah for another extended stretch of time very well could be.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
Fair enough, but you did originally say if there is any chance.
February 7th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
Yeah, that was poor communication on my part.
February 7th, 2020 at 4:11 PM ^
I agree with this....after reaggravating it so soon I figured it'd be the season for him. Feels like they're bringing him back too early and a risk he makes it worse. Hope I'm wrong.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
Hopefully he's good to go and doesn't re-injure something.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
Bring him off the bench to be nothing more than a sniper.
2 of Brooks/Wagner/Johns need to play well for us to win and that is only if Z and Teske don't get owned defensively.
February 7th, 2020 at 10:18 AM ^
While I'd obviously like Livers to play, I'd rather they make sure he's as fully recovered as you can hope and not throw him out there to possibly get re-injured again. Michigan is already an underdog in this game but if they want to make the tourney they'll need Livers for more games than just this one.
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