Is it too early to panic about the long-run positions of our MBB, WBB, and Hockey programs vs MSU?
Looking at the results from the last 2 weeks (lost games in all three sports to MSU) and the quality of coaches that MSU has had or recently hired makes me wonder whether UM will be looking up at MSU for the next few years.
MBB: There is no question that our program is trash at the moment. MSU has underperformed for the last few years, but if JH is still around, we will be below MSU.
WBB: KBA is good, but unfortunately, MSU has found a terrific coach. I knew Robyn Fralick because our institution considered her as our WBB coach. We hired a more experienced coach since Robyn was inexperienced back then. She is going to be great :(
Hockey: The jury is out on Brandon. His team has been inconsistent, but the roster lacks depth. However, just like WBB, the new MSU coach, Adam Nightingale, has already proven to be a good recruiter and a good coach.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:04 PM ^
Maybe
February 19th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
Ask again later
February 19th, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
Or don't.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
I don't know, can you repeat the question?
February 19th, 2024 at 12:50 PM ^
Maybe - maybe not. Go Blue. Keep in mind who the "little brother" is here
February 19th, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^
Reply hazy, try again.
February 19th, 2024 at 11:55 AM ^
football school
February 19th, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
Hockey yes stop panicking. Recruiting is fine. MSU is better and that's how it used to be. Either Brandon will succeed or he won't. The verdict is still out
February 19th, 2024 at 12:11 PM ^
I think what you mean with "how it used to be" is that MSU used to be competitive and would occasionally be better, which I agree with and which is what they are getting back to for the moment. Michigan will be fine in hockey.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:55 PM ^
Yes youre right. I should've said "MSU is a better program now and they used to consistently be a good program so this is more normal than the flaming dumpster fire they were for 10 years"
February 19th, 2024 at 2:08 PM ^
"MSU is a better program now" should be changed to:
MSU is a better team this season. We were a better team (by far) last year and I would still say we are the better overall program right now.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:36 PM ^
I need to get my lawyer to review my posts from now on I guess. ‘Better’ was intended as comparison to where MSU used to be, not in comparison to Michigan ie MSU is better than theyve been in a long time
February 19th, 2024 at 3:16 PM ^
Msu was much better than UM under Mason. After a few years Red turned the tables in the late 80s.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:24 PM ^
MSU was not "occasionally" better than us during the Mason years. Once Red pulled us even (or slightly ahead), they were both powerhouse programs. I will always hate everything about MSU other than a great admiration for Ron Mason, and I can't tell you how much I miss the intensity and talent that was on display during those games.
February 20th, 2024 at 11:39 AM ^
Yeah, MSU and Michigan dominated the CCHA, with one or the other usually winning the regular season and the post season. Nightingale is bringing MSU back to Mason years. Those were fun games, and a well earned "You're Welcome" from the announcer if we were ahead at the 1 minute mark in the third. Nothing better than an "Announcer Sieve" chant at the end of an MSU game.
Side note, I was at the game where the long time announcer of Yost was retiring. Him saying "No, Thank You!" was one of those small special moments that make college hockey special.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:10 PM ^
I feel like the big difference between UM and MSU this year is MSU has an elite goalie and UM doesn't. Switch the goalies and UM is probably a top-5 team and MSU is on the bubble like UM, if even a bit farther down. Obviously it matters that MSU got Augustine but that's also a very specific relationship and we'll need to see if that continues with recruiting.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:35 PM ^
MSU on the bubble?? Their going to be a one seed, what are you looking at?
February 20th, 2024 at 6:28 AM ^
Better read that comment again...........
February 20th, 2024 at 4:41 PM ^
In fantasy land you can switch goalies on teams, in reality they’re heading for a one seed 2 seed at worst and we’re on the bubble. Plus they’re just a better team than us right now truth hurts. I know hurts for me to admit that.
February 19th, 2024 at 9:17 PM ^
Really they turned the tide when they started selling night game jerseys
February 19th, 2024 at 12:34 PM ^
I assume by "MSU is better and that's how it used to be," you mean they're better than they have been in recent years. That is fair. The other interpetation would be that MSU is better than Michigan and that is a historically normal state of affairs - and THAT intrepretation would be wrong. MSU is out of the gutter, but Michigan is by no means bad. Way too early to panic regarding Hockey.
For MBB, yeah we're a tire fire, but MSU's underperformance has been tied to Izzo's age. It's no longer possible to pretend his best years aren't behind him at this point. That means there's an opening in the short term (assuming we move on from Juwan and make a good hire). But there's also the longer-term chance that MSU fumbles their next MBB hire and gets themselves in a bad situation. There is no guarantee they pull another Izzo out of their hat.
[edited - accidentally mixed up "worst" and "best," though it was uninentionally funny regarding Izzo]
February 19th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
Correct. Should've been more clear and said "MSU is better [than the raging tire fire they were for 15 years] and that's how it used to be [them not being an absolute tire fire of a program]"
February 19th, 2024 at 4:22 PM ^
It was this as better than theh have been recently, which historically is more on par for them, they are a good program. Not meaning they are better than M
February 19th, 2024 at 12:01 PM ^
Yes.
The fortunes of a program can turn on a single season. Just look at football after 2020. Hell, even in 2021 when we lost to MSU and they went 11-2, it looked like that rivalry would be a dogfight in the years to come. How did that work out for them?
February 19th, 2024 at 12:36 PM ^
We'll see how it plays out, but I think Nightengale is not going to be Tucker redux. I think he's the real deal. UM/MSU hockey could be really exciting for a few years here.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:02 PM ^
Wow. Wth is this?
February 19th, 2024 at 12:37 PM ^
Sometimes you wake up to your football team being 15-0 and coming off a national championship, and you just need to go pick at the ol' BPONE scab.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:03 PM ^
Too early to read this post
February 19th, 2024 at 12:03 PM ^
It makes no sense to say that Nightingale has proven to be a good coach and recruiter while saying that judgement cannot be passed on Naruato. We've won the BTT and gone to the Frozen Four two years in a row. I think hockey will be fine.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:05 PM ^
Perhaps you should pose this question to your buddy Warde. Pretty sure he can do something about that situation if your fears are valid.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
Actually, Warde asked me to gauge what MGOBLOG people think. I think he is freaking out.
February 19th, 2024 at 3:12 PM ^
That's fantastic. Well done sir.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:09 PM ^
#FireBakich
February 19th, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
The problem with hockey is the Kentucky issue. We get the all stars that go to the league. This model of building a roster around proverbial "5-stars" (I know hockey recruiting isn't apples to apples) is that it works in football because those guys will be in the program for years, but it can be hit or miss for hockey and basketball. They'll get over the hump eventually, but will also have a lot of disappointing seasons.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
Panic is a strong word, I know MBB it's fair to think we're in a bad spot. WBB and Hockey? They may have great coaches but as long as our teams aren't disorganized, a dogfight of a rivalry is not a bad thing. Frustrating, but not bad. Those programs are put together. Time will tell about Naurato, but there's enough there to have hopes for too. I'm more concerned our baseball team split its opening series with Western Michigan. Softball looks like they could be better this year tho. Probably not a big ten contender, but maybe a tournament team.
February 19th, 2024 at 1:52 PM ^
You are right about Softball. They are doing better than expected so far. Tholl could be the real deal.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^
Softball looks about the same, maybe worse? They're hitting .209 as a team, the win against Florida was nice, but they're 6-3. If they keep hitting like this, no amount of improvement elsewhere on the roster will matter.
February 19th, 2024 at 8:38 PM ^
Real deal? Way too early for that statement on a team hitting a whopping .209 after falling off the cliff last year. Yes fall off a cliff finished 3-9
February 19th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
You mean you are freaking out after a few weeks and in the case of MBB the season? Did you forget how bad we were in MBB before Beilein? We will be fine. Either JH will get it right or he will be gone. MSU generally had a good team in Hockey. We just happened to have so many great teams over the decades.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
Yes, it's too early to panic. C'mon.
This is absurd. And packaging the MBB program experiencing its worst season in at least a generation with two other programs that have been in really good shape (WBB literally the best it's ever been) that happen to be competing with MSU programs having good years (in hockey's case, its first good year in a decade) is silly.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:18 PM ^
Don't care. We just won a National Championship in football. Nothing can touch me for a while.
February 19th, 2024 at 2:53 PM ^
Me either, except I just saw the national championship T-shirt I bought for $34 on sale for $14. 😞
February 19th, 2024 at 3:16 PM ^
Where? I still don't have enough.
February 19th, 2024 at 4:30 PM ^
Fanatics. All of their NC stuff is on sale. It’s really generic, but a souvenir is a souvenir.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
Men’s Basketball, panic now.
the others? Eh.
February 19th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
Panic? It depends. How much does your life revolve around college sports?
February 19th, 2024 at 12:33 PM ^
The only primary concern I have right now is the men's basketball program. It has gotten worse YoY, and Howard can't seem to want or be able to change his recruiting strategy to get guys in that will clear admissions, among various other problems (culture issues, his temper, etc.).
Hockey just came off of a Big Ten tournament title and Frozen Four appearance. Nothing to panic about at all here. MSU is getting back to being good at hockey, which is how they used to be, nothing crazy.
Women's basketball is about the best it's ever been at UM; not panic-worthy yet here, IMO.