March 25th, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
yes worth the read if you are looking for a quick escape from your workday
March 25th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
We're going to need him to own the paint Friday. Come on J-MO get big.
It is almost a given that we will need more than 5 fouls at the center position on Friday. We will need the Horford of earlier in the year to return--particularly on the defensive (rebounding) end.
Those who stay...
I am glad J-Mo is finally getting some love. He is an excellent captain for the team. Hopefully they can keep this run going, and if not, he has nothing to hang his head about.
Here are a couple of great quotes from Beilein on Morgan. From his radio show yesterday:
Beilein on Jordan Morgan: "He'll be one that'll be hard to replace and one that I'll never forget."
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) March 24, 2014
This morning on WTKA:
Beilein on @michiganinsider on Jordan Morgan: "He's in a zone and he's not going to stop...I love going to war with that young man."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) March 25, 2014
Somehow i doubt Coach Beilein forgets any of his players. He impresses me as somehow who would enjoy a deep and lasting positive influence on people long after they've finished playing for him.
he's really been a man among boys for much of this season. so happy for him!
Cool read, but I have a side rant about ESPN.com. Why don't their videos EVER have anything to do with the content in the article or even the headline? If they don't have a video that relates to the story, then don't post a video. I clicked on the button on the main NCAAB page and the video that starts playing above the caption "Heir Jordan" is about SDSU, Dayton and Bruce Pearl. Then, if you click on the article, it's a video about UK/Louisville in the Sweet 16. AT LEAST make it highlights from M's last game if you have nothing else.
Nice work, @JustJMo. RT @LostLettermen: This is how you handle Twitter trolls. http://t.co/0c8AM1hDWU pic.twitter.com/wKIwkE38eR
— LG (@LanceGordon) March 25, 2014
Nice read. Great that Morgan is at the top of his game, both physically and mentally, for this run. Hope his high play continues for the next 2 weeks.
to accomplish what McGary couldn't do last season and that's help UM "engineer" a NC. Now that would be a great story.
I assume his number won't be retired, but it would be nice somehow recognize him for everything he's done for Michigan basketball. I assume the awards given out at the ceremony the team has at the end of the year are already named for other people, but it would be cool to see J-Mo's name on something like that.
They've got 100 numbers to assign to 12-15 players. It's not like football where those 100 numbers have to go to 100+ players.
However, I'd prefer that the BBall program follow the football program's lead, and create some "legends" numbers. I think Morgan's could have some unique criteria for it. Not the big star who will be a high NBA draft pick, but instead, say... the upperclassman who does all the little things, on or off the score sheet, and whose contribution exceeds his statistics. Just a thought.
We more or less have that concept already. There are five numbers hanging in Crisler, but for four of them, only the "jersey" has been retired - the number is still available. Only Cazzie Russell's #33 is truly retired, apparently.
From what I understand for NCAA basketball you are only allowed to use the digits 0-5 on jerseys for a total of 36 numbers.
Not all the awards have been named for someone (see below). The Iron Man Award might be a good fit for Morgan as he now holds the Michigan record for most games played (140 and counting).
I re-watched the TX game, paying particular attention to the inside. I'm no expert, but it looked to me like J-Mo OWNED Ridley. Morgan consistently kept him off the glass and used his lower body strength to move Ridley around. In the second half, when the pace slowed down and the ref's started calling things differently, Ridley got a few more points and rebounds, but Morgan was still very much in control and very much outplayed him.
I know we've all given a lot of love to Morgan and Horford, and Morgan's been a wonderful senior leader, but I think we've underestimated just how good he is, particularly on the bigger stage. In big games, the man shows up.
I agree. There was that one player where Ridley got the ball on a rebound right underneath the basket. He went to put the ball back up and Morgan was on top of him, literally running his feet, almost like a blocker in football, trying to prevent the 285 lb. Ridley from going up. I was like, "Damn, Morgan really wants this." I actually thought he should have been called for a foul, but I loved the aggression.
I'm not going to rewatch the game, but I was shocked that all the previews were generally "Taylor, Ridley, Taylor, Ridley, Ridley" and I thought he'd be a huge trouble down low but he frankly never was a factor. He rarely did anything worth noting.
The first time I realized it was at the end of the game when I thought "Huh...their bigs really didn't do anything"
The idea that Craft and Morgan are "basically the same" hurts my brain and heart. Sort of like that old commercial on ESPN with a Michigan and OSU fan making out.
To me, the difference is that Morgan has not received the respect he deserves, either from the media or the refs. Craft, well, let's just say that no g/f could ever service him more thoroughly than those two constituencies.
I love what JMo brings to the team . . . his attitude, his presence, his perseverence, his smile, his emotion, his hard work. He has grown and improved so much.
I remember while attending the Big10 Tourney in Chicago last year how Morgan seemed lost. He couldn't catch the ball, couldn't finish, wasn't an asset to the team. How much things have turned around in one year!! Without Morgan, and a bit of assistance from Horford, we wouldn't have a chance against Tennessee. With Morgan, I don't have any fear at all (well, except for stupid refs that call blocks which are actually charges.)
I also love that Morgan has been recognized for his work off the court. As said by others, he is an exemplary "Michigan Man" and has such strong values which are a wonderful part of what he brings to the team.
is the face of the resurgence of Michigan basketball.
I agree with this in a sense. I think Novak was a guy who brought a winning attitude, but I felt like he was always the same player - tough, undersized, a pretty good shooter, but nothing special talent-wise. Morgan is a kid who reshaped his body and has improved at the game of basketball throughout his career.
However, I wonder if Morgan would have the same type of attitude if he hadn't played with a guy like Novak. I really think Novak was the type of guy who affected the younger guys (like Morgan) and taught them how to lead, which Morgan is now doing.
Novak was Phase 1.
Morgan was Phase 2.
Guys like Trey Burke, Caris LeVert, and Nik Stauskas might be Phase 3, guys that are talented but continue to improve throughout their careers.
Bare with me for a moment: Morgan on Criminal Minds is a physically imposing figure for the world of crime fighting. I see J Mo as an underated but very effective defender who helps his team physically anyway he can. Morgan on Criminal Minds has a backround of adversity and has risen like the Phoenix out of the ashes.
As a parallel I think the ashing adversity is well documented that J Mo has risen out of. In the beginning of the Criminal Minds series I saw Morgan as a team member that was more there for women eye candy and his physical prowess in aprehending criminals. Yet when asked to step up as a leader of the team he showed his leadership skills as several episodes showed him working hard on being a better criminal analyst. J Mo worked hard no matter whether he was playing or not and prepared the team for greatness. Morgan's quiet leadership IMHO is the glue to the BAU team. I see this same quality in our J Mo.
So much positive in this thread which is what I and many others on this blog see J Mo being. He is a true winner in life and on the court. I hope he is involved after his career with his alma mata in some capacity after maybe a successful pro career, whether in the NBA or another pro league!
Go Blue!