Lets Get It On: UM hoops vs Indiana, 6:30pm Crisler (B1G Network)
When last we met: These teams were #12 and #13. Then half a B1G schedule happened. Now you can pretty much add 10 to those rankings. Indiana beat Michigan by a bucket thanks to 25 points from Christian Whatford and some ridiculous Assembly Hall officiating.
Now the tables have turned, and Michigan enters the game as 3pt favorites. The B1G has shaken out as a battle for second, a lot like we thought it would. And with MSU and Illinois doing their best to set basketball back half a century http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=320310356 Michigan is shaking out as the favorite for that second spot. (You can make an argument for Wiscy here too...but I've seen them in person, and to say I came away unimpressed would be an understatement). But to have a shot to even the score against Ohio, or even to tread water near the top of the B1G standings, Michigan is going to have to win at home.
Michigan should have the advantage in scoring and rebounding, but the hoosiers are projected to protect the ball a little better. http://accuscore.com/game-forecast-previews/college-basketball/indiana-michigan/2-1-2012/gameid,4142/ Jon Horford will not play on Wednesday. Beilein stated that he has been cleared to practice in half court drills, but that Horford has attempted to run full court and "That didn't go well". Whether this is more of an injury issue or a conditioning issue remains to be seen.
Predictions: I like Michigan in a squeaker. Indiana can be a terror when their shots are falling, but I like our defense to irritate them enough at home to put them off their game. I'm looking for a game in the 60's with double doubles from Morgan and Novak. Lets go blue!
February 1st, 2012 at 8:58 AM ^
With Michigan State losing last night (feel bad for Green, not the way to go out), hopefully Michigan can pull off a win tonight to keep our B1G championship hopes alive.
February 1st, 2012 at 9:05 AM ^
Here comes the MaizeRage.
February 1st, 2012 at 9:07 AM ^
His comments last night were even more ridiculous.. This dude accepts zero responsibility... "Draymon was sick all week and let it get to him"... Wtf? Shocker a sick kid who felt... Sick. What a douche
February 1st, 2012 at 9:12 AM ^
Someone needs to go back through his post-game pressers and check if he has ever lost a game when it wasn't the offical's fault.
February 1st, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^
an attempted thread jack at all, (and for the record I like Michigan big tonight), but Izzo really is not presenting himself well right now. His sideline antics are becomming ridiculous, he freaks out all the time and just will not leave officials alone, all game. His disposition after losses is really becomming immature, like more than usual, he acts like a pouting child and throws whoever is available under the bus. I don't know about that guy, don't know if he is enjoying what he is doing right now at all and it looks to be rubbing off on his players. You have to wonder, Lucous and Summers basically quit last year, his players are not getting themselves in shape to play, nobody on that team looks to be having any fun at all. I know the are ranked and have had some nice wins, but I don't know if Izzo is bringing what he used to to the table. There seems to be a huge disconnect between he and his players. I think an era might be ending sooner than we thought.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^
can only hope!
Don't forget Nix and Payne being completely out of shape, this after Nix promised to get in shape at the end of last season.
Appling is just not as good as they were trying to make him
Trice and Kearney aren't ready to contribute as freshman
The hurt guy that would be sniping 3's if only...
The incidents with Summers and Allen and the thing with Lucious. How good would that team be with Lucious? How good would they be if they had Lucious, Nix and Payne were in shape, DayDay was healthy, with Appling.
All that has gone to hell with mismanagement. Izzo takes none of the blame, but he really is. Where is the depth on that team?
February 1st, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^
Not sure if you are serious, but I'll respond thinking you are. Payne has showed significant improvement. Nix is leaps and bounds better than he was last season. Appling has been playing point guard for 3 months. I'll agree with you about Trice and Kearney being a bit sheepish.
I would say Wood was a better upgrade piece than Lucious, but has been fading in B10 play.
This team was also projected to have Delvon Roe and Dwuan Anderson (highly touthed freshman guard who de-committed). I don't think depth is the problem at all. We have 5 guards (Appling, Trice, Kearney, Wood, Thornton) and 5 bigs (Green, Nix, Payne, Gauna, Dawson) that get consistent minutes. If I was told yesterday morning that our leading scorer would play 20% of the game, and we would still lose by 1 at Assembly Hall, I would've told I would've been happy with the effort.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
was more about Izzo himself. He is painful to watch during games and in post-game pressers. I used to think it was his just his disposition, but his reaction and the way he holds himself out evidence complete exasperation, even despair. This used to come across as intensity, now he just seems to be a coach in agony. About what exactly, I'm not quite sure, but many of the traiits I found very likeable and respectable about him seem lacking i.e. crediting opponents, genuine attempts to teach in game, and just the overall love for coaching that I think he has shown for a lot of his career. In other words, he looks burned out.
February 1st, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
I am going by Izzo's words, not stuff that I'm making up. Izzo has constantly criticized Payne and Nix publicly for being out of shape. Yes, Nix has improved, but he is still completely out of shape. Izzo has talked about his players being tired. Is Nix in better shape? Yes. Is Nix in good shape for a d1 bball player at what is supposed to be one of the best programs in the nation? No! He's a 20 year old d1 basketball player. He has absolutely no excuse to be that fat and out of shape. Draymond is a senior and is still out of shape. Izzo is the one complaining about depth. Look at all the freshmen and sophomores he is running out there.
We were told by Sparty all year that Appling would be super-awesome. He's decent.
Injuries and decommits happen. Welcome to the party, see Dion Harris, Lester Abram, Chris Hunter, etc. and any number of players that committed to Michigan and then changed. You're not going to get any pity here. None was given to Michigan when it happened to them and none should be given from any UM fans. I am actually kind of suprised at the number of Michgian fans that have spoken out that they feel bad for DayDay. I'm not happy he's hurt, but I'm not sad either. That shoe has been on the MIchigan foot so much in the past, that I truly do not feel for any team that is going through a couple of injuries, especially after the torment given to Michigan fan during their troubles.
Trice and Kearney are no Trey Burke.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^
and it's worked for him for a while.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^
To be fair, those were his comments addressing the Draymond technical foul in the first half. He said Green is a leader and is more mature than that. He wasn't feeling well and let it get to him and picked up the T.
February 1st, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^
Michigan is 6-4 ATS at home; Indiana is 3-3-1 ATS on the road. Line has gone from Michigan by 2.5 to Michigan by 4. Realtimerpi.com has Michigan by 11 (80-69).
Michigan should cover against an IU team whose best road win is at Raleigh. Oh, and who can forget, Michigan is undefeated at home this year.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^
What a great MIchigan day - National Signing Day and a good basketball game. I love this day.
February 1st, 2012 at 10:08 AM ^
It will be my first MBB game ever. I'm hoping to see two things. First, a Novak 3 pointer. Second, a Novak dunk.
February 1st, 2012 at 11:05 AM ^
Does anyone have two tickets? Can pay cash in hand tonight..
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