MBB vs. Indiana Open Thread
Go Blue, beat IU!
Storylines:
- Michigan attempts to end its three game losing streak
- Novak and Douglass return to their home state
• Radio: Michigan Sports Marketing (IMG)
• Detroit: WWJ (950 AM) | Ann Arbor: WWWW (102.9 FM) | WOMC 104.3 FM
• Internet: MGoBlue.com | Sirius: 90 (U-M broadcast) | XM: 143 (IU broadcast)
• U-M Radio: Matt Shepard (p-by-p) & David Merritt (analyst)
• Television Broadcast: Big Ten Network | Eric Collins (p-by-p) & Quinn Buckner (analyst)
After beginning the season 9-2, Tom Crean’s Indiana squad has since hit a slide, dropping its last six contests. After two tough losses at the Las Vegas Classic to Northern Iowa (67-61) and Colorado (78-69), the Hoosiers have lost each of their fi rst four Big Ten contests to Penn State (69-60), Ohio State (85-67), Minnesota (67-63) and Northwestern (93-81). Indiana holds a 9-8 overall record (0-4 Big Ten).
Under John Beilein, the Wolverines are 2-2 against the Hoosiers, with the teams splitting their matchups last season. In 2009-10, Michigan fell at Assembly Hall in their Big Ten opener, 71-65 (Dec. 31), but came away victorious in Ann Arbor, 69-45 (Jan. 14). This season, the Hoosiers are led by sophomore Christian Watford, who leads Indiana with 16.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
- Michigan will play three of its next four games, and expanding further fi ve of its next seven, on the road, starting with a game at Indiana (Jan. 15). Michigan had played 10 of its last 11 games in Crisler Arena, going 7-3 at home in that stretch.
- Three of Michigan's six losses this season have come against three of top-fi ve ranked programs in the nation. U-M lost by just three to No. 4 Syracuse (53-50), lost by seven in overtime to No. 3 Kansas (67-60) and by just four to No. 2 Ohio State (68-64).
- In conference play, Michigan is shooting a league-best 89.2 percent (33-of-37) from the free throw line in Big Ten games and is 47-of-54 (87 percent) over the last five games.
- Overall, Michigan is second in the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (73.1 percent) and has two players in the top-10 in the conference in free-throw percentage. Tim Hardaway Jr. is eighth in the conference (81.5 percent) while Darius Morris ranks 10th in the league (76.8 percent).
- U-M coach John Beilein needs to coach 15 more games to reach 1,000 total contests in his 33-year career. At the current pace, the 1,000th game will be the Wolverines' opening game at the 2011 Big Ten Tournament.
- With 131 three-point fi eld goals, Stu Douglass is eighth all-time at U-M. Douglass needs four to move into seventh (Glen Rice, 135).
January 16th, 2011 at 9:23 AM ^
That's right we haven't beaten anybody. Our best win is Clemson or PSU who we struggled to beat at home. IU is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten and they kicked our a**. I know the team is young, but that isn't necessarily a deterrent in hoops.
It was interesting when they were talking about JB working with Morgan on the 17 foot jumper. I have two issues with this- when he's on the floor he's generally our only post threat so lets move him away from the basket (0 rebounds the first ten minutes) and maybe JB should spend time working with the guys launching the threes we shoot a ton of them and make very few.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^
shot, everybody heads back down court to play defense and no one goes to the boards
January 15th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
Killing Michigan off the dribble in their man to man.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^
but man to man is predicated on help, too. If the help isn't there (see #4 weave thru 3 guys and slam it with no one around him), it's going to be tough.
Have to have more length to play the 1-3-1 well. Michigan doesn't have it.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
some guys look disinterested
January 15th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
I'm so depressed... ugh.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
try whiskey or beer that may help.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:22 PM ^
First there is a blatant travel on the "power hop" then the next possesion the guy takes 2 steps. Call an effing travel!
January 15th, 2011 at 9:24 PM ^
Has turned into watching GB-ATL, flicking to this.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:41 PM ^
P.S. Matty Ice just threw a godawful pick 6 to end the 1st half
January 15th, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^
thought they would never call it
January 15th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
If you are at this game, its your Fandom Endurance III badge, basketball edition.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
Beilein won't last too much longer here. Brandon is going to put "his" stamp on the coaching staffs. Not just the football team.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^
Dave Brandon saying he fully supported the direction the program was going and looked forward to where beilein would take the program in the future, right?
January 15th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
Dave Brandon has the keys to this program, not you. I'm sure he also reserves the right to change his mind and do what is best for "Michigan", right? Is this game indictative of the direction this program is going? Maybe, maybe not, but Beilein has had longer than RROD to produce and I think you know what happened there, right?
January 15th, 2011 at 9:49 PM ^
Glick Field House + Oosterbaan + 2 outdoor practice fields > having to practice in the shit-hole that is Crisler. How do you recruit to that when MSU is just down the road repping a very nice practice facility? Hopefully the new player develpment center helps this out. I say give him a few years with the new facilities and then evaluate him.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
I would love to see an actual fast break run the right way with players filling appropriate lanes and going to the rim instead of hanging back for three pointers. When you are down 20, 2 points work just as well as 3. Arghhhh!!!!!!!
January 15th, 2011 at 9:31 PM ^
Guys, it's okay to take a shot inside the arc.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
3 shots in the possession, all three's, all clankers with open space to the hoop.
But, 2 offensive rebounds and lots of gritty play.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
If nothing else, this game is unfolding very similarly to the game here two years ago, in which we rallied and won in OT.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
Time for Tim Hardaway to take ova
January 15th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
is the one that sounds nervous.... all the giddy laughing like a school girl has been replaced with nervous announcing.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
That's what happens when you don't settle for 3's!
January 15th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
lets go
January 15th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
I turned on the tv and we are catching up. Not moving from this couch
January 15th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
is much better in transition, not in the half court. I think with this group they should run a ton more than they do. They have the legs and athleticism.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
January 15th, 2011 at 9:41 PM ^
I like to overreact too! ANGAR!
January 15th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
Can we retire "ANGAR"? It's annoying.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
I guess that's true. I'll do my best to phase it out of my vocabulary, but it is a good substitute for "derp" every once in a while...
January 15th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
I'm pretty annoyed by just about every internet meme repeatedly posted on this site.
For example, I'd be thrilled if I never had to see another person type, "I can haz -----------".
January 16th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
Our hoops team really isn't getting it done. It's disappointing. We need to see how the rest of the year shakes out before drawing conclusions, however.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
you're wrong. Beilein is a good coach. I don't know why they don't run a few more sets on offense.
January 16th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
Or rebounding, etc. When you're streaky it is tough to watch sometimes.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
with yet another night to forget
January 15th, 2011 at 9:41 PM ^
Best year was his Fr year. Just needs to be a spot up in the corner or wing. He can shoot off screens but he is a spot up shooter.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
No, he's easily having his best season this year. Unfortunately, he's been in a slump over the past week or so.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
On stats, it's nearly a push. I basing my comment more on expectations than data. He is up a point on avg but down in assist -turnover ration (lowest of the three yrs). He is up in FG% from 2 and 3, so that is good.
I just thought he'd provide a bit more than he has.
Thanks
January 15th, 2011 at 9:53 PM ^
but whatever, just keep neggin me .... loving it.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
Now I see why a lot of opposing schools hate us. We really are that arrogant. So many people think our bball team should be the shit and gets pissed when we don't win, but not many people are willing to look into why we aren't winning. I know I may be preaching to the choir a bit here since a lot of people here are willing to be logical, but I just need to vent.
Our basketball facilities blow hard. Like a lot, but not many people are willing to acknowledge this. Most people just bitch about Beilein not getting it done and just assume that our BBall has good facilites because we are Michigan and have the best everything...Before the player development center was being built, our facilites couldn't hold a candle to MSU's. So how the hell is Beilein supposed to recruit in-state when MSU's facilities are 10x nicer?
I need a drink.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:49 PM ^
This is a big part of it. Talked a while ago to a girl that was being recruited by MSU (not for basketball), and they took her on a tour of everything and she said it's just absurd how nice everything is.
It's really unfortunate how neglected our bball facilities have been, but it just wasn't a focus there for a while. Once the player development center is done and we get some much needed improvements to Crisler I think it will be a lot easier to bring in some top talent.
And let's not forget AGAIN that this team is insanely young, and there are a couple of great players coming in again next year.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
I dont think anyone expects us to compete with MSU right now. However, we shouldn't be one of the worst teams in the big ten in year 4 under JB.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
By that last Big Ten title in 1986.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
like forever ago
January 15th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
I don't think Beilein should be fired, but if people need to vent about today, let them vent. This is a bad, bad performance - the worst of the season.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
NCAA hopes lost, NIT hopes fading, I just hope we can pull off some big wins and go for it all next year, these guys just need more experiance, in two years we could be really good, even without Zack and Stu.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
Right, because the season is over and there's no way they could, you know, play well... It's not like they competed down to the wire with three undefeated teams or anything. We might as well board up Crisler until next year.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Everyone is frustrated. But do you really think this team will win more than 6 big ten games?
January 15th, 2011 at 10:00 PM ^
I don't know, but the instantaneous ditching of the entire season because of one game really grinds my gears. It happens every single time we lose, and while things aren't looking great for an NCAA tourney bid right now there are all kinds of people who have already decided that the team sucks and we should fire Beilein.
January 15th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
I get it. I haven't really liked the Beilein hire from the get-go, but I understand people that would like to see him have more time, and he does deserve at least 5 years. I think the overriding feeling of people that follow basketball more than catching an occasional game here and there, is that we have been in this rut, save the 08-09 season for quite a while, and we don't seem to be climbing out of it. It's frustrating, people overreact.