Michigan a 6 seed in latest Joe Lunardi Bracketology

Submitted by amaizenblue402 on

Michigan has jumped to a 6 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology. If they keep playing like they have been, they'll be a dangerous out.

Purdue is now a 1, MSU is a 3 and OSU is a 6.

To think that we could very easily be undefeated in the B1G right now. Should have beat both OSU and Purdue. Huge games that we "should have" won.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Remember the Alamo

January 15th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^

Very interesting. I think they could end up as high as a 4 and no lower than a 7. We can definitely do some damage and could beat a top seed with a hot shooting night. Really looking forward to the Osu game again.

Perkis-Size Me

January 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^

Oh, you don't know about MGoBlog's fine hazing tradition? Let me break down some of the highlights for you:

Post a thread about something that's already been posted? That's a paddlin'. 

Approve of WD's wardrobe and clothes hangers? That's a paddlin'.

Bring up anymore MSU 3-9 jokes? That's a paddlin'.

Bring up politics and/or religion? Ohh you'd better believe that's a paddlin'.

TrueBlue2003

January 15th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^

that's about a good as we could get from a 3-seed.  They're not that good.  They beat us at home on the nat'l title banner raising day on a bounce-back from the MSU loss (you're big on the bounce-back games) in our annual road game in which we don't put in a good effort on the road.

They've since lost to Wofford and FSU.  With Livers playing the majority of minutes on Maye (as opposed to what we had on him the first time around), on a neutral court, I would welcome this matchup.

In reply to by ijohnb

BassDude138

January 15th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^

Both teams were on fire early in that game. Michigan couldn't keep up that pace and UNC couldn't miss, which is when they pulled away before the half. It was even in the second half. UNC came into that game after getting curb-stomped by sparty, and were at home. At that time we were still trying to figure out what Michigan was as a team.

In reply to by ijohnb

GoBLUE_SemperFi

January 15th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^

...Michigan was 7 of 14 from 3 and made 7 of 12 of their 2s, missed both of their only free throw attempts.  Conversely, NC was 5 of 9 from 3 and 13 of 18 inside the arc and made 5 of 6 free throws.  Based on that, Michigan should have been down by more than 20, heck of a shooting half by NC.

It was only their 8th game and their first true road game.  I'm thinking that things might look a little different, a second time around, on a neutral court.

FauxMo

January 15th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^

I want to believe MSU is falling apart after the last week, and I would love that. But why do I have a feeling Izzo will have them playing like world beaters come tourney. I am not saying I think they'll win it all - I don't think that at all - but I could see them as a 1 or 2-seed and a "darkhorse" pick for winning the whole thing. 

DavidP814

January 15th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^

Because Izzo will have them tournament-ready by March.  But Beilein should have this team cranking on all cylinders by March too.  538 did an analysis of the top NCAA Tourney overperformers a few years back, and both Beilein and Izzo were right at the top of the list.

Double-D

January 15th, 2018 at 2:29 PM ^

tighter rules. He has done well in March because the aggressive nature of tournament “ let em play” takes hold.

They have a weak schedule that will allow them to work out the kinks potentially but there is a serious chink in the armor. If only the Big was not so porous this year.

Izzo is on meltdown watch defcon 3.

Gulo Gulo Luscus

January 15th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^

the original nate silver piece was published in 2010. that was apex izzo, his 6th final four in 15 seasons. if you can stomach it, 538 used the same "wins above expected" regression to declare in 2015: "Tom Izzo Is The Best Coach In Modern NCAA Tournament History — By Far." at that time, beilein was 8th on the list.

i didn't see any update for 2016, but izzo going down to MTSU is gonna hurt his WAE. not sure on beilein winning the play-in game, but his WAE didn't get worse. last year beilein picks up some more points while izzo breaks even at best.

it's an interesting way to evaluate and izzo deserves his reputation as a great. but 7 final fours and only 1 title is a fair knock against him and in this metric coach k's 4 titles appear basically meaningless because they're always a top seed and have faced some early exits. pretty big stretch to use this particular analysis to call him "the best."

Perkis-Size Me

January 15th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

And even if they do, so what? 

If MSU starts setting the world on fire, Michigan has already beaten them and has a GREAT resume-builder for the tournament. And if they fall apart, we get to revel in their misery. Much like they do with watching our football team for the better part of the last decade. 

No matter what MSU does from here on out, it's win-freakin'-win for Michigan. 

Maizeblue11

January 15th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^

Just creates hype and revenue. Whether we are seeded as a No. 2 seed or No. 11 seed, it shouldn't affect how well the team plays. Just win the damn games.

Maizeblue11

January 15th, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^

We won't be a 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 seed, so we won't have to worry about playing a juggernaut in the first round. Teams from the 6 to 11 seed range are all pretty equal in talent. Last year three No. 6 seeds lost to an 11 seed in the first round. 

Maizeblue11

January 15th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^

Whether we are a 6 seed or an 11 seed, we will still have to play a 3 seed in the second round.

Whether we are a 7 seed or a 10 seed, we will still have to play a 2 seed in the second round.

Whether we are an 8 seed or a 9 seed, we will still have to play a 1 seed in the second round. 

 

The seeding doesn't affect the difficulty of the tournament schedule, unless you are a 1-4 seed. Which we will not be.

In reply to by Maizeblue11

Pepper Brooks

January 15th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^

 a 6 seed would play a 3 seed in the 2nd round, where an 8 or 9 seed would play a 1 seed.  Therefore, a 6 seed has a better chance of making the sweet 16 than an 8 or 9 seed, right?  We should be pleased with moving up the seed line, correct?

In reply to by Maizeblue11

snarling wolverine

January 15th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

Here's the thing.  The objective is to get as easy a draw in the opening weekend as possible.  From the Sweet 16 onward is a crapshoot.  It's harder to project that far, and you're probably going to play a good team by then, regardless.

Also, this year we have a chance to play the first two rounds in Detroit if we're a high enough seed.

snarling wolverine

January 15th, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^

It's also possible that the 3 seed will be upset by the 14 in the first round  (happens once in a while) whereas the 1 seed has literally never lost to the 16.  

So besides getting an easier first-round game, being the 6 seed could potentially bring you a favorable second-round matchup whereas the 8 seed is virtually guaranteed a brutal one.

 

MGoBlue7523

January 15th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^

With Hollis having a very influential seat, they'll find a way to underseed us and give us a very difficult region. MSU will get seeded in the least daunting of the 4 regions. As usual. Izzo should be very thankful for all the seeds and matchups Hollis has got him over the years.

Hotel Putingrad

January 15th, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^

and Simpson taking care of the ball, we could do some real damage in March. we're playing excellent team defense right now. Also, having two guys who can take over a game offensively in Wagner and Matthews is a nice insurance policy for bad officiating.

Jangalang

January 15th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^

I also like how we were able to withstand some of the bigs getting into early foul trouble.  That was one thing I was worried about going into Saturday's game. 

There were 3 fouls on Teske and 1 on Wagner before the first TV timeout (I was surprised that Beilein left Teske in after 2)...hell MSU was in the bonus by the 15 minute mark after Davis got his first.