December 14th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
to a great team. However, I would like to see Walton play less, give more minutes to Spike and have Caris play the point more when needed. Walton just needs to be brought along more slowly, his play really hurt us, when he was in the game I feel like his +/- was in the negative in a big way, I wonder if someone can confirm that.
We will get better, just sucks to lose.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
Couldn't agree more! Walton will continue to improve but the drop off from Spike to Walton seems pretty substantial.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
Love Spkie, but he is really overmatched defensively a good bit and it causes breakdowns. Some AZ dunks were the result of someone blowing by him.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
Yea, that I gotta agree with that. He certainly could use some work defensively but man, seeing Walton "run" the offense is just, I don't even know the order, dysfunctional ? Again, I think Walton is improving and will contiune to improve but against the best, I just don't think he's ready yet.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 5:52 PM ^
I always wondered if one of the reason's Burke was so great in the end of the KU game was because he tried to hero it so much over the course of the year. Worth the trade off if that's the case.
December 15th, 2013 at 5:27 AM ^
big D breakdowns by all of our backcourt players. this allowed countless drives and dishes for easy buckets, especially in the second half. all of the levert and irvin hype about how good their D is. well, i don't see it. like many past players have said, it takes a solid year to "get" beilein's D. well, walton, levert and irvin need to pick it up before this team becomes elite. the O was outstanding today. the D sucked.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
is a complete sucker
December 14th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^
Michigan lost because they couldn't be bothered to have a live pep band at a freaking home game against the #1 team in the country, because money or something.
I know that's not really true at all, but that's the sort of "karma" Michigan got today.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
The blocking call sucks but our rebounding was atrocious. Against a lesser opponent it probably doesn't hurt as bad, but against the #1 team, they'll take advantage of it.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^
I think Spike should be starting, at least for the next few weeks. Walton seems to be still learning the offense and it grinds to a halt too often when he's in there.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^
fuck sports. fuck refs. fuck 2013
December 14th, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
Well, it wasn't all bad - we did have a Final Four run in there.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
It was a very good effort and felt like a win for a long time, and it's deflating not to pull it out at home. They are not quite ready for prime time...It's too bad Spike can't play defense like Walton or Walton can't play offense like Spike...McGary still doesn't look healthy...The call on Big Mitch was a good reminder that college basketball will make you feel like a chump for caring about it from time to time...Caris LeVert had some nice moments, as did a lot of guys. This day wasn't a total wash.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
First, I'd say that Arizona is absolutely NOT a #1 quality team. We got a chance for a relatively easy resume builder over a #1 at home, and we blew it. Maybe Arizona had a bad game, but I didn't see much more than a team with size abusing a soft interior defense for Michigan. Florida State did the same thing to us. A lot of Big Ten teams will do the same.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^
about Carolina's.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
yeah, losing a non conference game in basketball isnt that bad. especially when its to the #1 team in the country. That being said, Michigan seemed to give this game away late. Arizona couldn't miss and that foul call on Mitch was tuuuuurible. I hate that they are 6-4, but the losses arent bad. Side bar....They need to change the jump ball/possetion arrow rule in college basketball. I still feel that this team will be much better in february and march than it is now. Where did GR3 go in the second half. Just like last year.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
Yeah Arizona played well, but had too many easy baskets. Need to play better team defense and I'm not sure if McGary got as many minutes as he should have, despite Horford playing pretty well. He also needed more touches on offense. It sucks that we still don't have a 4 to fit our offense. We should be able to compete with everyone in Big Ten play, but it's going to be a tough season. Hopefully they keep improving. Walton is really struggling. Hopefully he can gain some confidence before the end of the year, but it's nice to see Spike playing well.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:22 PM ^
Watching this football, and now basketball team is rough. Feels like I keep getting dumped by a girlfriend or something. Damn things seemed so bright in Michigan sports just a little while ago. Good news is this game means nothing, and this team can get better and make a deep run in March.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^
At times, I found Beilein's "if player X commits foul then immediately sit player X" approach frustating and I wonder if it hampered ability for team to get in rhythm.
On better note, I think team played much better today and has an even higher ceiling. Future is bright.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^
Just a short time ago this would have been a blowout loss. It's like some of you are Michigan fans in a bubble, where the only context you have is last year's tournament.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
College sports has escalated quickly into a "what have you done for me lately?" mentality for the past few years now.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^
in this history of college athletics have fans been upset over an underachieving team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
The point is that it isn't particularly clear that they ARE underachieving. I've received a lot of push back for this, but I'm not convinced that this team/ program is in the top tier of the conference yet.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^
you're telling me that a team that returns 3 starters from a NCG run, with two of them being guys who returned despite being projected as lottary picks, didn't expect to do better than 6-4 at this point?
December 14th, 2013 at 2:53 PM ^
I don't think we were as good last year as the NCG run suggests. Certainly didn't look near as good in the regular season. Even so, the contributions of the 2 that didn't return can't be stressed enough.
December 14th, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:30 PM ^
Going 0.500 in Big Ten play likely does not get us to the Tournament. And the Big Ten is tough. Last year's world beaters went 12-6. We shall see.
December 14th, 2013 at 4:58 PM ^
I realize we have a number of real basketball fans and this does not apply to any of you. But....
In defense of the fans you reference, a lot of the people who are outraged have been M basketball fans for 1 to 4 years now and will admit as much. That's why you will see comments like "I have always been a football fan but really started to watch Michigan basketball recently . . ." Look at how the ticket demand has escalated and we sell out most games now.
Don't really remember much with the fab 5, but started following shortly after. 2002-2006 started going to games and you could just show up to any game and get a ticket. Remember going to the 2006 NIT game against UTEP and there were not more than 2,000 people there. Also remember back in 2006 when I was a freshman, my buddies and I got season tickets and went to almost every game. The stadium was never really sold out, except for MSU and maybe Ohio. When Duke came to town was another. There was plenty of space to roam around in the student bleachers for most of the games.
Point being, the only context a lot of Micihgan baskeball fans have is the last few years in a bubble. So the answer to your question is yes. Thus, no appreciation for where we are at right now as a program. Remember that watershed 2009 tournament selection show when we finally saw our name called after so many years of seing our name only on the bubble lists? Yea, a lot of people don't because they were not following yet.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^
Also thought we could've forced more turnovers. Offense looked pretty crisp, was getting decent looks, and Stauskas/Levert/GR3 were all making NBA drives.
Team will be there and it's all about matchups. One thing I noticed about last year's team is they struggled against teams who controlled both areas of the glass. Sometimes teams will only be good at defensive or offensive rebounding. Arizona is good at both. Just a thing to look at when viewing matchups.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
the difference...they made ALL of their free throws (except the intentional one at the end).
December 14th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
Well, enjoy being mad. It's sports, it's what you signed up for.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
making the tournaent..0 quality wins now looking have to win 11-12 in B10 ...Im sorry but I do NOT see this team winning 4 or 5 on the road...no way...
December 14th, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^
If that's what it takes we are on the ropes. Last year's team went 12-6.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
Burned by a questionable call at the end. Honestly this was the best looking game from this team this year. Zona made some adjustments and came out strong in the second half, as you would expect them to. If that foul doesn't get called, or Caris grabs that board, Michigan wins.
This one was tough, but if you look at the losses so far there isn't one to be ashamed of. Iowa St. on the road (undefeated), Duke on the road (nobody is allowed to win there), a loss on the third day of a tournament that took place outside of this country, on a buzzer beater, and a home loss to the number one and undefeated Wildcats. As long as we keep improving we'll be fine.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:31 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:40 PM ^
The problem is there wasn't enough time to keep competing. If it had happened with like 60 seconds left, fine, man up and finish the game. But that call essentially turned it into a free throw shooting contest with Arizona being spotted one point.
I do agree about the mental composure though, there were times when our guys tried to do a little too much. But the only way to get better at that is to live through it, and in the past year and a half nobody on this team really did because, as you alluded to, the ball would be in Burke's hands.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:25 PM ^
As soon as they mentioned Brian Ellerbe the game went downhill for Michigan.
Go back and check the clock. It's eerie.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^
OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!
My dong hurts.