Michigan vs. Illinois Open Thread
February 16th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
Why in the world is Smotz shooting that shot. I understand he had a good look, but the ball doesn't even need to go into his hands in that situation. Unreal
February 16th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
NOOOOOOOOO *sob*
February 16th, 2011 at 10:30 PM ^
Well we shouldn't have even been in this game with the way we were shooting. I hate to see it end like that but I'm not even sure how we were within 5 points for most of the game. If we would have hit a few more 3's this game was ours....why didn't smot drive to the bucket on that last shot!?!?! no one was there!!!!! ahhhh
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
We were in this game because Illinois is in a tailspin. It sucks we couldn't take advantage of it.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
has little experience in that situation with the clock expiring. Any other starter minus Morgan is a better option there. Hopefully Smot can learn from that. &%$&^#
a win there would put us in 4th place in the league.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
falling away trying to hit that! damn. Good attempt, Blue. We had 2 looks to finish the game on the road down by 2. Gotta learn to finish there.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
I would've been happier if Smotrycz wasn't on the floor at the end of the game. He had a very freshman game from start to finish. Frustrating decision making.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
FUCK.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
But if they play like that the rest of the way, they'll still have a fighting chance at the dance. Play to the wire at Illinois, that level will win a lot of games at home.
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<br>Oh, well, how's Top Chef going....?
February 16th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
If we keep up this play or even elevate it just a bit, I like our chances to be a bubble team.
Don't tell me I have it set to record.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
That's all I'll say.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Still an outside chance for the dance!
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
He should have driven, had a clear path to the basket, all we needed was 2.
GODDAMMIT I HATE THESE TYPE OF LOSSES !!@@#@$#@
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
I said "don't shoot it, don't shoot it, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu arghhhhh........"
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
omg smotz so open to drive
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
is it me or did it look like Smotz had a clear lane to the rim after he pump faked.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
Damn.....Illinois gave us a lot of chances to win that game, and we blew them all.
Still a decent effort in a tough place to play.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
February 16th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
No reason he should have the ball in that situation in the first place.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
story of the season....fought hard, kept it close, but not enough in the end...great effort and the team needs to keep building momentum. Still alot of basketball left to be played!
February 16th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
I hope you're joking. I don't see ANY way we make our way into the tourney now, with what Wisconsin and State left at home. These guys don't deserve anything I thought they did.... No ranking, no awards, nothing.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
Hey Evan, just a thought when you have a clear path to the basket, you and everyone else on your team hasn't made a 3 all night and you're down 2 on the road with a chance to send the game into O-T, you might want to take the ball to the bucket!!!!!
And, that last shot, I literally slumped in my chair at work and let out a groan. Heartbreaking that it was so very, very close.
But you can't shoot 2-17 from 3 and win on the road.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
but you CAN shoot 3-17 from 3 and win on the road
So close
February 16th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
3-17? Now that's a ridiculous assertion.
February 16th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
If they had shot 3-17 tonight, they would've won the game.
So, yea.
There it is.
Consider your understanding of basketball rocked.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
Or 2 for 19 thats what the final box score is claiming
February 17th, 2011 at 9:23 AM ^
It was 2 for 17 before the last 2 missed shots.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
I apologize to my keyboard for my facebook-reaction to this game. I'll try not to hurt it like this again.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
They were clearly going for the win there at the end, but Smot taking that shot?? Even though Stu struggled mightily, i would have preferred him for a 3, he is cold blooded.
Now they pretty much need to win out in the regular season.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
They might have been thinking that Smotz is the only person with the length to create his own uncontested 3. Still though, he should have gone to the basket after the pump.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
If you're Coach B, what do you say to the Wolverines right now in the locker room?
February 16th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
Through the end of the season and we may get an invite.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^
You all should have made your 3s tonight. We would have had a better chance of winning.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
ultimately still not enough. Good job, but not great job. Let's give this loss more value by learning for the next road game at Iowa. Gotta get the win there.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
is my goddamn Johnnie Walker Red?
February 17th, 2011 at 2:13 AM ^
I'm guessing it's something along the lines of:
"Guys, you gave a good effort tonight; don't hang your heads. If you keep playing hard and stay focused, we're gonna pull out a few of these. It just wasn't our turn tonight."
There are many variations of this speech, but you can't really beat on a team that almost pulls out a tough road win and comes up short. Especially with a young team, you have to keep their confidence up and get them ready for the next game.
I'm sticking to my guns and saying this is a NIT team anyway. I think they could get to the Garden with even a semi-decent draw.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^
It might not matter, but we are one of the top 64+3 teams in the country for sure, imo.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
Tough for young teams to win on the road. That's just life.
We still have a chance to make the tourney.
And hey, just watching meaningful Michigan basketball games in February is worth the price of admission.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
I hope they can rebound and give that kind of effort against iowa
February 16th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
February 16th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
I always hate blaming these kids and I know Morris was out for a long time in the 2nd.
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<br>BUT JESUS THE WAY DOUGLASS PLAYED D HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE ON THE COURT!
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<br>ARGGGHHHHHHH
February 16th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
We have a MUST Win at iowa on saturday, thats for sure. Listening to Ill. schedule we could def catch up to them, but hopefully our boys can let this one go and not go into iowa with there heads down and get a win. It's def. no gimme any place is tough to win on the road in the Big Ten, look at msu going into iowa and losing by 20
February 16th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
You're still hanging on to that whole NCAA nonsense? Even 20 wins won't get it done because this team will have no wins against Top 25 teams. NIT. Maybe.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
Really all of the games haven't been played and we still play Wisc. a top 25 team who we could beat. So to stay in any kind of consideration yes its a must win at Iowa because thats not a lose you can have on ur resume even for the NIT. But hell whats wrong with the NIT either.....Every analyst had this team finishing at the bottom of the big ten with 3 freshman starting so any end of the yr tourny is something to get excited about....way to be a debbie downer
February 16th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
NIT, definitely. All of the NCAA talk has been a little far-fetched IMO, but this board needs to calm down. Illinois was the game where we had the least win probability and it came down to the last possession.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
OK, we get it. You're annoying.
February 16th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
2 for 18 from downtown?
Blech.