Observations from Carver Hawkeye Arena

I don't think anyone expected Big Ten champs, but it's still very frustrating to see the team continue to shoot so poorly from long range and refuse to adapt.  They should not be shooting significantly more threes than twos, and the defense outside of the Wisconsin game has been mediocre.  They need to respond Tuesday.

but it sure did raise my blood pressure and stress levels

Seriously, people need to calm down.  This happens - the Big 10 is probably the best conference in basketball, and so that means sometimes you lose a game against a team you shouldn't, but it also means you blow out a ranked team at home when the score should be closer.  This team does not have much of an inside presence, but it didn't last year and really hasn't since the Traylor/Taylor years.  It will get better.

I also wonder if the team was looking ahead to MSU a bit.  No excuse, but I expect a better effort next game.

I'm thinking 5 games in 13 days might have something to do with it.  If it was a team full of upperclassmen it might not have been an issue.  I've been wondering if Burke would hit the schedule-induced wall at some point, especially with all the minutes he's been playing.  After the OT win Wednesday night, my first thought was "they're going to have a tough time at Iowa" with about 2 days, one of those traveling.  To me everyone just looked fatigued, slow, lost, out of sync, etc.  This is why the B1G is tough.  Not the end of the world though, as tough as that was to watch.  Looks like growing pains.  They'll get used to it and get better.

I know people won't want to believe this, but they were worn out today.  They're on a span of 5 games in 13 days.  It was a poor performance, but we're going to have to let a few slide, this being one of them.  Beilein will rally the team, they'll come out gunning again soon and then everyone can jump back on the bandwagon.  Go Blue.

The team overall was very careless with the ball, and looked pretty slow and not very intense on defense, particularly in the first half.

Last year Morris and Morgan would kill teams with Morgan setting high screens and then rolling, slipping the screen, or Morris driving into the paint.  I did not see very much if any of that this year.  Does that have something to do with it taking time for Burke and Morgan to develop chemistry, or something to do with Burke's size?  Why not have Hardaway or Novak run the same thing with Morgan?

First of all, the early fouls on Burke, especially the second one, which wouldn't have been called on a lot of players, had a much bigger effect on this game than anything else.  The team needs Burke to play at least 35 minutes to have much of a chance against a team playing good defense.  In addition, sometimes the shots just just don't fall.  It happens to everyone, and it especially happens on the road.  

Also, they didn't seem to have as much energy as they could have, especially on offense.  They played a lot of one on one and two on two today.  It happens to the best of teams, and it gives the coaching staff an opportunity to earn their money.  I have a feeling that John Beilein is going to do a lot of coaching between now and the game against Sparty.

I also have a feeling that this team will be fine by the time the NCAA Tournament comes around.

If I were Beilein, I'd instate a new rule: THJ isn't allowed to shoot a three-pointer until he scores at least 10 points by taking the ball to the rim. Dude is not a great a three-point shooter and he's getting into that horrible horrible habit that a lot of great dribble-drivers do when they have scoring success--just jacking it up because they feel invincible (e.g., LeBron James). THJ should be attacking, attacking, and attacking, and then once he's established himself he can start launching from three. Even last year, he shot only 36% from deep. That's not his forte. 

anyone else feel like THJ is playing eerily similar to Manny Harris? He can get to the basket at will (which he did for a stretch of 3-4  2nd half possessions to get us back in the game) but likes to settle for the 24 footer early in the shot clock. There is nothing more frustrating..except for Smotz failing to get back on defense or knock down WIDE-open looks.

I feel a little better after watching UNC and MSU lose badly on the road as well. 
Things like this happen in a 30-40 game season. We'll be fine. 

Yep -- disappointing, for sure.  Like ia wolve stated, it was a quiet crowd (I'd say Carver-Hawkeye was about 80% full) except for some of the energetic sequences put on by the Hawkeyes.  U-M had no energy, and the sloppiness in the middle of the first half was a very foreboding sign.  I still do not understand how Burke could be benched for the rest of the first half, but what do I know.

Yep -- I heard Novak getting called out too (was I sitting near you, ia wolve?  I was in Section D, row 30, low number seats).

Finally, I got big props for my "Fergodsakes" t-shirt that conveniently arrived yesterday!  An older Michigan gentleman walked by, and said, "press conference?" to which I nodded, "you know it, Hoke is the man!"

Anytime you don't shoot well you look bad. Give Iowa credit today they went out and outplayed Michigan. Happens. Happens all week every week in sports.

Just this week in the BIG. Michigan, MSU, Ohio State, Purdue, and Indiana have all suffered "upsets". Life in a tough conference.

Buckle up for MSU it's gonna be a war.

I feel right now it's

Ohio

Little Bro

Michigan

Indiana

Wisc