Open Thread/DVR Reminder: Michigan basketball @ Iowa 1:00 Big Ten Network
Men's basketball tips off against Iowa at 1:00 today on the B1G network. Michigan has the better team, but that has been the case for several years, and Iowa has been pesky. Dylan(by way of Ken Pomeroy) has Michigan winning by 4 http://www.umhoops.com/2012/01/13/game-18-michigan-at-iowa-preview/#more-24200 ,
He also points out that Iowa barely shoots from downtown at all...I'm thinking woot 1-3-1?
Vegas likes Michigan by a field goal. Beilein says Iowa is going to try to get out and run, and that Michigan will have to play significantly better than Iowa to win on the road(why does that sound familiar?)http://www.umhoops.com/2012/01/13/video-notes-quotes-john-beilein-previews-iowa/
My personal take: Iowa has serious Multiple Personality Disorder, as evidenced by their Wisky/Minny road wins vs their baby seal impersonation against those two SU schools who celebrated when Nebraska joined the conference(because they finally have a school to look down on).
That red-headed kid Aaron White is pretty good, and Basabe is still there, but I dont really think either one is ready to keep up with Novak, the Notorious SMOTRYCZ or Morgan. If Stu can slow down Matt Gatens(and all evidence suggest he WILL be able to) I like Michigan's chances.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
It seems like we never have a good possession at the end of the first half.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^
Hate to say it but this team is very average.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
You do realize that we just played 13 minutes without possibly our best player?
January 14th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
It really sucks to only have one real point guard, and a freshman at that. If he gets into foul trouble, we are in huge trouble no matter who we play.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
With a fresh Burke and hopefully Morgan and Hardaway prepared to do their second half thing, M can scratch out a victory in Iowa City, though I don't feel real good about it.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:14 PM ^
man, Smotrycz really cant do anything
January 14th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
To go into that MSU game hot and in the top ten. Not looking good
January 14th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
Wow everything that could go wrong did to close out the half.
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<br>THJ misses the front of a 1 and 1
<br>Morgan misses the bunny when he's fouled
<br>Big rich gets called for a block when he was CLEARLY there and set
<br>And Marble his the final shot
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<br>It's going to be a different 2nd half with Burke back an some adjustments. We can come back.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^
Big rich = vogrich. Even my phone sucks today.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^
I actually kind of like that nickname
January 14th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
I think you may have just stumbled upon a pretty epic nickname
January 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
What can't an iPhone do?
January 14th, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
Let me ask Siri for Darbohs new nickname...
January 14th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
I haven't seen McGary in there yet...if we could get him going that would be great.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^
Totally disagree sitting him for balance of half after two fouls. He has shown the ability to stay out of foul trouble. Three yes, take him out, but not two. Ball handling suffered all half as a result.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
one of the few coaching strategies i hate from beilein. he sits EVERYONE who has two fouls in the first half. burke is not in danger of fouling out against these guys, they don't have the guards to draw 5 fouls on him.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
This is really one of my only pet peeves with JB's coaching. Watch Burke play a foul-free second half and us lose by a bucket
January 14th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^
I think as a freshman you play it safe. I agree with beileins call. We took the lead without Burke so it was fair to assume we could just bleed clock without him
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<br>It was just a whole bunch of silly plays in the final 2 minutes that all went Iowas way, that blew this game open
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<br>Burke will be ready to go the distance now and I bet well get back in this game. Iowa has been equal parts good and lucky so far. But you can't ride luck for 40 minutes.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^
I'm not usually into coaches yelling at his team, but I hope Beilein is letting our boys have it right now. No emotion in them today.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
I hope the Mathlete is letting Beilein have it for sitting Burke the rest of the half
January 14th, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^
That had to be the worst half of basketball of the year. Team is 3 for 16 on 3s and 5 for 7 on 2s. Hmmmm....maybe it's time to shoot some more 2s? Also the 8 turnovers certainly isn't helping...
And I can't stand Belein's strategy for players in foul trouble. If you sit a dude with 2 fouls for the rest of the first half, that's much worse than if you play him like normal and he ends up fouling out with like 5 minutes left. PUT IN BURKE!!
And THJ...oh man. He's not even settling for 3s, he is forcing them up when they aren't even close to being in the rhythm of the offense, with plenty of time still on the shot clock.
Most frustrating watch of the season so far, by far....
January 14th, 2012 at 2:00 PM ^
Stop settling for threes. Need to drive the lane and look for post-ups inside. Don't always shoot well, but you can always work for a better shot. Need to come out with our hair on fire defensively and start pounding these clowns.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:55 PM ^
What does everyone see in this guy? He's content to stand out on the perimeter when he can put it on the floor and drive. Create mismatches.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^
he is typically a disaster when he puts the ball on the floor; a turnover or forced shot.. what makes him an asset on offense is when he is draining 3s. he's been horrible though in 2012. however, he has picked-up his "scrappiness" a bit this year.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:56 PM ^
Smotz and THJ are the liability this game thus far. 1-11 from the field...
January 14th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^
Not to mention that THJ and Smotz are 0-8 from 3. Disturbing trend with THJ and 3s. He's shooting like 12% from 3 the last 6 games.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^
I do not like Smotrycz's attitude, he seems selfish and doesnt care about this team. This comes from a student who has gone to all the home games this season.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
Need to get shots that aren't 3's. We'll probably come out with the standard "Get Morgan Touches" offense to start the half.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
Morgan has one FG attempt. That's WAY too little.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
but they've turned the ball over 3-4 times trying to get him the ball. that's a bigger problem.
January 14th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
off, it was so painful to watch! They look like a bunch of chickens running around w their heads for off. Yeah, that's basically what it looks like.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Thanks Coach Bombay.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
Someone should tell this team that they can't just show up to the arena and expect to win. No desire, no effort today. Lackadaisical play all around.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:02 PM ^
January 14th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^
The Iowa band just murdered the Blues Brothers song.
If you can't play it right, don't play it at all please.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^
Ok, here we go new half. Lets settle down and work an inside game with Morgan.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^
LETS SHOOT AS MANY THREES AS WE CAN EVERYONE
January 14th, 2012 at 2:07 PM ^
evan is not the same player he once was
January 14th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
GAME OVER
January 14th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
To everyone saying we settled for threes: did you see how no one could dribble with Burke out? We tries back door passed and interior feeds and they resulted in turnovers. It's easy to say shoot more 2s, but they couldn't get any good looks.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
Much need 3 for Novak
January 14th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
Im sick of Smotrycz. He's awful
January 14th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
Terrible effort. Outplayed in all aspects of the game.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^
Excellent job by Smotrycz...
January 14th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^
Wow. This is tough. I'm not ready to give up yet though. A lot of time remains.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Well at least we don't have to worry about THJ going to the draft early...
January 14th, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^
I thought that myself. He's really fallen of from last year. The scary thing is that I fear it's ego related.
January 14th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Every time Hardaway drives, he either scores or is fouled. But yet he is settling for missed threes all day long. Frustrating.