Predictions for Mich/Arkansas bball
Tommorrow at noon CBS Michigan will look for revenge on Arkansas from last year at Crisler. I expect sellout tommorrow and looking forward to matchup. Michigan will continue being great at home and get the win. I'm also going to be at the game tommorrow and can't wait to see new renovations. I haven't been to basketball game since darius morris days lol.
Michigan 84
Arkansas 66
December 7th, 2012 at 8:55 AM ^
of the Razorback's early season demise of have been greatly exaggerated. They lost three in a row, but lost them to Syracuse, Wisky, and ASU. OK, not Kansas, Kentucky and Duke, but not too damn bad either. They have NC State-ish length and basically everybody that takes the floor for the Hogs is very athletic. The key is that they will not make every shot they take in the first half this year like they did last year. I am expecting a fun game with a few "Oooohhhhh, damn," type dunks from both teams, and a ten point(but actually more comfortable than that) Michigan win.
December 7th, 2012 at 8:55 AM ^
For some reason this game scares me. Mike Anderson likes to do his 40 minutes of hell and I am just hoping our freshman can handle the defensive pressure that Arkansas brings. Also, BJ Young has the potential to always go off for 20-30 points. I believe this game will be close throughout, but Michigan pulls away in the end.
Michigan 80
Arkansas 70
December 7th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^
I live in Arkansas and therefore have three separate bets for this game. M BETTER win. I am surpremely confident that they will.....I just really really really want to win these bets.
On a related note, I need advice on what the terms of the third one should be. For the first, the loser has to purchase the opposing team's hat, wear it, take a picture and have it as their facebook profile picture for a week. The second, the loser has to take a "shame" picture holding a sign saying something of the winner's choosing and do the profile picture thing.
I need a third one...any ideas?
December 7th, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^
Stay with the Shame theme. Force loser to watch the movie Shame. Yuuuuck.
December 7th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^
Anyway, how about old fashioned cash money?
December 7th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^
We already have money on other things hah. This is a prideful thing and I need to shame them.
(I made a bet with one of them over last year's game....I now own an Arkansas Baseball shirt....ugh)
December 7th, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
The sign needs to say "I rode bitch with Bobby Petrino".
Just sayin.
December 7th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^
The loser has to dress fully in the opposing team's clothing during his or her family's holiday celebrations (so, Xmas day or the first night of Hanukkah or something). There must be picture documentation posted on facebook (to continue the theme).
Alternately (since that does seem sort of mean), just has to wear one visible article of opposing clothing during the celebration.
December 7th, 2012 at 10:55 AM ^
We may have a winner!
December 7th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
If it's a work friend you can't go wrong with loser delivers the winner a beverage whenever the winner wants (ideally during an important meeting).
December 7th, 2012 at 9:04 AM ^
Unless John L Smith comes into town for a pep talk, then we might be in trouble.
"You're down 15 points at the half.... SMILE!"
Michigan 77 Ar-kansas 52
December 7th, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 9:10 AM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^
As much as I want to believe that Michigan will go 29-2 in the regular season and only lose @Indiana and @OSU, that's just not how basketball seasons go. It's likely to be that Michigan loses one or two mindboggling frustrating games to teams the should handle. This game fits that bill.
Michigan has been receiving lavish praise in the media even though they've not shown the tenacity to close out teams hard:
- 59-50 lead vs Pitt with 1:27 remaining got to a 2 point game
- 73-58 lead vs NC State with under 6 became a one possession game if not for a gracious charge call in UM's favor
- 70-54 at Bradley with 3:37 to go again becomes 5 point game where a charge is drawn
Arkansas plays at a significantly faster tempo than every other team Michigan has played so far so this game is likely to have more and bigger momentum swings, if Michigan falls asleep for too long they could wind up doing what they did last year @Arkansas and dig themselves a hole too deep to climb out of.
There's an advantage to playing at home but with Arkansas' last three games they won't be intimidated and are likely to be playing at a high level themselves after improving.
This game is a fantastic barometer for the team for December: a "great" team will win this game going away, a "good" team and get ready for a nail biter.
December 7th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^
Rebels 51
December 7th, 2012 at 9:52 AM ^
Trey Burke forces the piggys outta they're press defense after he has 5 easy ast to start the game. Michigan wins big as this time they are at home. 71-56. With 4 min to go michigan will be up by 25. THJ and GR3 have huge games.
December 7th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^
Burke is the key- if he handles the ball like he has of late with many assists and rarely a turnover the press will lose lots of its impact on the game. Look to see if McGary struggles with the press- he has been turnover prone though- so he may lose some time. Hopefully Hardaway and Stausksas handle the pressure ok so they can stay on the court- I hope the fast pace may leave Stausksas open more than a traditional defense so he may have a good opportunity to get a lot of 3s off.
December 7th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^
I think THJ and Stauskas are actually the keys. Arkansas can force Burke to give up the ball with their hard doubles in the backcourt. The cost is setting up 4-3s. If the secondary ball handlers can handle the scramble pressure after Burke gives up the ball, we'll get tons of easy points and open 3s. If they turn it over, it will be trouble.
That said, I've been impressed with how THJ improved his handle over the off-season, though he looked shakier in the Bradley game, and Stauskas has seemed solid with the ball. Arkansas also turns the ball over like crazy. I expect a pretty comfortable win, particularly with Burke and THJ already having experienced the Arkansas defense last year.
December 7th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
their
December 7th, 2012 at 10:16 AM ^
Mich 74 Arkansas 60
December 7th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^
I'd like to see some giants faces of Beilema, Petrino, and Petrino's mistress in the crowd
December 7th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^
Even though Arkansas is one of the most productive teams by points, their game against Longwood skews those numbers. Remove it, and we score more on average, albeit not by more than a few points. Further, by the numbers, we're the more accurate shooting team, and the more aggressive rebounding team as well. The game is here, which helps some as always.
That being said, I have a feeling Arkansas may hang in there most of the game. We will definitely have to play well and sound for 40 minutes. I will go with Michigan in an 80-72 or so performance.
December 7th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
December 7th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
Anyone know the line for this game, or know where to find the line? I am going to Vegas and want to place a friendly wager on UM/Ark.
December 7th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
Michigan win with a J. Biebs song belted by McGary in the locker room for celebration.
Book it
December 7th, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
...this game will be interesting to me! What will not be interesting, however, is the PAIN. Michigan 90-72
December 8th, 2012 at 1:37 AM ^
Backth at Arkanthath, we hath Eddie Thutton coathing our boyth on the harthwooth. They playthed harth every thingle game. And I tell youth whath, thethe Rathorbackth remind of ol' Eddie'th kidth