Got to make the free throws, what hurt was that in the whole 2nd half we stopped attacking the rim like we did in the 1st half. If we would have continued to attack, we probably would have been in the double bonus and that may have made the difference - big difference in the pressure of hitting the front end of a one and one, then knowing you got two. While I love our long range shooters, this team is even better when they attack the rim.
Result hurts, but it was a great game.
Still feel we have a really good chance to get to the 2nd weekend and then it is all about match ups. Remember in 89 we did not win the BIG10 and neither did the fab 5 either of those years.
I feel like this team plays better when everyone is involved in the offense and I think Burke, under POY scrutiny, gets caught forcing shots and trying to take over games late. Essentially trying to do too much on his own.
Indiana knew this and they keyed on him early, and he still kept trying to press the issue offensively. We played right into their strategy and ended up watching our strong lead vanish.
Oh well, we should be better next year.
True, but I think we likely don't win vs. MSU or PURDUE if Burke didn't do that exact same thing.
Stauskas? Where did he go after that aggressive offensive first half?
This was one depressing result. I guess the silver lining is that Michigan kept this game with Indiana quite close.
Such a young team man, goddamn!. And it sucks so much to have reality sink in about Burke - that Michigan won't enjoy his services for another season.
We get going, and have to start all over again.
Hope they kick ass in the tourney and piss off a lot teams.
Meanwhile, sad kitty:
I know this has become cliche almost, but look at how far this program has come.
Playing for B1G titles and being ranked in the Top-10 all year long. Being thought of as a national title contender.
5 years ago, this team was 10-22 in Beilein's first year.
Even in 2010-11, we were all just happy and were all geeked about Michigan possibly being able to slip into the NIT.
And then Stu Douglass hit the shot at breslin.
arrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! help me I'm choking.... arrggggghhhhhh.
I F-ing hate being a sports fan. usually.
if you can't beat them in front of a raucous home crowd like that, how are you counting on beating them on a neutral floor???????
I guess it's a pick your poison but Indiana's transition game is tough to defend. I understand why Beilein gambled and I'm sure he didn't figure that they would miss the free throws. Make a FT and have the defense set and waiting instead of scrambling down the court trying to match up. It really was a good strategy and a decent bet that Hardaway and Burke could have hit their FTs. It just didn't work out.
March 10th, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^
Haha I think he misunderstood your post.
Rebound, motherfucker: do you speak it?
This team needs to get bigger. Just got eaten alive on the boards.
Bigger? Oladipo led all rebounders with 13, he's listed at 6"5". Michigan's bigs put up respectable enough rebound numbers as compared to Indiana. Oladipo, Hulls and Ferrell combined for 21 boards, Hardaway, Stauskas and Burke came up with 8.
Indiana had 47 rebounds. Michigan had 26.
It may be a struggle with this team/style to win the BIG, but if we can be close, occasionally getting a split title (like last year), are always in the title conversation late in the season, but really take off at tourney time and have successful runs, I will take that, especially give the past decade+.
We have to make freethrows. They often decide games come tournament time, and there is no excuse.
Maybe its me trying to engineer a way to justify the loss, but why not make the bonus optional. It seems problematic that a team can be rewarded for commiting a foul. The game should be won or lost playing the game of basketball, not the ticky tac crap that makes the last minute and drags the game out. I'm sure one of the statistics gurus around here could crunch the numbers, but if I'm fouled with 20 seconds left give me the ball back. It is also kind of intereting that had Indiana fouled more in the second half they could have started forcing us to shoot earlier, instead they had to burn a couple to push us into the bonus.
I will keep watching and support the Wolverines into the tournament, but am kind of glad basketball season is almost over so I won't have to watch highly arbitrary officiating and suffer two or three heart attacks in the waining seconds of a game.
March 11th, 2013 at 12:00 AM ^
March 10th, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
1. need a football commit and a Hello: post about a weekend visitor
2. need a B1G team from the NCAA bubble to win the B1G to get an 8th team in (while all the favorites rest their guys for a deep run)
March 10th, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^