UM-MSU Snowflakes Thread
It is probably not too early to start this up. I love the team and the success they have had this year so far, but in order to go far in the tournament they've got to step it up.
The lack of physicality on this team is a noticeable issue - they have gotten eaten up inside by teams with a halfway decent big man.
Trey Burke is the only one who can create offense for others. No other players can penetrate to the hole with regularity. You slow Burke down and Michigan suffers.
You're not going to get very far on jump shots alone. Take it to the hole.
EDIT: The defense is average at best. Get in front of someone and cut off drives to the hoop...PLEASE.
Enough said.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
Whoa, way too early. Probably won't win, but this has got to be a record.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
Then continue to watch the game.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:44 PM ^
February 13th, 2013 at 5:10 AM ^
These threads shouldn't start while a game is in progress. There's a lot to be said for not starting them until the next day.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
Can't say I blame Craig James for killing five hookers if he ever had to watch a game like that one.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:21 PM ^
Alledgedly.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
has been off for over 45 minutes... I guess this means no comeback. We just weren't ON tonight.
February 13th, 2013 at 7:11 AM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
NCAA tourney games are neutral sites
February 12th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
has played like this at home too... We really need to do work if we want to be elite.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:29 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:40 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
Belien has not done his job in the past few games. Piss-poor substitutions and inability to coach a lick of defense.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
Coach B is not the one playing soft out there! These kids just don't have the guts to play these big games right now. We NEVER looked comfortable this game.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
Who's job is it to have the team ready to play? Whose job is it to have contingencies in case the team has difficulties? These losses are on B.
February 13th, 2013 at 5:51 AM ^
five freshman...sometimes it takes time for toughness to be earned...you know, through games like this.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ^
February 13th, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^
He is a senior, played regularly prior to this season and made a lot of contributions to this team. Why isn't he getting more minutes instead of freshmen like Levert?
February 12th, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
A complete and thurough ass-kicking maybe exactly what this team needs. Jesus this is embarassing.
February 13th, 2013 at 8:02 AM ^
1. Lack of confidence - it seems like since we lost some of these big games, the team has lost its mojo - they don't seem to have the same swagger. This needs to be fixed asap, as teams that lack confidence don't tend to go far.
2. Youth - we are playing many true freshmen - several are starting or playing critical minutes. these kids have experienced nothing but success so far, so the las of confidence may be even greater for them.
3. Fatigue - this stretch of schedule has been brutal and physical. Could be that some of our guys are fatigued. Look at GRIII, who has dropped off the most - he has been battling guys larger and stonger since Morgan went down, and it looks o be taking its toll.
4. Jordan Morgan - we are really missing him and his inside presence. McGary is bigger and stronger with a higher ceiling, but Morgan is a critical piece.
5. Defense - this one is obvious. We did well for much of the season relying on our shooters, but there are times when you need to get a big stop, especially against better teams. Until we improve this area of our game, I am not confident going into the tourney.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
I'd like to at least see GRIII find himself during this game.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
Snowflakes? Gonna be a damn blizzard after tonight's game
February 12th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
I'm getting tired of watching teams with big men casually rebound and score, rebound and score, rebound and score, rebound and score, rebound and score, rebound and score while 3 guys not named jordan morgan hover around with vacant expressions on their faces
We are the most upset-able top 5 team in the country
February 12th, 2013 at 10:44 PM ^
To be fair, we're no longer a top 5 team.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
My opinion of the game is that it’s very fair to start questioning what Belein is doing to get these guys ready. The team is getting worse every week. Nobody has improved other than McGary, and he was awful tonight. The offense has become completely one-dimensional, the defensive effort is just embarrassing at times, and there is absolutely no mental toughness on the road against decent teams, especially from the freshman. How many top 30 recruits consistently fail to show up for games and throw the ball right at the other team multiple times? Novak and Douglass were guys nobody wanted, and they competed well against State. This team is talented, but they look SOFT and stupid in big moments, which is a bad combo. In addition, Belein’s substitutions have been very questionable. Spike, Levert, and McGary on the floor at the same time is a disaster, and I’m not sure how the coaches don’t see that. This is not a top five team right now. It’s barely a top 15 team right now.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:50 PM ^
That about sums it up. Our big men do not have much offensive ability, as well. I love Mitch, but he is almost certain to drop a pass when pressured underneath. At least he flies around. I can't think of another player showing reckless passion out there. I also agree that the substitutions tonight have been awful. Do we have an offense other than passing around the horn and taking a three?
February 12th, 2013 at 11:09 PM ^
Sorry to keep ranting, but there is just no excuse for an experienced scorer going 1-11. Regarding the big men, between Horford, McGary, and Morgan, we have 5 points, 5 fouls, and 7 turnovers. That is just unbelievably awful.
Even worse, Hardaway, McGary, and Robinson combined for 8 points on 4-20 shooting. You're not going to come anywhere near a good team when 3 starters do that.
THEY WERE OUTSCORED BY SPIKE ALBRECHT, COREY PERSON, AND ESO AKUNNE.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:53 PM ^
Nope.
February 13th, 2013 at 12:09 PM ^
Dude, thank you for the avatar. Much needed after last night's massacre.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:00 PM ^
The offense has become completely one-dimensional
That was the most alarming thing you said... Because its so true. Pick roll. Pick in roll. Watch the pick and roll. Michigan has to get back to their base sets. Play better team basketball. Michigan has a ton of soul searching to do.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 11:06 PM ^
CJ Lee leaves, team lacks leadship and nose dives. Zack Novak/Stu Douglas leave... This slow start on the road thing is no longer a fluke.
February 13th, 2013 at 5:56 AM ^
I disagree with your assessment. I think that at this point in the season, the big minutes being played by our freshman, have officially caught up with us. GR3 and Stauskus look anemic out there. The B1G is a tough schedule, and with a team how feeds heavy minutes to 3 freshman, wear will show earlier than most. Further, mental toughness is forged through battle, and this team just needs to continue to forge that mindset. Burke and Morgan has it...Timmy had a bad game, but this is a one off for him. Lets enjoy a team that has more than outplayed expectations and let them weather the B1G season, and take the lessons learned on the way and apply them in the B1G and NCAA tournament. That is the one upside to having alot of freshman, that they have a larger capacity to improve over a season than any other team, and their base is pretty fucking good
February 12th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
SPORTS.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
We have been outplayed, outshot, outhustled, outcoached and outeverything in this fucking game.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
Robinson has got to be hurt. There is now way he shouldn't have thrown that down.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
Refs sucked tonight and the team has no effort or energy. Novak has to be furious.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:53 PM ^
It's not why we lost, but they might as well have drafted random Sparty fans and put them in striped uniforms tonight. The NCAA tournament is going to be a breath of fresh air just getting away from Big Ten refs.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:20 PM ^
Well you'd have to try pretty hard to lose by triple digits, refs or no refs.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:38 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
You're calling out the refs? Seriously?
February 12th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
nobody came to play
February 12th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^