Winning out make up for PSU Loss?

Submitted by YoungGeezy on

Desperately grasping at something, anything, that would stop me from gagging after yesterday's loss had me ask myself: "If this fractured team is miraculously capable of piecing things back together the rest of the season, will it make up for last night's embarrasing loss?"

We all know the schedule:

  • MSU at home
  • Purdue on the road
  • IU at home

After yesterday, I hate everything, and I'm sure some of you may even object to me asking the question, but I had to ask because I sure as hell don't know.

maize-blue

February 28th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^

I think a run to the Sweet 16 could be considered a success. I don't think this team is tough enough (mentally and physically) or mature enough to make it really far.

snowcrash

February 28th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^

Winning 2 out of 3 would make up for it, because going into the PSU game the team appeared to be out of gas and unlikely to be competitive against a good team. Beating IU or MSU would be a very good sign. Losing to PSU on the road is a new low, but we already knew from the previous PSU and MSU games that the team is bad defensively and prone to laying eggs.

I'd rather lose to PSU and beat either IU or MSU than beat PSU and lose to both IU and MSU.

LSAClassOf2000

February 28th, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^

The estimated win chances on Massey would place the projected probability of Michigan winning out the remaining three games at about 29% and the projected odds of beating both Michigan State and Indiana at about 38%. At least to me, other aspects of the team considered, that sounds fairly realistic as an estimate at this point. Using the same estimates, our odds of going 2-1 in the next 10 days or so are actually better than half by their figuring. I will take that for now.

If this team churns out a 2-1 record in the remaining conference games, a seed in the 2-4 range is still fairly likely in the NCAA Tournmanet, which would be fine, but games like last night underscore the ongoing issues that have been discussed at length on this blog. That being said, this team can still make a decent showing in each, I believe, if they can find ways to mitigate deficiencies through adjustments.

From a statistical standpoint, going 2-1 the rest of the way makes the PSU game something of a wash numerically, but emotionally...well...a good showing the rest of the way will help.

Soulfire21

February 28th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^

It will make the pain more bearable, but this loss can be filed under the category 'inexcusable'.  So, I'm not sure if anything like this can go away, but it would be eased.  A win over MSU Sunday will make me take 3/4 of my body off the ledge (figure of speech, of course).

At the end of the day, though, if I was given these 4 games and had to lose one, I'd rather lose to PSU or Purdue than vs Indiana or MSU.  So, let's fuckin' do this.

gwkrlghl

February 28th, 2013 at 12:51 PM ^

Good tourney teams get hot in February, not ice cold. We've basically eliminated our chances of winning the B1G or of getting a #1 seed and we're lolly-gagging into an opening weekend loss in the tournament

Tater

February 28th, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^

This team needs to get ready for the NCAA Tournament and get as high a seed as it can get. They have to get into the second week to make this a good year.  

In their defense, it seems like everyone in the Big Ten plays Michigan like a "rivalry game."   There is only so much gas in the tank, and when you play over 20 rivarly games, counting the BT tournament, you are going to lose a few.

If this team does well in "The Tournament," nobody is going to give a [bleep] about losing to PSU.

erald01

February 28th, 2013 at 1:06 PM ^

Nope it would not make up because it would not happen.. We will loose to msu, indiana and have a come back at purdue.. We are either veeeery tired or we just dont have a consistant talent out there.. On top of that we have no leadership, no heart, no strength or any kind of physical players.. All these minuses will not yield good results period

ProfMurdoc

February 28th, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^

It may. But just like I can plaster over that hole in the wall, my liver can filter out the "toxins", and that baby panda will surely heal just fine - it's mostly superficial damage, but the scars will still be there.

Queme los Barcos

BlueinLansing

February 28th, 2013 at 1:32 PM ^

Indiana and Michigan State both lose games they shouldn't causing Michigan to be back in the same place they could have been had they not lost to the worst team in the Big Ten.

 

 

john22

February 28th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

and we all give up? Kansas lost to tcu,Miami lost to wake forest etc. Alot of good to great teams have lost to teams they should have beaten! We will learn from this. GO BLUE!!!

jmblue

February 28th, 2013 at 3:03 PM ^

I wouldn't go quite that far, because now we have no shot at the league title and probably not much of a chance at a #1 seed even if we win out.  But, beating MSU and IU would be pretty satisfying and at least show that we're not in a tailspin. 

M-Wolverine

February 28th, 2013 at 4:11 PM ^

And gives up momentum for the B1G Tourney and the Big Dance. THAT matters.

But just winning out doesn't make me feel better unless Brian's front page "Go Iowa!" was seeing the future and comes to pass and we still snag a share of the title. Because missing out on the ring because we lost to PENN STATE would almost feel worse.

allintime23

February 28th, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^

It pains me to say this but state is such a bad match up for us I can't see us beating them. We give up so many offensive rebounds and our interior defense is rough. I hope on everything we win Sunday but it's going to be tough.

AMazinBlue

February 28th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^

but neither are going to happen.  This team is VERY talented, no doubt, but I have very little faith that they will beat State at home this weekend with Spring Break hitting (no home court advantage) and NO offense aside from Trey Burke dribbling and everyone else standing around.

I like the coach and the players, but there is no plan, no set plays, they just seem to make it all up as they go.  Be honest, aside from Burke and a few from Hardaway, what real offense does this team have?   How do you lose a 15-point lead on the worst team in the conference?

Honestly, my prediction is we won't beat State or Indiana, we'll get a #3 or 4 seed and get knocked out in the second round again or maybe get to the Sweet 16.  THAT's IT.  This team is talented, but very young and gamewise, very immature.

I know it sounds very negative and "hateful", but based on the last five games, do you REALLY think they have a chance against State or Indiana?  We have no inside presence, which means no inside/outside game and every shot against a good team is contested.  Play pressure defense one step beyond the 3-point line and beating Michigan isn't that hard.

This team needs at least another year of seasoning to be Final Four worthy.  Problem is Burke and Hardawya may both be gone after this year, especially Burke.

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

February 28th, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^

After thinking about this thread all afternoon, I just reach the same conclusion over and over that I had at noon . . .  No.

Epic meltdown.  I hope the kids regroup and make a run, but last night was utter disappointment on many levels.

A run to a national championship would heal the wound, though.

NelzQ

February 28th, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

The next game is the most important game of the season. If this team has any pride, it comes out finally to hunt.

Burke and Hardaway, this is your team. Time to fire them up. You just got bitch slapped by the last place team in the conference. You take that?

'Got will?  

You need an attitude adjustment, team.

Go Blue.

NelzQ

February 28th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^

The next game is the most important game of the season. If this team has any pride, it comes out finally to hunt.

Burke and Hardaway, this is your team. Time to fire them up. You just got bitch slapped by the last place team in the conference. You take that?

'Got will?  

You need an attitude adjustment, team.

Go Blue.

NelzQ

February 28th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^

The next game is the most important game of the season. If this team has any pride, it comes out finally, to hunt.

Burke and Hardaway, this is your team. Time to fire them up. You just got bitch slapped by the last place team in the conference. You take that?

'Got will?  

You need an attitude adjustment, team.

Go Blue.

NelzQ

February 28th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^

The next game is the most important game of the season. If this team has any pride, it comes out finally, to hunt.

Burke and Hardaway, this is your team. Time to fire them up. You just got bitch slapped by the last place team in the conference. You take that?

'Got will?  

You need an attitude adjustment, team.

Go Blue.

NelzQ

February 28th, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^

The next game is the most important game of the season. If this team has any pride, it comes out finally, to hunt.

Burke and Hardaway, this is your team. Time to fire them up. 

'Got will?  

You need an attitude adjustment, team.

Go Blue.

 

Edit: I apologize for the multiple posts. The post would not take initially, so I retried it. When it finally took, all of the previous attempts showed up too. My bad. Moderators, can you please delete the multiples?

Cold War

February 28th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^

The PSU loss doesn't concern me nearly as much as the MSU loss.  The PSU  game was a superior team mailing it in, looking ahead, being inattentive, and  doing what good teams sometimes do - getting upset simply because they weren't ready to play.

MSU was different. It was one of the biggest regular season games in the history of college basketball in this state. They are THE baskeball rival of this school. Don't give me the Ohio crap - that's football. MSU has ruled this state and this rivalry the better part of recent decades.The moment was huge and they shrank from it. They were intimidated and punked out. Showed no guts  or heart. It said far more about this team than the PSU game.