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Very nice writeup - Thanks!

Very nice writeup - Thanks!

I still think an eight team field is plenty if you want to determine a champion. I think if you want a "fair" playoff, then all teams should have roughly equivalent paths to the championship. The twelve team field puts your thumb on the scales with favoring the top four. While the top two are usually uncontroversial, deciding teams 3-6 has a huge impact on the path to the championship.

To reach the final eight I would suggest the following:

1. Each conference gets to nominate two teams (max). It is up to the conference to decide who and how to nominate their teams. This narrows down the field for the selections committee. If you are the third-best team in your conference you can't exactly argue you may be the best in the country. (Yes, Texas and Oklahoma, this really makes your jump to the SEC counterproductive.)

2. Four games on campus after the CCG.

3. Winners move to NY6 semifinals.

4. Losers move to other NY6 bowl games. This addresses the scheduling uncertainties and populates those games with high profile matchups. Other two NY6 games are already awarded. 

Of course these variations could also be included in a 12 team tournament.

Add Pitt, ND, West Virginia,…

Add Pitt, ND, West Virginia, Boston College, Cincinnati, UConn, Syracuse.

Release Nebraska to rejoin the Big 12. (They want out anyway.)

Split into two ten team divisions - round robin schedules.

Put the above seven in a division with Penn St., Rutgers and Maryland.

Call that division the Big Other.

The remaining teams' division is called the Big Ten.

Maybe play a championship game the first weekend of December (maybe not).

Actually, it is not true…

Actually, it is not true that "Pretty much every prediction has been wildly off."

Predictions have been fairly good. See the linked analysis:

https://markpanaggio.wixsite.com/home/post/are-the-models-actually-wrong?

I don't know why people keep…

I don't know why people keep assuming Jace's other offers were scholarships. According to UM Hoops, his other finalists were Princeton and Brown. Ivy League schools only offer need-based aid - no merit (read athletic) scholarships. I doubt the Howard family would qualify for need-based aid (even at an Ivy).

You're welcome.

One more…

You're welcome.

One more thing. You will be facing the afternoon sun. Hats and sunglasses are very helpful for the kids. Don't be afraid to splurge on a pair of cool block M sunglasses if it helps motivate your friend to wear them.

My son (also on the spectrum…

My son (also on the spectrum) got hooked on all things Michigan when his fourth grade teacher took the class to a softball game. You can try taking your son to a (somewhat) lower key venue such as soccer, gymnastics, W basketball to see how he adapts. As I said in another comment, fans are awesome and accommodating. Don't be afraid to give it a go!

I can share my experience as…

I can share my experience as a father of a son on the spectrum. I have been going to football, mens basketball and various other events with my son for ten years now. We have gone to every game for 5+ years. He is now in the MMB. It is the highlight of his life. I am about 95% confidant that I have met scanner blue IRL. He and all the staff are always exceptionally friendly and supportive. 

1. In general fans (and most people) are awesome and supportive. It does not take much for most people to recognize someone with special needs and the overwhelming majority are very accommodating and helpful. 

2. Some kids on the spectrum are sensitive to noise and crowds. Others (my son included) find it stimulating and it helps overall with his ability to engage with others. You may have to see how your grandkids' friend adapts and be ready to engage him appropriately. If he really gets into the game, let him go with it. My son developed routines for every game and song. Encourage this kid to do his thing if he feels it. 

3. You will be directly across from the band. That may provide some additional entertainment for the kids. For obvious reasons, I am partial to the band.

4. Your grandkids are a godsend to all of us with a kid on the spectrum. The most important thing for my son's development is the core group of kids who engaged with him and looked out for him from kindergarten through 12th grade. In every grade I have had teachers tell me how wonderful these friends are. Please let your grandkids know how much this means. Encourage them to keep it up!

Do you have to use a tee?

Is there a rule that a kickoff has to be from a tee? Put your punter in there. It telegraphs the kick, but punt returns are usually short, and with 10 "gunners" a chance for a miscue is fairly high. If this works, look for a rule change as soon as possible.

Street parking is also an option

I assume (given that you are the second most enthusiastic UM fan I am aware of) that you will arrive early enough that street parking is not an issue. Otherwise, as bringthewood said, parking in the lots north of the stadium almost never fills up. (Pro-tip: if you park on Pauline, face away from the stadium.)

Move the tournament around

Cities in the "B1G footprint" that would likely love to host and have the facilites:

Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh

and just for fun...

Toronto!

What is a flagrant foul?

We seem to have had a bit of bad luck in being on the wrong end of non-flagrant (but excessively aggressive) fouls lately. All in the transition game. In addition the to two that were reviewed against Iowa, in the NW game Matthews was fouled (originally called a flagrant 1 but overturned), and Livers was knocked out of the NW game when undercut during a fast break (ordinary foul - aggressive but not flagrant). Are we suffering from bad luck? Is this a small sample size? Are teams playing overly aggressive on us because they see a perceived weakness or are frustrated?

Relevant NYT editorial "Time for Michigan State to Clean House"

Just posted today:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/opinion/editorials/larry-nassar-mich…

Plus one for keep it regional

As long as we are dreaming, make it six regional conferences: B1G, SEC, Pac12, Big12, ACC, Big East. All teams align with one of the six. Each conference divides into upper and lower division.

Upper division can have ten (9 conf. games) or eleven (10 conf games) teams. Round robin schedule - teams are responsible for filling up to 12 total games with OOC (or upper/lower div) match-ups. Relegation/promotion rules are up to the conferences to determine.

Seed 6 conf. champs plus two at-large teams. Play 1st round at site of choice of the higher seed during the first week in December.

After 1st round, bowl bids go out for all remaining teams, including losers of opening round. Play semi-final and championship rounds at pre-determined locations as currently happens now.

A committee only has to to decide which at-large teams to invite and seeding (at-large are 7 and 8 seeds). If you didn't win your conference, don't complain about a non-invite.

It depends on what the goal is.

It depends on what the goal is. If you want to treat the students better, expand the Maize Rage around the band. Those seats are often underutilized as it is, and more people distracting the 2nd half free throws can only help.

The "best" fans show up for >90% of the games as it is. They aren't going to give up their seats to students for the high-profile games. We could create a more intense home court advantage wth non-student fans as well. Perhaps the AD could consider moving season ticket holders with a lot of no-shows to the upper bowls and offering those seats to season ticket holders with exceptionally high attendance (more than a little self-interest here). They could likley charge the same PSD (no money lost) while creating a more intense vibe closer to the court.

We are in agreement that

We are in agreement that there should be some incentive to not let your tickets go unused. My point is about rewarding your best fans. In general, the upper bowl sections (at least along the sidelines) are as full as the lower bowl, if not more so. Around where I sit, and presumably in most sections, there is a core group that almost always shows up or gives their tickets to a friend. These are the people you want closest to the court to maximize the home court advantage.

Chronic resellers don't have the same effect. A significant number of seats around me are sold on stub-hub almost every game (you can see the printed tickets when the fans arrive). I have no idea who actually owns the seats. Those seats are disproportionately used by visiting fans.

I presume no-shows in the lower bowl are because the owners of those seats use them for business or personal gifts with the exception of high profile games. If they don't have someone to give them to, the resell value and effort is not enough incentive to sell the tickets. I don't know a good way to get them filled without penalizing the owners for no-shows.

Attendance

Let's be honest. If you have the priority points and can afford the season tickets for the lower bowl, you don't need the $10-$20 you can get from reselling the tickets. The tickets are more valuable as a potential gift to a friend/client.

Also, many people are likely undecided until the last minute for a 9pm weeknight possible loss. The weather (and how many glasses of wine/beer they have at dinner) likely makes up their mind for them.

It seems to me that the upper bowl is frequently more full than the lower bowl. I think it would be cool if the Athletic Department used the ticket scan data and reselling habits of season ticket holders to reward (better seating) those who consistently arrive on time and use don't resell their tickets.

Quote "butthurt fans stfu. We suck this year."

I think you did say we suck...

I will definitely be there

Look way up behind the visiting bench for the most enthusiastic fan in the arena. If everyone had his energy, the home court advantage would be so great that we would never lose a game at Crisler. I'll be sitting next to him.

Foul calls

What concerns me is that teams that historically play aggressive, physical defense ("make your fouls count") will continue to do so and accumulate as many fouls as in previous years. They have learned to live with that as the cost of doing business. On the other hand, teams that are coached to play a cleaner, position/anticipation-based defense (close off passing lanes, draw charges) are going to be called for more ticky-tack soft fouls. Coaches are not going to change how they coach defense. They have a system and cannot afford to change how they coach based on "points of emphasis".

I think it may be discontinued

I bought this set a few years ago, and it was marked down significantly. I haven't seen it since. (I live in AA and stop by MDen fairly regularly.)

EBay (Wan) may be your only hope.

Can't we give DB a little credit for the schedule?

A connected, well-liked, attentive and assertive AD would not have been blindsided by Delaney's (with Hollis' input?) and Swarbrick's sudden scheduling reversals. (But hey - the Horror 2.0!)

Does targeting wipe out other fouls?

It appears that this hit was both targeting and a block in the back. Earlier, a targeting on Rudock could also have been called a late hit. In both cases the targeting was overturned and the uncalled (lesser) penalty infraction is unenforced. Is there a reason two fouls are not (cannot) be called on the same action?

and from the spring game a $20 donation gets you...

$20 – Mott stadium bench seat cushion, approved for regular-season use

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2013/04/parking_tv_and_more_a…

Sit in the shade

For a 3:30 game on Labor Day weekend consider the sun.  I have taken my son to many lower profile games, buying tickets second hand.  You shoud have your choice of location for this game.  With small children, it will be much more pleasant with the sun at your back, in the shade.  Sections 13-25 should work well.