The two major brackets I've seen (CBS and ESPN), and we all know how that fluctuates, have Michigan in a very favorable region. Makes me wish to be a strong #3 seed as opposed to the weakest #2.
A perspective that needed to be read, I appreciate the writing.
If I am Beilein today, getting the team ready for the B1G tournament and the NCAA, I preach the following:
We have experienced a loss on a stunning in and out offense possession
We have experienced a loss on a miracle buzzer beater
We have experienced a David/Goliath type loss
We have experienced a butt kicking
We have experienced a loss where we clearly outplayed another team and came up short
The point? All those emotions, experiences felt usually come as a surprise to teams in the tournament. Think about how many seasons end on something above. We know how all that feels and how to deal with it, heck we know how to avoid it!
What I said was in no way meant to be an indictment of Burke, rather a compliment to Stauskas and GR3, since a reoccuring criticism of both this season has been they don't seem to be there in big games.
But to answer your reply, Burke's FG% was his second worst (35%) this B1G season, behind the first Ohio St. loss (30%). His second half scoring came primarily off of the switches that were occuring, he hit some key 3's, but I think we would agree this didn't feel like a Burke signature game. His running floaters werent falling, it felt like he was forcing too much at times, etc. But me personally, for what hes done for UM this season, he would have gotten a pass from me even if he would have gone 0/20 from the field. SO again, not trying to criticize Burke in my original comment, more of a compliment for the others.
As much as it hurts, here are some things to keep in mind:
In Burke's possibly worst game this season, Stauskas and Robinson finally showed up on the big stage, carrying Michigan for much of the game as Burke worked out of his funk.
Hardaway started attacking early, but reverted back. If somehow he could dial that first half back in...
Role players were gritty, doing things not on a stat sheet, but contributing where they could. Spike comes to mind.
We are 25-6 with losses from the following:
An in and out three ball by Burke against OSU after one of our worst first halfs of the year.
A halfcourt miracle by Wisconsin
A now seemingly trap game against PSU, a team that is playing as well as any in the B1G.
A one point loss against the probable best team in the conference, where the game was gifted away.
The luck that seemed to benefit our sports teams, such as football last year, hasn't been on our side this season. But that's the beauty of things. We can sit here and complain about the little things, and sure, that criticism is valid, but a bounce here and there, and we are possibly 29-2, 28-3. We will be a #2 seed, #3 at worst depending on this weekend, a team that probably won't be as talked about as others. Perfect. Let's go get some revenge this weekend, and make a run into April.
Great point about McGary being in a predicament much of the game when rotating to help, leaving Zeller open for a couple of flush dunks. The biggest worry I had throughout the game was how effortlessly Indiana was attacking the baseline. With no effort to cut off drives by guys like Oladipo, the only choice on alot of the rotations was to give up the open corner three (in the first half), or leave the paint open for Zeller (in the second half). I was really suprised with how consistantly guys like THJ were getting beat. Leaves good room for improvement and things to focus on with the second half of B1G play coming up.
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But would you rather be the Worst #1 or the Best #2 or #3?
The two major brackets I've seen (CBS and ESPN), and we all know how that fluctuates, have Michigan in a very favorable region. Makes me wish to be a strong #3 seed as opposed to the weakest #2.
I think it does in the sense that "you've been there before", and possibly are more apt to be able to avoid such phenomena from reoccuring.
A perspective that needed to be read, I appreciate the writing.
If I am Beilein today, getting the team ready for the B1G tournament and the NCAA, I preach the following:
We have experienced a loss on a stunning in and out offense possession
We have experienced a loss on a miracle buzzer beater
We have experienced a David/Goliath type loss
We have experienced a butt kicking
We have experienced a loss where we clearly outplayed another team and came up short
The point? All those emotions, experiences felt usually come as a surprise to teams in the tournament. Think about how many seasons end on something above. We know how all that feels and how to deal with it, heck we know how to avoid it!
I feel a big run coming on for our boys.
If that was the bracket we were in as the three seed, I'd take it over being a 2 somewhere else.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
What I said was in no way meant to be an indictment of Burke, rather a compliment to Stauskas and GR3, since a reoccuring criticism of both this season has been they don't seem to be there in big games.
But to answer your reply, Burke's FG% was his second worst (35%) this B1G season, behind the first Ohio St. loss (30%). His second half scoring came primarily off of the switches that were occuring, he hit some key 3's, but I think we would agree this didn't feel like a Burke signature game. His running floaters werent falling, it felt like he was forcing too much at times, etc. But me personally, for what hes done for UM this season, he would have gotten a pass from me even if he would have gone 0/20 from the field. SO again, not trying to criticize Burke in my original comment, more of a compliment for the others.
As much as it hurts, here are some things to keep in mind:
In Burke's possibly worst game this season, Stauskas and Robinson finally showed up on the big stage, carrying Michigan for much of the game as Burke worked out of his funk.
Hardaway started attacking early, but reverted back. If somehow he could dial that first half back in...
Role players were gritty, doing things not on a stat sheet, but contributing where they could. Spike comes to mind.
We are 25-6 with losses from the following:
An in and out three ball by Burke against OSU after one of our worst first halfs of the year.
A halfcourt miracle by Wisconsin
A now seemingly trap game against PSU, a team that is playing as well as any in the B1G.
A one point loss against the probable best team in the conference, where the game was gifted away.
The luck that seemed to benefit our sports teams, such as football last year, hasn't been on our side this season. But that's the beauty of things. We can sit here and complain about the little things, and sure, that criticism is valid, but a bounce here and there, and we are possibly 29-2, 28-3. We will be a #2 seed, #3 at worst depending on this weekend, a team that probably won't be as talked about as others. Perfect. Let's go get some revenge this weekend, and make a run into April.
GO BLUE
Great point about McGary being in a predicament much of the game when rotating to help, leaving Zeller open for a couple of flush dunks. The biggest worry I had throughout the game was how effortlessly Indiana was attacking the baseline. With no effort to cut off drives by guys like Oladipo, the only choice on alot of the rotations was to give up the open corner three (in the first half), or leave the paint open for Zeller (in the second half). I was really suprised with how consistantly guys like THJ were getting beat. Leaves good room for improvement and things to focus on with the second half of B1G play coming up.