Himself may determine a galluping conquest for Crisler Arena's finest Assistant Coach blood after a great conference championship victory a bit much, but yogi sold his soul EVERY night he plays for that drama princess. Annywhoo, yes, McGary would put us over the edge given how this coach has mixed together some moderately above average lemons into a smooth summer ale, per his usual work. He uses McGary masterfully within the annual winter symphony of harmonious Beilein over-achievement.
Mr. Underdog would probably have East Lansing accepting him as a perservering and gutsy blue-collar project capable of some real banging and gritty boarding just in time to kiss the S on "Look what Izzo did with all these otherwise hopeless 4 year Senior Projects Day" McGary would NEVER be the Bull in a Princeton(or northwestern)Shop that the real X's and O's man of Michigan has harnassed and unleashed onto the B1G in the form of Mitch McGary.
Yeah, you're proabably in the right and reasonable shades with Levert and Walton absorbing most guard/penetrating duties in half court and to some extent in transition/fast break situations. Using Stauskas' athleticism more as apart of a dual threat element in the half court with screens, weaving etc seems to be the most potent combo in my opinion, just from my subjective viewing thus far. I think they'll win 6 or 7 of the rest regardless of who "quarterbacks" and penetrates just based on superior talent and superior cohesive team play in a pretty top heavy league that is still somehow, in quite resounding fashion, skimming off an inflated reputation from recent years' legit supremacy. Maybe relative weakness of other leagues is the reason, or maybe I'll be proven a fool by a deep league run in the Spring.
Something still tells me (especially if only 6 of last 9) will still be good only for second place; maybe even 7 of 9. This will be the last year in awhile Izzo convinces the drooling masses and pundit sheep that he pulled together his ragtag coralle of elite, but wastefully underachieving talent to somehow snatch the B1G Championship. It will be his last banner in awhile based on his record with "weird" guys that will likely frustrate him into retirement or aneurism in next few seasons. Regardless of whether he edges us or we grab 2nd again, this team will be dangerous and probably seem more potent against the fresh and clean canvous of March. Non-league, un-suspecting, surprisingly overmatched and unfamiliar opponents could be outclassed in last years fashion barring any Bobcat crossings... It'll be refreshing enough to make the grimy B1G sludge a foggy memory.
-Go Blue!
(Yeah I like to type when I get on the MGoBlog, and it looks like I've done it again... So what!!)
Buuuuttt... if a team has quick/athletic enough guards to face guard him off the ball, Stauskas is going to have to make penetration count at a much better rate off of ball screens to get him away from Ferrell/Craft type defenders. If the trend of best on ball defender on Stauskas becomes a theme from here on out, teams with more than one athlete on peremiter or wing can simply follow Crean's template and just switch on ball screens in the half court if Stauskas is bringing the ball up the court.
Sure, Stauskas can easily make a bigger and slower guy pay on a switch, but if the drop off in size or speed is not gaping in advantage, he probably will have to 'rely' on popping behind screens for the bomb more often than not. He lit up Breslin like this, but State tried to fight over a lot of our screening having to rely on Harris/Appling (mostly harris) all night to chase Stauskas over the ball screen. With absent athleticism of Dawson (Mostly his peremiter D) and after seeing Crean's model work so well, the more athletic peremiter teams may have no problem, or even more success with Nik bringing it up the court and penetrating in the halfcourt whether it be over a screen or just straight iso.
Burning the Johnson brothers (eye roll) of Purdue, Nebraska, illinois or even some of Iowa's peremiter guys in iso or Crean's template may be one thing, but as long as D's with multiple peremiter athletes put their best guy on Nik on or off the ball and just switch our ball screens, we're going to have to keep banking on his red hot stroke behind solid screens mixed in with complimentary dribble drive as a nice occasional element, OR hope teams don't/can't copy Crean's screen switching and daylight for Stauskas to pop or attack are more like the first half of the B1G.
I agree with you on Pick 'n' roll, but longer/more athletic D's (Like Indiana) have easier times staying under those transfers forcing a really narrow cut/roll window. Mcgary would be sweet to have for that 'Handoff' threat because he would be a good shield for Stauskas' lethal rythmn jumpers, he seemed to always be getting free on quick cuts for dunks, and he would be a legit worry of dropping off for silky smooth mid rangers as Stauskas would definitely draw help a lot in that scenario. Ohhhhh well I guess, and this is all just IMHO, so would love to hear more opinion. I'm totally with you on the frustration with a legit baller and deadly shooter not having a chance to at least be a factor in such a close conference race... Keep the faith! Trust in the cerebral and adaptive Beilein to always adjust perfectly and hang another banner!! Go Blue!!!!!
It was kind of a relavent game by a conference team, and more so, the highest prize that the whole conference shoots for and a game the conference has in common. I'm not saying that when Wisconsin or another big ten team won the Rose Bowl or another team won something big in another sport that this board erupted with love, but I'm sure there were references and discussion in some type of thread saying way to go or job well done or just, wow, that was impressive, without hurting Michigan in any way. Disdaining or just not caring about another team doesn't mean that objectively recognizing an impressive effort by team x is worthy of uproar, or really an energy at all. If anything, it shows good, healthy fandom capable of appreciating something we all love done well, and a little class and maturity, and it's not like he said Go State, so who cares?? Hopefully Michigan dominates the Big 10 starting next year and the glory is all ours again, but a tasteful, pretty harmless post in the mean time shouldn't derail our chances. Good for them, that's it, move on, be a Michigan Man and Go Blue...
However mGrowOld, a forecast of "Bad" may be giving State's recent run, albeit impressive, more power than it will actually deliver to the intrastate balance. The zero sum theory for the rivalry may seem especially prevalent tonight with the freshness and emotion of what feels something like a final straw tipping the increasingly fragile ship of media exposure, recruiting advantages and pure reputation to Sparty. With reserved wisdom and distinguished class of a true Michigan Man that you clearly bring to this blog, I humbly challenge (or reassure my seasoned MGo superior) of what distinguished and defined the years through which he and the block M came of age together... (Blatant flattery will also stop)
The exclusive attention to the combonation of high standards and honorable values brought a record-setting attainment of excellence sustained by that foundation built in solid concrete over so many years. A hugely established brand and prestigious identity can be chipped away at in the short-term, suffer damage and setback through its own self-destruction, but it is not relinquishing NATIONAL SUPERIORITY of any kind because the current and recent momentum of a much less recognizable competitor, even if close in proximity. No matter what year, decade, opposition, philosophy, fad, or flavor of the day drove the game at a particular time, the Michigan way owned the pen to the record books and wrote itself in whenever it damn pleased. Headlines, familiarity, respect, prestige, much of it undivided with other schools for a LONG time, all permeated deeply into the perception of the collective cultural and sports consciousness (sp?) during this time of historic relevance, making Michigan solidly elite through many generations, regardless of game to game results. With some trivial disagreement as to when Rome "Officially Fell", we can all pretty much agree that (in general) this prolonged golden age lasted through the Carr era. My point being to MGrowOld (only using his post as example, not picking on the man) is that a strong, firmly in-tact bucket, forged soundly through decades of committment by the highest grade of players, coaches and infrastructure is a bucket that tonight received merely another drop whose ripples will do very little in defining how the bucket looks in the future.
Sure, maybe dismissive to an undeniably momentous surge and further proof toward a permanent upgrade to an in-state rival's status. Sooo what.... Is that really threatening to Michigan being elite?? These dooming bloggers who seem to be outspoken especially after tonight, and maybe after future Sparty triumphs are creating unnecessary nightmares and terrible visions of worshipping the inevitable ruthless sparty rule and influence over Michigan, every elite recruit, your healthcare!!! :0 A ship-tipping force capable of tilting the intrastate scales so unevenly that Michigan Football/Athletics' downward spiral is now at the mercy of State's budding momentum is not something that happened last night, nor will it be if they sweep us in basketball and win the national championship, and repeat both next season. It's not nearly as zero sum as a lot are making it out to be. Sure, state being relevant in the Big Ten every year will expand their recruiting influence, but does anyone seriously think anything they do in next 5 years is going to attract enough sizzle and sex appeal nationally to not only become a destination for blue chip recruits, but erode and subtract from Michigan in the process?
I submit that their current success is a lot more than a cute Rose Bowl win in 1988, what they are putting together is definitely impactful for them, and will probably lead to some regional victories that help them do what they do, k, where's the fear? If success between Duke and North Carolina is not zero sum, and both remain elite regardless of their battles with each other, then what gives anyone the slightest threat that Sparty is going to somehow run Michigan out of town, or detract them from doing what they want in any macro, long-term way? If Michigan is at their best, Michigan will be a juggernaut and have whatever style and identity they please, regardless of what realm Sparty enters into. If Michigan crumbles to some meteoric fall ending in EMU relevance, it will be because they didn't get their crap together, and coaching turmoil and recruiting uncertainty become issues.
If a team can keep Burke from driving and dishing, well, there goes the whole offense. Been the biggest supporter of Beilein in past, but rather than particular players having off nights, or certain flaws in particular games, this "softer" euro style is seeming more and more like a larger fundamental flaw.
We dominate teams with less-athletic guards when Burke can penetrate and our "smooth as vanilla" 3 pt game can click uncontested. We totally unravel against decent defense when Burke can't penetrate because we can't pound, rebound and grind in a way that the big ten demands from a conference champion. NCAA tourney will be a breath of fresh air for offense. Need to get tougher.
I just can't help myself that it's finally being exposed, so one more thought. I think a lot of the sheep were won over by the "Magical" run to Detroit and all of the "Maaaagical" things he's "done for our state" but if you look at that team and many of his other deep run/final four teams, even they under-achieved for their talent, and his presumed "dream teams" that have started preseason top 3 that barely sniffed the tourney would have been Belein masterpieces. Just watch though, after Belein hangs another banner or has a top 10 year, and Izzo's 7 seed with 2 seed talent sqeaks by Vermont in the first weekend, Belein will be an after thought in yet another corrination of Izzo's "Maaagical" turnaround "Coach of the Year" performance. About time the best coach in the state get his due... So glad Martin extended him on his farewell tour...
Wow. Izzo worshiping college basketball sheep prepare to gasp in disbelief, but Belein is head and shoulders above Izzo as a coach. I'm not sure of the talent, or how it is even quantifiable, on Izzo's team(s) compared to a Belein team before this years loaded team, but I would bet the house on Belein showing he can do a LOT more with a LOT less... Can't wait for this nauseating izzo fever to finally subside. I don't know what it will take.
Slightly off topic but maybe the slight distraction is welcome considering the circumstances. Any hockey junkies know of anyone with old hockey video from the 90s (Morrison, Turco era???) Would love to look back on some of those throttlings of sparty at the joe and yost . Such great memories. I would be willing to purchase. Okay, now back to reality... :(
As promising as Hoke looks at re-installing stability, it is still puzzling that our whole season revolves around one guy or one position, staying healthy. Why not have gardner take reps in practice at QB too so it's not total feast or famine? If Denard is somehow, for some reason not able to return this year, it would not be totally insane to predict an 0-4 finish with Bellomy starting and playing every game.
How is that? How does this staff justify revolving ALL of our offensive potency around a RUNNING quarterback and NOT have a legitimate back up plan, and remain in stable cardiac condition everytime Denard tucks it and runs? I understand it is the reminants of rich rod's philosophy to have whole team's success revolve around one position, but is it above your pay grade to at least have a Steven Threet caliber back up plan????? Ughhhh.
Girlfriend falling asleep on couch, therefore i'm not afforded the basic human right of sound without a kick to the leg. I saw Denard injury but have not HEARD one prognosis or update. Anyone whose girlfriend is not Saddam hear a prognosis???
Loaded. As long as Illinois, Nebraksa Northwestern and Penn State don't participate, we're sweeping the Big Ten/ACC challenge. But seriously, you're looking at IU, MSU, UofM, in the top tier, then I'd say a shallow drop off before OSU (No recruits, but loaded 2011 class) and Wisconsin.
Then you're looking at very real sleeper contenders in Iowa, who lives to to run and notched an athletic class, and Minnesota with Mbakwe and residue of a decent core returning. Look for Iowa and Minny to do some damage...
The only Non-Bottom Feeder that could see a dropoff is Purdue, but they are very well coached and will not approach a meltdown of 2012 Illinois proportions... So, with returning talent and loading incoming talent, wins will be at an absolute premium every night with the rare breather in Lincoln or Champaign.
Good to know that we can compete and win in a conference that is so loaded, and that our confrence, in GENERAL does it the right way relative to some other programs, (cough cough) who have been on the national stage lately. I can say with a fair amount of confidence that none of our schools (Maybe minus OSU) would stoop to hiring a coach whose every notable accomplishment at previous schools has been stricken from the records) Happy to be in the nation's most consistent, relavent conference!!
And for all the gloomNdoomers declaring the unconditional surrender of Michigan hoops to eternal "Washington Generalism" or for those of you who have said things like "Hoops can't get it's head above water" I say to you, BIG TEN CHAMPIONS!!! Hellooo??? It's okay to be depressed about a defection that would have put hoops over the edge onto that GREAT level from the "In the mix/ Contender" level, but "Can't get there head above water"??? Is head above water the Final Four every year or something??
I can see that kind of sentiment over the last 15 years when we couldn't even get out of bed and Crisler was essentially a back up plan if the movie theater wasn't worthy on a given night, but over the last 2-3 years, we have not only gotten out of bed but hopped into a refreshing shower, dressed ourselves, and managed to even leave the house and bring home some glory. If you went back at all football/basketball teams in the last, I don't know, 20 years, who had a solid foundation, who could have been great if some pro level talent stuck around, we would be talking abou 2012 Kentucky or 2009 UNC caliber teams every other year!!!
Be bummed out for awhile, but don't jump over the ledge. Belein has proven to us that he has the sharpest of eyes for what will produce on his team, so trust in this Spike kid, and REGARDLESS of whether or not he is some under the radar hero or a total bust, step back and frame this into perspective!! Look at last year, look at the talent raw and refined talent that is returning and rejoice on the GREATER SCHEME picture and TREND LINE of where this program is headed under a clearly competent, hungry and passionate leader at helm, and REJOICE!! Don't be a kid who has been driving a rusted out Chevy Cavalier around who suddenly gets a BMW from his parents, but throws a fit because it has 18' rims instead of 24 (Or however those things are measured). Keep your head up, don't be spoiled, look where we've been, look where we're going, look forward to another Big Ten Race in late February, respect the game, respect what kind of life it ultimately creates for those who play it well, and ENJOY IT !!!
Go Belein, Go Blue, Talk to me in March when Belein will once again show us that the OVERALL trajectory of this program toward glory may be briefly stunted for short periods, but CANNOT be denied...
Remember Beleien's extension circa Martin's exit a couple years back that had a lot of people scratching their heads? Well, itch scratched... Don't know what the ceiling is in terms of dominating athleticism needed for final four runs an consistent conference contention, but I'll sure take where we're headed over where we were.
I have been a Belein critic from the start, butt he has shown that they can compete, tactically and athletically with ANYONE. Very deserving of any praise, and hopefully an M LIFER. Maybe we have our BO of basketball!!
We win tomorrow, we either win out or lose just one (@ northwestern) making us 4-1 from here on out. Winning out (5-0) would almost guarantee us a big ten title share as MSU and OSU still have to play each other, and MSU has a brutal road schedule in which they're destined to drop at least one of @ Minnesota or @ Indiana. Winning out or going 4-1 would probably put us at a low 2 seed or high 3 seed. At that point, the big ten tournament could greet us with a first round loss to Iowa, or a championship run, after all, it is the big ten tournament, pick a team, any team!!
Since I can't post new subjects yet, I thought this might be the most appropriate setting to pose the question. Although I'm not nearly as active a fan in non-football seasons, my attention is starting to be tugged at, albeit maybe cruely and teasingiy, BUT if we can overcome the handsomely compensated insult to college athletics tomorrow (Sat) at 9:00, doesn't it look like we're destined for a conference title??? Of the sliming matta's, MSU, and us, we seem to have the clearest road in terms of winning out. Assuming 4 losses wins it and we hand OSU their 4th tomorrow night, here is a look at the remaining schedules for the competitors.
OSU at 10-4: VS Illinois
VS Wisconsin (Loseable)
@Northwestern
@ MSU (Loseable)
MSU at 10-3:
@ Purdue
@ Minnesota (Loseable)
VS Nebraska
@ Indiana (Loseable/probable loss)
VS OSU
Michigan at 10-4:
@ Northwestern (Loseable)
VS Trainwreck of Purdue
@ Trainwreck of Illinois
@ Trainwrecked forever Penn State
Again. Assuming 4 losses is the winner, doesn't a win tomorrow pretty much get us there barring a let down and massive disappointment at Northwestern?? I'm guessing MSU and OSU lose at least 1 more a piece. Sorry this was a reply, would pose the question in a post if I could. Thanks! If this was a non-cap year for Matta I would be more worried about tomorrow, but Stern, Oh, I mean Mark Emmert, capped him off at $2 mill this year, so we only have to worry about one Sullinger instead of 3 or 4.
Yeah, but you still don't get it. You wouldn't make this for Purdue or Penn State. Just mentioning them (especially in the frequency they have been recently) on this board is recognizing their worth and that we might care. Message to all mods. PLEASE DELETE ALL POSTS regarding that second rate, garbage junior college. This is MGoBlog, please keep the posts about MICHIGAN!!!!
They are not our rival, they are not on our radar, the two schools are not even comparable, stop, no more.
Correct. Communism still spreading!! Barack Delaney must go! Kidding :) Fun thread full of insightful talk and I enjoy, but with all due respect I think it's quite irrelevant. Even with another down-to-the-wire, hail-mary finish FINALLY bringing the greatest college football game of all time to a breath-taking end in the 83rd overtime..... Michigan still moves ahead of the loser, period. Really, our only (BCS related) rooting interest lies in the prison cell, recently renamed the Southeastern Athletic Conference, where we simply need LSU to take care of business; a confident situation. Agreed??
That being said, let revenge be a bitch! Upon an intensely scrutinized study of the B1G finalists' tendencies, coupled with a surgical statistical analysis of both teams' seasons, I have concluded, quite assuredly, that the exact following events will unfold if my air tight figures and calculations are indeed correct:
Wisconsin's OL steamrolls Gholston who is promptly replaced by a helmet-less, padless, mouth piece-less Izzo.
This substitution will be coincidentally followed by a sudden rule change which states "Upon entry of an Izzo into the game, all 10 of his teammates MUST leave him on the field, helpless, scared and alone."
My calculus goes on to predict that Izzo will either be effortlessly badger-rolled, or the more predictable outcome that he will just scream himself into an aneurism.
If anyone can take my honest pick on the game seriously after that biased blather, my (monopoly) money is with Vegas. If I remember right, Wisco gashed State pretty bad on the ground in October. Although State went on quite the run through the meat of the game (31-3), I would argue that the roll was less of the imposing, dominating variety and more of the, bounce of the ball, timely stops, break of the game variety. Perhaps an embellishment, but that's how I seem to remember the game. I would be really surprised to learn that State won any one of the T.O.P, Yds Rushing or First Down categories in that game. Not to totally discredit their win, but I'm just sayin... and I think most football observers would agree, it's safe to say that WIsconsin passed the eyeball test as the better, more oiled team in that matchup.
State is probably the most aggressive team in the B1G with their LBs, and Ball and Co. were still gashing them up the middle regularly. State somehow survived that bleeding at home in October but if they want a chance at winning again, they're going to have to play with both safeties up, leaving them vulnerable to the deep ball. The Cheese's OL could have a little more trouble seeling of the ends now that Gholston is out on bail, but even still... Decided advantage to Badgers Ground Game vs State front 7-9.
Factor in the revenge angle, all the big- game choking criticism that Wisc Seniors are giddy to buck, and just the sheer bad odds of beating a better/equal team twice, Wisconsin ROLLS as Biellema so tastefully goes for two in a blowout, WITH his starters, while maintaning the sheepish, DB smirk the whole way. Having said all that, if they do somehow lose, they will be officially validated as Football's biggest cupcake-eating FRAUDS.
Forewarning: If State somehow prevails, and despair appears to reign, don't choke from the bitter taste of "Michigan State University: Innagural B1G Championship Game Winners." Instead, just pull out the "First Big Ten Baskteball Tournament Champions" card and listen to all Sparties fall silent!! :))) I hope an attempt at a bit of mild humor went over okay for my innagural post. It at least helped me break up an otherwise excruciating night of studying :(( Go Badgers, Go Bulldogs, and whatever you do, PLEASE take the over on the Michigan vs Houston number :))) Good night!!!!
Recent Comments
Two words: Brandon Smith. A little side trivia: Where did he transfer to? HINT: Where the coach who recruited him currently coaches.
Himself may determine a galluping conquest for Crisler Arena's finest Assistant Coach blood after a great conference championship victory a bit much, but yogi sold his soul EVERY night he plays for that drama princess. Annywhoo, yes, McGary would put us over the edge given how this coach has mixed together some moderately above average lemons into a smooth summer ale, per his usual work. He uses McGary masterfully within the annual winter symphony of harmonious Beilein over-achievement.
Mr. Underdog would probably have East Lansing accepting him as a perservering and gutsy blue-collar project capable of some real banging and gritty boarding just in time to kiss the S on "Look what Izzo did with all these otherwise hopeless 4 year Senior Projects Day" McGary would NEVER be the Bull in a Princeton (or northwestern) Shop that the real X's and O's man of Michigan has harnassed and unleashed onto the B1G in the form of Mitch McGary.
Yeah, you're proabably in the right and reasonable shades with Levert and Walton absorbing most guard/penetrating duties in half court and to some extent in transition/fast break situations. Using Stauskas' athleticism more as apart of a dual threat element in the half court with screens, weaving etc seems to be the most potent combo in my opinion, just from my subjective viewing thus far. I think they'll win 6 or 7 of the rest regardless of who "quarterbacks" and penetrates just based on superior talent and superior cohesive team play in a pretty top heavy league that is still somehow, in quite resounding fashion, skimming off an inflated reputation from recent years' legit supremacy. Maybe relative weakness of other leagues is the reason, or maybe I'll be proven a fool by a deep league run in the Spring.
Something still tells me (especially if only 6 of last 9) will still be good only for second place; maybe even 7 of 9. This will be the last year in awhile Izzo convinces the drooling masses and pundit sheep that he pulled together his ragtag coralle of elite, but wastefully underachieving talent to somehow snatch the B1G Championship. It will be his last banner in awhile based on his record with "weird" guys that will likely frustrate him into retirement or aneurism in next few seasons. Regardless of whether he edges us or we grab 2nd again, this team will be dangerous and probably seem more potent against the fresh and clean canvous of March. Non-league, un-suspecting, surprisingly overmatched and unfamiliar opponents could be outclassed in last years fashion barring any Bobcat crossings... It'll be refreshing enough to make the grimy B1G sludge a foggy memory.
-Go Blue!
(Yeah I like to type when I get on the MGoBlog, and it looks like I've done it again... So what!!)
Buuuuttt... if a team has quick/athletic enough guards to face guard him off the ball, Stauskas is going to have to make penetration count at a much better rate off of ball screens to get him away from Ferrell/Craft type defenders. If the trend of best on ball defender on Stauskas becomes a theme from here on out, teams with more than one athlete on peremiter or wing can simply follow Crean's template and just switch on ball screens in the half court if Stauskas is bringing the ball up the court.
Sure, Stauskas can easily make a bigger and slower guy pay on a switch, but if the drop off in size or speed is not gaping in advantage, he probably will have to 'rely' on popping behind screens for the bomb more often than not. He lit up Breslin like this, but State tried to fight over a lot of our screening having to rely on Harris/Appling (mostly harris) all night to chase Stauskas over the ball screen. With absent athleticism of Dawson (Mostly his peremiter D) and after seeing Crean's model work so well, the more athletic peremiter teams may have no problem, or even more success with Nik bringing it up the court and penetrating in the halfcourt whether it be over a screen or just straight iso.
Burning the Johnson brothers (eye roll) of Purdue, Nebraska, illinois or even some of Iowa's peremiter guys in iso or Crean's template may be one thing, but as long as D's with multiple peremiter athletes put their best guy on Nik on or off the ball and just switch our ball screens, we're going to have to keep banking on his red hot stroke behind solid screens mixed in with complimentary dribble drive as a nice occasional element, OR hope teams don't/can't copy Crean's screen switching and daylight for Stauskas to pop or attack are more like the first half of the B1G.
I agree with you on Pick 'n' roll, but longer/more athletic D's (Like Indiana) have easier times staying under those transfers forcing a really narrow cut/roll window. Mcgary would be sweet to have for that 'Handoff' threat because he would be a good shield for Stauskas' lethal rythmn jumpers, he seemed to always be getting free on quick cuts for dunks, and he would be a legit worry of dropping off for silky smooth mid rangers as Stauskas would definitely draw help a lot in that scenario. Ohhhhh well I guess, and this is all just IMHO, so would love to hear more opinion. I'm totally with you on the frustration with a legit baller and deadly shooter not having a chance to at least be a factor in such a close conference race... Keep the faith! Trust in the cerebral and adaptive Beilein to always adjust perfectly and hang another banner!! Go Blue!!!!!
It was kind of a relavent game by a conference team, and more so, the highest prize that the whole conference shoots for and a game the conference has in common. I'm not saying that when Wisconsin or another big ten team won the Rose Bowl or another team won something big in another sport that this board erupted with love, but I'm sure there were references and discussion in some type of thread saying way to go or job well done or just, wow, that was impressive, without hurting Michigan in any way. Disdaining or just not caring about another team doesn't mean that objectively recognizing an impressive effort by team x is worthy of uproar, or really an energy at all. If anything, it shows good, healthy fandom capable of appreciating something we all love done well, and a little class and maturity, and it's not like he said Go State, so who cares?? Hopefully Michigan dominates the Big 10 starting next year and the glory is all ours again, but a tasteful, pretty harmless post in the mean time shouldn't derail our chances. Good for them, that's it, move on, be a Michigan Man and Go Blue...
However mGrowOld, a forecast of "Bad" may be giving State's recent run, albeit impressive, more power than it will actually deliver to the intrastate balance. The zero sum theory for the rivalry may seem especially prevalent tonight with the freshness and emotion of what feels something like a final straw tipping the increasingly fragile ship of media exposure, recruiting advantages and pure reputation to Sparty. With reserved wisdom and distinguished class of a true Michigan Man that you clearly bring to this blog, I humbly challenge (or reassure my seasoned MGo superior) of what distinguished and defined the years through which he and the block M came of age together... (Blatant flattery will also stop)
The exclusive attention to the combonation of high standards and honorable values brought a record-setting attainment of excellence sustained by that foundation built in solid concrete over so many years. A hugely established brand and prestigious identity can be chipped away at in the short-term, suffer damage and setback through its own self-destruction, but it is not relinquishing NATIONAL SUPERIORITY of any kind because the current and recent momentum of a much less recognizable competitor, even if close in proximity. No matter what year, decade, opposition, philosophy, fad, or flavor of the day drove the game at a particular time, the Michigan way owned the pen to the record books and wrote itself in whenever it damn pleased. Headlines, familiarity, respect, prestige, much of it undivided with other schools for a LONG time, all permeated deeply into the perception of the collective cultural and sports consciousness (sp?) during this time of historic relevance, making Michigan solidly elite through many generations, regardless of game to game results. With some trivial disagreement as to when Rome "Officially Fell", we can all pretty much agree that (in general) this prolonged golden age lasted through the Carr era. My point being to MGrowOld (only using his post as example, not picking on the man) is that a strong, firmly in-tact bucket, forged soundly through decades of committment by the highest grade of players, coaches and infrastructure is a bucket that tonight received merely another drop whose ripples will do very little in defining how the bucket looks in the future.
Sure, maybe dismissive to an undeniably momentous surge and further proof toward a permanent upgrade to an in-state rival's status. Sooo what.... Is that really threatening to Michigan being elite?? These dooming bloggers who seem to be outspoken especially after tonight, and maybe after future Sparty triumphs are creating unnecessary nightmares and terrible visions of worshipping the inevitable ruthless sparty rule and influence over Michigan, every elite recruit, your healthcare!!! :0 A ship-tipping force capable of tilting the intrastate scales so unevenly that Michigan Football/Athletics' downward spiral is now at the mercy of State's budding momentum is not something that happened last night, nor will it be if they sweep us in basketball and win the national championship, and repeat both next season. It's not nearly as zero sum as a lot are making it out to be. Sure, state being relevant in the Big Ten every year will expand their recruiting influence, but does anyone seriously think anything they do in next 5 years is going to attract enough sizzle and sex appeal nationally to not only become a destination for blue chip recruits, but erode and subtract from Michigan in the process?
I submit that their current success is a lot more than a cute Rose Bowl win in 1988, what they are putting together is definitely impactful for them, and will probably lead to some regional victories that help them do what they do, k, where's the fear? If success between Duke and North Carolina is not zero sum, and both remain elite regardless of their battles with each other, then what gives anyone the slightest threat that Sparty is going to somehow run Michigan out of town, or detract them from doing what they want in any macro, long-term way? If Michigan is at their best, Michigan will be a juggernaut and have whatever style and identity they please, regardless of what realm Sparty enters into. If Michigan crumbles to some meteoric fall ending in EMU relevance, it will be because they didn't get their crap together, and coaching turmoil and recruiting uncertainty become issues.
Inhale, relax, Go Blue!
If a team can keep Burke from driving and dishing, well, there goes the whole offense. Been the biggest supporter of Beilein in past, but rather than particular players having off nights, or certain flaws in particular games, this "softer" euro style is seeming more and more like a larger fundamental flaw.
We dominate teams with less-athletic guards when Burke can penetrate and our "smooth as vanilla" 3 pt game can click uncontested. We totally unravel against decent defense when Burke can't penetrate because we can't pound, rebound and grind in a way that the big ten demands from a conference champion. NCAA tourney will be a breath of fresh air for offense. Need to get tougher.
I just can't help myself that it's finally being exposed, so one more thought. I think a lot of the sheep were won over by the "Magical" run to Detroit and all of the "Maaaagical" things he's "done for our state" but if you look at that team and many of his other deep run/final four teams, even they under-achieved for their talent, and his presumed "dream teams" that have started preseason top 3 that barely sniffed the tourney would have been Belein masterpieces. Just watch though, after Belein hangs another banner or has a top 10 year, and Izzo's 7 seed with 2 seed talent sqeaks by Vermont in the first weekend, Belein will be an after thought in yet another corrination of Izzo's "Maaagical" turnaround "Coach of the Year" performance. About time the best coach in the state get his due... So glad Martin extended him on his farewell tour...
Wow. Izzo worshiping college basketball sheep prepare to gasp in disbelief, but Belein is head and shoulders above Izzo as a coach. I'm not sure of the talent, or how it is even quantifiable, on Izzo's team(s) compared to a Belein team before this years loaded team, but I would bet the house on Belein showing he can do a LOT more with a LOT less... Can't wait for this nauseating izzo fever to finally subside. I don't know what it will take.
Slightly off topic but maybe the slight distraction is welcome considering the circumstances. Any hockey junkies know of anyone with old hockey video from the 90s (Morrison, Turco era???) Would love to look back on some of those throttlings of sparty at the joe and yost . Such great memories. I would be willing to purchase. Okay, now back to reality... :(
As promising as Hoke looks at re-installing stability, it is still puzzling that our whole season revolves around one guy or one position, staying healthy. Why not have gardner take reps in practice at QB too so it's not total feast or famine? If Denard is somehow, for some reason not able to return this year, it would not be totally insane to predict an 0-4 finish with Bellomy starting and playing every game.
How is that? How does this staff justify revolving ALL of our offensive potency around a RUNNING quarterback and NOT have a legitimate back up plan, and remain in stable cardiac condition everytime Denard tucks it and runs? I understand it is the reminants of rich rod's philosophy to have whole team's success revolve around one position, but is it above your pay grade to at least have a Steven Threet caliber back up plan????? Ughhhh.
Girlfriend falling asleep on couch, therefore i'm not afforded the basic human right of sound without a kick to the leg. I saw Denard injury but have not HEARD one prognosis or update. Anyone whose girlfriend is not Saddam hear a prognosis???
Loaded. As long as Illinois, Nebraksa Northwestern and Penn State don't participate, we're sweeping the Big Ten/ACC challenge. But seriously, you're looking at IU, MSU, UofM, in the top tier, then I'd say a shallow drop off before OSU (No recruits, but loaded 2011 class) and Wisconsin.
Then you're looking at very real sleeper contenders in Iowa, who lives to to run and notched an athletic class, and Minnesota with Mbakwe and residue of a decent core returning. Look for Iowa and Minny to do some damage...
The only Non-Bottom Feeder that could see a dropoff is Purdue, but they are very well coached and will not approach a meltdown of 2012 Illinois proportions... So, with returning talent and loading incoming talent, wins will be at an absolute premium every night with the rare breather in Lincoln or Champaign.
Good to know that we can compete and win in a conference that is so loaded, and that our confrence, in GENERAL does it the right way relative to some other programs, (cough cough) who have been on the national stage lately. I can say with a fair amount of confidence that none of our schools (Maybe minus OSU) would stoop to hiring a coach whose every notable accomplishment at previous schools has been stricken from the records) Happy to be in the nation's most consistent, relavent conference!!
GO BLUE!!!
And for all the gloomNdoomers declaring the unconditional surrender of Michigan hoops to eternal "Washington Generalism" or for those of you who have said things like "Hoops can't get it's head above water" I say to you, BIG TEN CHAMPIONS!!! Hellooo??? It's okay to be depressed about a defection that would have put hoops over the edge onto that GREAT level from the "In the mix/ Contender" level, but "Can't get there head above water"??? Is head above water the Final Four every year or something??
I can see that kind of sentiment over the last 15 years when we couldn't even get out of bed and Crisler was essentially a back up plan if the movie theater wasn't worthy on a given night, but over the last 2-3 years, we have not only gotten out of bed but hopped into a refreshing shower, dressed ourselves, and managed to even leave the house and bring home some glory. If you went back at all football/basketball teams in the last, I don't know, 20 years, who had a solid foundation, who could have been great if some pro level talent stuck around, we would be talking abou 2012 Kentucky or 2009 UNC caliber teams every other year!!!
Be bummed out for awhile, but don't jump over the ledge. Belein has proven to us that he has the sharpest of eyes for what will produce on his team, so trust in this Spike kid, and REGARDLESS of whether or not he is some under the radar hero or a total bust, step back and frame this into perspective!! Look at last year, look at the talent raw and refined talent that is returning and rejoice on the GREATER SCHEME picture and TREND LINE of where this program is headed under a clearly competent, hungry and passionate leader at helm, and REJOICE!! Don't be a kid who has been driving a rusted out Chevy Cavalier around who suddenly gets a BMW from his parents, but throws a fit because it has 18' rims instead of 24 (Or however those things are measured). Keep your head up, don't be spoiled, look where we've been, look where we're going, look forward to another Big Ten Race in late February, respect the game, respect what kind of life it ultimately creates for those who play it well, and ENJOY IT !!!
Go Belein, Go Blue, Talk to me in March when Belein will once again show us that the OVERALL trajectory of this program toward glory may be briefly stunted for short periods, but CANNOT be denied...
Remember Beleien's extension circa Martin's exit a couple years back that had a lot of people scratching their heads? Well, itch scratched... Don't know what the ceiling is in terms of dominating athleticism needed for final four runs an consistent conference contention, but I'll sure take where we're headed over where we were.
I have been a Belein critic from the start, butt he has shown that they can compete, tactically and athletically with ANYONE. Very deserving of any praise, and hopefully an M LIFER. Maybe we have our BO of basketball!!
We win tomorrow, we either win out or lose just one (@ northwestern) making us 4-1 from here on out. Winning out (5-0) would almost guarantee us a big ten title share as MSU and OSU still have to play each other, and MSU has a brutal road schedule in which they're destined to drop at least one of @ Minnesota or @ Indiana. Winning out or going 4-1 would probably put us at a low 2 seed or high 3 seed. At that point, the big ten tournament could greet us with a first round loss to Iowa, or a championship run, after all, it is the big ten tournament, pick a team, any team!!
Since I can't post new subjects yet, I thought this might be the most appropriate setting to pose the question. Although I'm not nearly as active a fan in non-football seasons, my attention is starting to be tugged at, albeit maybe cruely and teasingiy, BUT if we can overcome the handsomely compensated insult to college athletics tomorrow (Sat) at 9:00, doesn't it look like we're destined for a conference title??? Of the sliming matta's, MSU, and us, we seem to have the clearest road in terms of winning out. Assuming 4 losses wins it and we hand OSU their 4th tomorrow night, here is a look at the remaining schedules for the competitors.
OSU at 10-4: VS Illinois
VS Wisconsin (Loseable)
@Northwestern
@ MSU (Loseable)
MSU at 10-3:
@ Purdue
@ Minnesota (Loseable)
VS Nebraska
@ Indiana (Loseable/probable loss)
VS OSU
Michigan at 10-4:
@ Northwestern (Loseable)
VS Trainwreck of Purdue
@ Trainwreck of Illinois
@ Trainwrecked forever Penn State
Again. Assuming 4 losses is the winner, doesn't a win tomorrow pretty much get us there barring a let down and massive disappointment at Northwestern?? I'm guessing MSU and OSU lose at least 1 more a piece. Sorry this was a reply, would pose the question in a post if I could. Thanks! If this was a non-cap year for Matta I would be more worried about tomorrow, but Stern, Oh, I mean Mark Emmert, capped him off at $2 mill this year, so we only have to worry about one Sullinger instead of 3 or 4.
Yeah, but you still don't get it. You wouldn't make this for Purdue or Penn State. Just mentioning them (especially in the frequency they have been recently) on this board is recognizing their worth and that we might care. Message to all mods. PLEASE DELETE ALL POSTS regarding that second rate, garbage junior college. This is MGoBlog, please keep the posts about MICHIGAN!!!!
They are not our rival, they are not on our radar, the two schools are not even comparable, stop, no more.
Agreed, this board is starting to get embarrasing. Since when do we care about state?? We are Michigan, we need not mention them, this is ridiculous.
TrueBlue and others... Anyone know how Bama's team looks next year? Do they return a lot? Does it even matter? LOL.
Thanks.
Correct. Communism still spreading!! Barack Delaney must go! Kidding :) Fun thread full of insightful talk and I enjoy, but with all due respect I think it's quite irrelevant. Even with another down-to-the-wire, hail-mary finish FINALLY bringing the greatest college football game of all time to a breath-taking end in the 83rd overtime..... Michigan still moves ahead of the loser, period. Really, our only (BCS related) rooting interest lies in the prison cell, recently renamed the Southeastern Athletic Conference, where we simply need LSU to take care of business; a confident situation. Agreed??
That being said, let revenge be a bitch! Upon an intensely scrutinized study of the B1G finalists' tendencies, coupled with a surgical statistical analysis of both teams' seasons, I have concluded, quite assuredly, that the exact following events will unfold if my air tight figures and calculations are indeed correct:
If anyone can take my honest pick on the game seriously after that biased blather, my (monopoly) money is with Vegas. If I remember right, Wisco gashed State pretty bad on the ground in October. Although State went on quite the run through the meat of the game (31-3), I would argue that the roll was less of the imposing, dominating variety and more of the, bounce of the ball, timely stops, break of the game variety. Perhaps an embellishment, but that's how I seem to remember the game. I would be really surprised to learn that State won any one of the T.O.P, Yds Rushing or First Down categories in that game. Not to totally discredit their win, but I'm just sayin... and I think most football observers would agree, it's safe to say that WIsconsin passed the eyeball test as the better, more oiled team in that matchup.
State is probably the most aggressive team in the B1G with their LBs, and Ball and Co. were still gashing them up the middle regularly. State somehow survived that bleeding at home in October but if they want a chance at winning again, they're going to have to play with both safeties up, leaving them vulnerable to the deep ball. The Cheese's OL could have a little more trouble seeling of the ends now that Gholston is out on bail, but even still... Decided advantage to Badgers Ground Game vs State front 7-9.
Factor in the revenge angle, all the big- game choking criticism that Wisc Seniors are giddy to buck, and just the sheer bad odds of beating a better/equal team twice, Wisconsin ROLLS as Biellema so tastefully goes for two in a blowout, WITH his starters, while maintaning the sheepish, DB smirk the whole way. Having said all that, if they do somehow lose, they will be officially validated as Football's biggest cupcake-eating FRAUDS.
Forewarning: If State somehow prevails, and despair appears to reign, don't choke from the bitter taste of "Michigan State University: Innagural B1G Championship Game Winners." Instead, just pull out the "First Big Ten Baskteball Tournament Champions" card and listen to all Sparties fall silent!! :))) I hope an attempt at a bit of mild humor went over okay for my innagural post. It at least helped me break up an otherwise excruciating night of studying :(( Go Badgers, Go Bulldogs, and whatever you do, PLEASE take the over on the Michigan vs Houston number :))) Good night!!!!