100% stop doing this before you kill me

CLICK HERE for Game Recap from Kristy McNeil and other pertinent information.

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan turned in another stinker performance in a national semifinal. While they did generate some chances in the last couple of periods, they just gave away chances in transition like no other. Unfortunately, Erik Portillo’s (probable) last game in the Michigan crease was probably his worst. He got banked twice and flat out missed a harmless shot from the boards. Quinnipiac played much steadier and and stronger in their zone, waiting for Wolverine mistakes. This year, they came in torrents and the Bobcats pounced and feasted.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

	Total Attempts	Even Strength	Power Play	Close (within 1)	Even Strength %
Quinnipiac	57	50	7	37	45%
Michigan	74	62	12	37	55%

Forward Notes.

-Quinnipiac got the game style and scoring sequence that they wanted in the first two periods. They all but erased Michigan’s offense from their forward lines. The bottom three lines for Michigan mostly went unnoticed as they collectively managed just five shots on net all evening. Depth scoring has been something that the Wolverines got for enough of the year, but they struggled just to get a puck on Yaniv Perets all night. Eric Ciccolini did ring the iron in the third period, probably Michigan’s best chance in the final stanza.

-After having a rough first period, the top line did kick it into gear and generated plenty of chances in the second (not quite as many in the third). Adam Fantilli scored a typical blast from the dot in the second period to tie it after Luke Hughes teed him up nicely. Rutger McGroarty and Gavin Brindley both had great chances to get on the board all night. This was not a vintage Michigan offensive night –thanks mostly to suffocating Bobcat defense, but the top line did a lot. Hopefully, it’s not the last time we see them together.

-There’s really not a whole lot that’s been left unsaid. Look, Adam Fantilli is the best player I’ve seen at Michigan. Kyle Connor was great, but Adam is at a different level. He also has that MacKinnon fire and competitiveness. He scored and somehow his the underside of the bar without scoring. He creates, he muscles, he dishes…he backchecks. He stayed in the middle of the ice looking around and waving to the fans after the game. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal that he’s leaving…but it easily could be, too. I wouldn’t blame him. Either way, Adam, (if you’re reading this), it’s been amazing watching you all year. I’ll be hard pressed to not get your jersey when you’re tearing up the NHL.

Defense Notes.

-WOOF. The in-zone defense wasn’t the worst it’s been all season, but it was inconsistent, especially early. They did settle down a bit as the game progressed. The transition tracking was pretty horrendous, though. That will be discussed later.

-Unfortunately for Luke Hughes, his last game in Maize and Blue will be a haunting one. He’s been tremendous and other-worldly many times in his career. On Thursday night in Tampa, though…it was rough. Not only did he turn the puck over too many times, he also got toasted on the Jacob Quillan breakaway goal. Just afterwards, he left a QCat alone at the top of the crease for an easy deflection that ultimately went high. Now, ESPN reported that he was regurgitating consumables into a trash can behind the bench…so that could easily have had some impact, ha. Luke did make an awesome dish for Adam Fantilli for his game-tying blast from the dot. Luke has been quite the interesting case in his career. Many highs and lows. It’s unfortunate for it to end like this.

-On a much more positive note, Seamus Casey was the best non-Adam Fantilli player on the ice for Michigan. His Makar-esque goal in the first period, dancing through basically every yellow sweater before slipping the puck around Perets temporarily tied the game. He also shook another Bobcat and drew a penalty, getting into the slot. Casey also used his body well to keep the puck in the zone and not be out-muscled by a larger opposing forward. That is a really good sign. The shakes and dekes are expected…adding some body positioning to win a physical battle at the blue line is +++.  He could have been at fault for OMRs, but I didn’t see any specifically…but on a night when there were like a million, everyone probably was at one point

10/8/2022 – Michigan 31, Indiana 10 – 6-0, 3-0 Big Ten

It was 10-10 and it was stupid. Like half the games against Indiana, it was stupid and dumb. At some point I saw a highlight from that Denard game against Indiana where IU would score on a 15-play march and then Denard would immediately run for a 70 yard touchdown. "God, that game was stupid," I thought. Flinging the ball in the general direction of Junior Hemingway and hoping something good would happen, sort of thing. Charting 120 defensive plays, sort of thing. Craig Roh playing linebacker, sort of thing.

Don't get me started about #chaosteam, or overtimes, or anything else. My IQ is already dropping precipitously. Any more exposure to Michigan-Indiana may render me unable to finish this column. (I would still be able to claim that MSU was defeated with dignity, if that was my purpose in life.)

I had hoped that a little JJ McCarthy-led mediation in the locker room would straighten things out. Michigan did suffer through a scary event when Mike Hart collapsed on the sideline. This is a completely valid reason you may not be executing football with military precision, even setting aside whatever dorfy bioweapon the Hoosiers perfected about ten years ago.

Those hopes seemed dashed when Michigan was inexplicably offsides on a short-yardage punt on which they didn't even bother to rush. A touchback turned into a punt downed at the two, and then Blake Corum committed a false start and Cornelius Johnson dropped something that was either a chunk play or a 96-yard touchdown. Johnson started hopping up and down near the sideline, veritably slobbering with self-rage. The slope downwards to black pits became very slippery.

JJ McCarthy said "namaste."

[Barron]

That is immediately after the Johnson drop. He's signaling to his receiver: it's fine, it's fine, we'll get them on the next snap. And then they did. Conversion to Ronnie Bell, drive on. McCarthy took off for a first down on third and seven and hit Andrel Anthony and when he got some pressure he rolled away from it and dropped the ball back to Johnson on a drag route that had picked off the Indiana defender. Twenty nine yards later, Michigan led 17-10 and the stupidity started receding.

It was like being alone in a room, certain that the shadows were growing suckers and winding themselves into tentacles, when someone flicked the light on.

------------------------------------------

It is of course one thing to do this against Tom Allen's band of overmatched maniacs who pour forward at the snap when there's any indication of a run, and another to do it against top-end defenses, particularly top-end defenses that are not paired with the most disastrous act of nepotism in recorded history.

Michigan gets one this week in Penn State, which now stands out as the last hurdle before… uh… Illinois and Ohio State at the end of the season. It will probably be fine. You can say "just Indiana," but the tail end of this piece blockquotes this week's Best and Worst, which contains a comprehensive overview of just how maddening this series has been. McCarthy more or less turned that off—yes, interception—halfway through a game that was threatening to spiral out of control further, into something competitive.

In these moments breath gets short and vision restricts into a tunnel. In the game threads reason is overthrown and madness prevails. It takes something to grab those others back from the abyss. Maybe you look at the smiley face you've drawn on your hand, and think about eating one raisin with every ounce of your attention. And then you can see again and you hear something other than a single ominous tone.

JJ McCarthy seems like the guy who does that.

AWARDS

Known Friends and Trusted Agents Of The Week

"I should have transferred to Stanford" [Barron]

you're the man now, dog

#1(T) Mike Morris, Eyabi Okie, Derrick Moore, Jaylen Harrell and Kris Jenkins. The story of the defense was Conor Bazelak getting crushed every time he tried to throw downfield. Seven sacks in this one; this spot was almost everyone who racked one up but the linebackers had some issues and McGregor only got ten snaps so some cuts were made and Kris Jenkins was added because he registered a couple QB hurries.

Uh, two points each.

#2 Ronnie Bell. 11 catches, a couple of them spectacular. He stabbed a toe down on Michigan's first drive; he wrestled away an interception on a badly thrown ball; he was the target on the key third down conversion that led to the 98-yard touchdown drive. Also blocked like a mountain goat for much of the game, paving the way for the Schoonmaker touchdown.

#3 JJ McCarthy. Narrowly pips Corum because Michigan needed him to drive the field in the second half and he did, with only the occasional mistake. 8.4 YPA, 28/36. Got some help from his receivers but also saw Cornelius Johnson drop what could have been a very, very long play. Ran fairly effectively.

Honorable mention: Well, yeah, Blake Corum. Luke Schoonmaker is heavily utilized in the passing game. Rod Moore came up with an important interception that he kept off the ground. Mike Sainristil had two PBUs and one solo tackle, which is good cornerbackin'. Mason Graham obliterated an OL for a stuff and snuffed out a screen.

KFaTAotW Standings.

(points: #1: 8, #2: 5, #3: 3, HMs one each. Ties result in somewhat arbitrary assignments.)

24: Blake Corum (#2 CSU, #2 Hawaii, HM UConn, #1 Maryland, #2 Iowa. HM Indiana)
18: JJ McCarthy (#1 Hawaii, #2 UConn, HM Maryland, HM Iowa, #3 Indiana)
15: Ronnie Bell (HM CSU, HM Hawaii, #1 UConn, #2 Indiana)
13: Mike Morris (T3 Hawaii, HM Maryland, #1 Iowa, T1 Indiana)
12: Mazi Smith (#1 CSU, T3 Hawaii, HM Maryland, HM Iowa)
8: Kris Jenkins (#3 UConn, T3 Hawaii, HM Iowa, T1 Indiana)
6: Gemon Green (HM UConn, T2 Maryland),
5: DJ Turner (T2 Maryland)
4: Junior Colson (#3 CSU, HM UConn), Eyabi Okie (HM CSU, HM Iowa, T1 Indiana), Luke Schoonmaker (T3 Maryland, HM Iowa, HM Indiana)
3: The Offensive Line (#3 Iowa), Derrick Moore (HM CSU, T1 Indiana), Jaylen Harrell (HM CSU, T1 Indiana), Mason Graham (HM Hawaii, HM Iowa, HM Indiana)
2: Roman Wilson (HM CSU, HM Hawaii), Max Bredeson (T3 Maryland), Joel Honigford (T3 Maryland), Mike Sainristil (HM Maryland, HM Indiana), Rod Moore (HM CSU, HM Indiana)
1: Braiden McGregor (HM CSU), Makari Paige (HM Hawaii), Rayshaun Benny (HM Hawaii), Cornelius Johnson (HM Hawaii), Donovan Edwards (HM Hawaii), AJ Henning (HM UConn),  Caden Kolesar (HM UConn), RJ Moten (HM Maryland).

Who's Got It Better Than Us(?) Of The Week

Blake Corum is briefly inhabited by the spirit of Barry Sanders.

Michigan took the opening kickoff & moved the ball to midfield after 3 straight JJ completions.

On the first rush attempt, IU showed that they were gonna sell out on the rush with slants, scrapes, and aggressive safeties.

But Blake Corum is a sourcerer. pic.twitter.com/yQZgHzXuDP

— Due# (@JDue51) October 9, 2022

Honorable mention: Gus Johnson invokes Bill Raftery after another ankle-killer from Corum. Any of seven different sacks. Rod Moore pulls an INT off the carpet. Cornelius Johnson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Ronnie Bell turn in circus catches.

MARCUS HALL EPIC DOUBLE BIRD OF THE WEEK.

Connor Bazelak throws a back-foot artillery round that parabolas its way into his receivers hands to set up the only Indiana touchdown. I will never not be mad that was a completion.

Honorable mention: Dubious PF on Harrell for celebrating a sack, dubious PI on Turner to continue the Indiana TD drive, Michigan gets a field goal blocked, back-to-back false starts. McCarthy throws a pick after a great play from the Indiana LB. Many tipped run plays.