Daily: The sound of silence

Submitted by zguy517 on

I don't know what it is about this article by Chantel Jennings, but I just think it is awesome and can't wait to see these guys get back out there next year.

Props to the Daily

mGrowOld

March 20th, 2011 at 9:49 PM ^

Fantastic article. Thank you.

How long has it been since we looked forward to a basketball season starting back up again like we do today? 10 years? 15 years? 2008-2009 was nice but you didn't get the feeling that the core was special and could accomplish great things.

This team makes me wonder what next year wiLl bring with the same anticipation i last felt so many years ago. Incredible things we wouldn't have dared to dream about just three months ago. Now the possibilities are endless and the reality that a "there are" thread needs to start for our basketball team too.

We are back. The sleeping giant is awake.

JimLahey

March 20th, 2011 at 9:54 PM ^

So proud of this team. They are allowed to be upset tonight but I hope they wake up tomorrow and realize that this was only the start. Next years team will have high hopes and the sweet sweet smell of anticipation when fall comes around. Frankly, the goal next season is to reach the sweet 16 or beyond, plain and simple.

Erik_in_Dayton

March 20th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^

I like that article a lot...If this team had to go down, I suppose it's good to leave with something that will leave everyone hungry for more.  As Mgrowold says, it's been a long time since I felt that way about the basketball team. 

This team has chemistry and leadership in spades.  The talent will continue to develope.  I'm looking forward to the Maui Invitational. 

BlueintheLou

March 20th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

This team fights like no team I have ever watched. Honestly, I have never seen a team with so much resolve. No deficit too large, no adversity too great to overcome. While they didn't overcome it today, they play with class, toughness, and fantastic energy. They could be great, and with what I have seen this year, they will leave no stone unturned in their quest for that.

Keep your head up. Keep your hunger. Keep your desire. Thanks for a fantastic season.

cheesheadwolverine

March 20th, 2011 at 10:33 PM ^

We have to be recieving votes for this years final top 25 I'd think.  And with 0 seniors we have to be substantially better next year (I probably said something similar two years ago today after losing to Oklahoma, so don't count your chickens etc...).

Oh and this was a great article.  I thought the one sentance paragraphs worked as sort of vignettes.  They didn't seem Mitch-Albomey to me.

Mich_Faithful

March 20th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^

It don't remember the last time I have felt so passionate for MBB.  I am youngish and haven't always followed basketball. Watching this team evolve over the season has been magical.  This isn't the closing of the book on our basketball team, but simply the end of a chapter.  Turn the page, continue on the story, next year I have a feeling it will develop into what we've all been waiting for. How I see it, is this season has been a teaser for what is in store for us come next fall/winter.

JamesBondHerpesMeds

March 21st, 2011 at 12:28 AM ^

I'm stoked.  I really, really am.  And I held my collective breath along with you all the last minute of that game.

But I also want to be objective and ask a legitimate, non-threatening question: how does this team avoid the same slump they hit in the 2009-2010 season?  I think we have a strong core of leadership in Novak, Morris, and Douglass that will certainly carry over to next season, but what does Beilein tell his students that will help them ensure that a more successful sequel to a Round of 32 run occurs next year?

 

Michigan4Life

March 21st, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^

can be hungry to achieve greatness, they'll be fine. They return everybody and won't lose any key players. The loss to Duke will give them a bitter taste in their mouth and will want to get back to elite status. It helps that they saw Fab 5 documentary on what it's like to be part of a once great and proud basketball program. They are restoring the luster that was lost since Michigan was on probation.

 

The biggest difference between 09-10 team and 11-12 team is the senior leadership. '09-'10 team does not have any and couldn't fill the void that CJ Lee and David Merritt left. Next year team will have Novak, Douglass and Morris to be the leader of the team.  By statistical measures, this year Michigan team is far better than '08-'09 team.

 

I'm expecting a big leap of improvement from Hardaway, Smotrycz and Horford. That will help in talent and depth. Throw in Brundidge and Burke who will give them 2 ball handlers beside Morris.  Hopefully both freshmen can pick up the system quickly. If not, Michigan is still perfectly fine with Douglass as a backup PG.  I don't see any reason why Michigan shouldn't be ranked in top 15 especially when you consider they return everybody plus two highly touted in-coming freshmen.

jmblue

March 21st, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^

I think the differences go beyond leadership.  This is just a much better overall team.  Even in 2009 when we made the tourney, we basically needed both Manny and DeShawn to go off in the same game to win.  Once every few games, a guy like LLP or Novak would score 10-12 points.  That was it.  Now, we've developed much better balance.  Against Tennessee, seven players scored at least eight points.  Against Duke, five players scored in double figures.  And at the most important position (PG), we're light years better than we were in '09-'10, when Stu had the man the point because no one else was ready.

Steve in PA

March 21st, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^

This team is all JB's guys now and it shows.  They were brought in to play his system.

The last time in the tournament is was a mish-mash of JB's and leftovers.  The following year Manny decided that he wanted to be the star and we watched a lot of Manny run down the court and chuck up a 3 with more than 25 seconds on the shot clock.  Sims had moments of greatness sandwiching moments of "deer in the headlights".  I don't think either of them ever fully made the transition to JB's version of backetball and the following year it killed the team.

I'm most curious and concerned about who comes in next year.  Without a doubt, they need another PG and a legitimate PF.  If Morris leaves and Stu graduates next year w/o filling those needs, there is no PG left on the team with any experience and it all starts over again.

Yinka Double Dare

March 21st, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^

Trey Burke is a point, so that's covered.  As for the power forward, I think you'll just see the guys we have bulk up some, and it isn't like this system uses a typical power forward anyway -- the ideal situation is guys like Morgan or Horford at the 5 and Smotrycz playing a lot of 4.  And Novak of course plays much bigger than he is through sheer force of will.

jmblue

March 21st, 2011 at 1:23 AM ^

I'm finding myself saddened, not so much because we lost (well OK, that's part of it), but moreso because of the realization that I won't get to see these guys play in another game for eight months.  They have been so much fun to watch.   

IPFW_Wolverines

March 21st, 2011 at 2:29 AM ^

I think this team is going to be incredible next year. The depth they lacked this year should be a strength next season. Take a look at the roster. They could go 10 or more deep next year...

 

Morris, Morgan, Novak, Douglass, Hardaway, Smotrycz, Vogrich, Horford, Christian, Mclimans, Dumars(We'll see), Burke? Brundidge? 

 

Tater

March 21st, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^

Unless Jordan Dumars is a late-bloomer, which is much more common in taller players than those of medium to short basketball height, his ceiling is probably playing two or three minutes off of the bench.  I watched him try to play for USF, and the speed of playing against  a mid major was too much for him.  

We all know he is a quality kid, and it would be nice to see him turn into his dad on the court, but maybe his greatest contrubitions to sport or society will be off the court.  I am guessing he will be very successful in business.  It is a great start to have a father like Joe Dumars and a degree from the University of Michigan.

vegasjeff

March 21st, 2011 at 4:34 AM ^

That's a tribute to the players and the coaches and we should all be proud of where Michigan basketball is right now. With so much young talent and a system that allows talented shooters and slashers to thrive, there's no reason not to expect continued improvement and bigger and better things in the future.

The Big Ten is a tough conference and winning it is a big challenge, but I think it is a realistic goal for next year.

readyourguard

March 21st, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^

It's easy to be saddened by the results of Saturday's game.  And an article like the Daily's contributes to the gray Monday morning skies that are as much a reality as they are a metaphor.  But in times like this, I like to think of the positives and choose, instead to be inspired by what was.  Yes, it was a heartbreaking defeat, but in the big picture, it was the end to a fantastic season, full of great memories.  A fanbase fell in love with the guts and determination of a bunch of young kids who were picked to be LAST in the Big 10. 

Sad?  Sure.  Disappointed?  Hell no. 

Thanks for an outstanding season Coach Belien and you young men of Michigan.