M v. Duke predictions
Worry if...
1. Seth Curry makes his first two 3 pointers
2. The Plumleys are jump hooking with the same ease that I do against my four year old son on his bedroom closet basketball hoop
3. M's bigs get in early foul trouble
Cackle with knowing glee if.....
1. Stu Douglas makes his first two 3 pointers
2. Tim Hardaway is attempting to get to the basket and not settling for long jumpers
3. The refs are "letting them play"
3 opportunities for me to look stupid at 9:15 PM
1. Trey Burke does not struggle significantly with suffocating full court man to man
2. Tim Hardaway again eclipses the 20 point mark
3. I do not say "Novak - NICE!! That guy is AWESOME!" at least 3 times
Duke 74 Michigan 66 (Just too much size)
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:07 AM ^
It will be a fun game to watch, but I will agree with your prediction. With Morgan and Smotz getting in foul trouble / having trouble shooting the ball yesterday, it could be a long game if it happens again. But who knows, Michigan played much better in the second half not turning the ball over, etc. It will be a good early test to see where we are compared to the likes of Duke and other top level teams.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^
Jon Horford = Plumlee Kryptonite.
Hopefully...
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:21 AM ^
Hopefully you are right.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
I'm right there with you. I don't see how we hold up inside against all of those massive bodies down low. We're going to have to do a great job of keeping the ball outside if we're going to have a chance, but it's not like they can't shoot the ball either.
We'll see what happens, but I'll be happy with a close game.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
Remember how you used to feel about UM football when you were ten? No matter who they were playing you thought they would win. That's how I feel about the basketball ball team.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:14 AM ^
Prediction? Pain.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
I'm gonna go with our boys on this one actually.
While Duke has great bigs, Michigan did a great job of shutting down Memphis's big man by not letting him get the ball much and getting him in foul trouble.
I'm not blown away by Austin Rivers, and I don't think his breakout game will happen against a Beilein defense.
I'm gonna go with Michigan, 77-71.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^
On a related note, does anyone have a link to highlights from yesterday's game against memphis besides the one that's available at ESPN.com (which only shows 3 scoring plays)?
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
ESPN3.com normally has full replays available of any game that was available to watch live on that. Dont know if you can get that or if that is up though.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^
After watching bits of the Duke v Tenn game last night Michigan needs to come out with a similar game plan that they had against Memphis it should be a close game. Keep Duke at a half court pace and let our 1-3-1 zone do its work. Keep it close until the end and hopefully go on a run and come out with another big upset.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^
MICH 63 d00k 58. I think the defense is going to be this teams strength. GO BLUE!
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:19 AM ^
If the team plays as well as it did yesterday, we win.
Unfortunately I cannot see us hitting like 70% of our 2 pointers and outrebounding Duke. I think it's a close game (within 6 points on either side) and we fall a little short. I hope I am wrong and we win.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:20 AM ^
Michigan 124 duke 17
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:29 AM ^
Alright, you've convinced me! I concur!
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
And a late Ditka field goal.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
was the fact that Ditka will suit up for the final minute and drop in five 3 pointers and one tip dunk off a miss.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:25 AM ^
This Duke team is not as good as last year's team and I believe we're actually better with Burke than with Morris (That's right, I said it!).
Michigan with the 65-59 win.
And the scary thing is, this team is just going to get better this year as Burke grows and everyone finds their roles.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:30 AM ^
Sorry to threadjack, but I obv don't have enough points to post this and I think it's a big deal.
WTKA had a former fball letterman on this morning with Sam Webb. Didn't catch who it was, but apparently DB is no longer setting aside tickets for former players. They have to purchase season tickets if they want to come to games. He even indicated that they were also expected to pay the seat license to even be able to buy tickets. And if that's not enough for you, he insinuated that former players won't be allowed on the sidelines without sizeable donations going forward.
Sorry if this has already been posted, but if not, could someone start a thread about this? Not all the former letterman have the finances to buy tickets or make donations to be on the sidelines. They deserve better than this.
/get off my lawn
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^
That was a hardcore thread jack. Not even like kind of on the same topic.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
even the same sport
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
Wow, if true, major dick move. I've thought most of the rumblings about DB have been unfounded and petty up until now, but this deserves a torch and pitchfork kind of response.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
And I'd be completely on his side on this issue....if he had any credibility left after crying wolf so many times, and I could actually believe his side of the story was straight up and untainted. Because it sounds like a dick move. But I just don't really trust what Taylor says anymore till someone else confirms it.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^
Maybe it is true, but maybe Michael Taylor is the only former player this rule applies to....
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
I unfortunately do not have sympathy for him. My closest U of M football connection, who was a captain for a Rose Bowl winning Michigan team under Bump Elliot, pays for his own season tickets. If he doesn't get free tickets whenever he wants, why should any other former player? Homecoming and an occasional OSU/MSU/ND game, maybe should be exceptions to that, but with all other games, I'm unfortunately on DB's side.
PS - This is one insane thread jack, try to atleast make it a football thread next time...
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:32 AM ^
As usual, Duke will get to play "Duke Defense" while Michigan gets called for touch fouls. That being said, Duke still loses a few every season, and one of them might as well be to Michigan.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
As is the case every time we play Duke, is how much the refs will dictate the game. You said this above about getting in foul trouble, but with the big name of Duke on the jerseys of one team I'm always afraid the refs will make some phantom calls that will put us in that foul trouble. I hope that's not the case and I hope they let the teams play a little bit. But let's get another big win!
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:41 AM ^
I have a 3 hour class starting at 7pm and ending at 10pm..Its a world religions course so i will make sure I pray or sacrafice a human for Mich to pull this one off
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
To find a virgin to sacrifice in. But if you get desperate, head over to an Engineering class.
ZING!
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:54 AM ^
I am right there with you. My tax class is looking like it will be worse than usual... Good thing for iPhones!
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^
There will be a lot of cursing at refs tonight.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^
And a brand new back court. Mich wins
<br>58-54
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
There's no going back. Michigan wins Maui.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
If we show up like we did yesterday it'll be a hell of a game. Grantland's got a nice breakdown of holes in Austin Rivers' game: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/10296/the-problems-with-austin-rivers
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 AM ^
Better shooting from the outside today will negate the fact that we won't repeat yesterday's interior scoring. It'll be a close game but Michigan pulls it out in the end, 68-64.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
put a freeze on Duke's offense. Austin Rivers' shooting will go cold and Seth Curry shooting touch will feel the chill of winter. Coach K will fell a chill go down his spine when Trey Burke starts a blizzard of 3s. Wiinter is coming to Duke basketball.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
I agree that this will be a tight game but I am confused as to why people are so hung up on the size of the Blue Devils. We handled ourselves decently well last year and considering we lost 1 player from last year's squad we have played this team before. The Plumlee twins should be nicknamed the Softies and without Singler this year the team is definitely not as skilled in the post as they have been. Ryan Kelly is a matchup to watch and one that I hope Smotz will be able to handle. Our boys will be real hungry.
Michigan 72 - Duke 68
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
Really depends on how the refs call the game. If they do what they usually do and give Duke every 50-50 call.. we have no chance.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
We lose by 13.... it's closer than the score indicates but we just didn't have enough.... BUT, I also predict we beat this same Duke team in the NCAA tournament this year to advance to the Elite 8
November 22nd, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^
Is absurd. Why would you even try and predict which side of the bracket they're on?
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
Because i'm a random person on the internet and it's pretty much exactly what you're calling it... an absurd prediction. Why not?