AmaizeingBlue

March 12th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^

We've struggled during the last couple weeks according to that guy. Winning 8 out of 10 is not struggling. If he would've said the BTT that would be a fair accusation.

BigTenBurrito

March 12th, 2012 at 5:26 PM ^

I have been listening to ESPN radio all day and that seems to be a common feeling amongst people. I chalk it up as pure rubbish. Sweet 16 is where things get tough IMO. I have us up against UNC which would make it tough to be optimistic

AA2Denver

March 12th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^

Apparently a lot of people are picking Ohio. Doug Gottlieb picked Ohio because of their a close loss to Louisville. WTF? Michigan beat #1, #2, #4, Purdue, Memphis, Indiana, etc. 

 

96goblue00

March 12th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^

which may explain some of his resentment of Michigan, albeit I never noticed his hate for Michigan. I know, for a fact, that he HATES Syracuse and Boeheim*.

Regardless of whether he holds something against Michigan or not, the dude is a total goober. He got kicked out of Notre Dame for stealing his roommie's credit card and running up about a $1000 worth of charges and he also threw his former coach at Okie State under the bus, even though he gave him a second chance after he got booted from ND.

*The Boeheim vs. Gottlieb fued started early on when Gottlieb accused some Big East teams, including Syracuse, of playing non-conference schedules so easy they were “fraudulent.” I personally love Boeheim's reply. Boeheim fired back that, "the only thing I know about fraudulent is (Gottlieb's) use of credit cards".

mgoblue0970

March 12th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^

Who cares?

This is michiganfergodssakes.  I could care less what dougie says.

Michigan could make it to NOLA and ESPN wouldn't give em any love.  Again, who cares?

da3mite

March 12th, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^

Unfortunately last year's wrong pick of Tennessee over Michigan by many "experts" has nothing to do with this year's contest. When there are 67 different games to choose and thousands and thousands of different combinations of results, I think these "experts" deserve to miss on 1 game without completely losing their credibility.

Granted, I think for any expert, the Bobcats over Michigan is a bit of a stretch. However, I can see why many still choose to do this. If Michigan wins, only Michigan fans (and not even all of them) will remember that a specific expert picked the Bobcats to win. Although, if the Bobcats win, that expert can look awesome to the entire nation. The upsets have to come from somewhere.

Tuebor

March 12th, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^

Last year everyone picked Oakland over Texas as the "sexy" upset because of how close they played Pitt the year before.   Ohio beating Georgetown 2 years ago says nothing about this matchup.

dahblue

March 12th, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^

Cinderella = UofD

I know that Kansas is supposed to be super amazing and whatnot (and they're coming in hot), but I think UofD could be that 15-2 upset that shocks people.  Beat Kansas and they could make it to the Eilte 8.  That's my 2 cents.  Many thanks.

Maize and Blue in OH

March 12th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^

Every year there is one popular upset pick/Cinderella team that everyone talks about and then that team doesn't pull the upset.  This year you have two - Ohio and Belmont.  Neither team will be playing more than one game.

jmblue

March 12th, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^

Picking against John Beilein in tournament play (in games where he doesn't have a decided talent disadvantage) has regularly proven to be a mstake.

LSAClassOf2000

March 12th, 2012 at 6:32 PM ^

I like how going 5-2 in February and then 3-1 in March to date is "struggling lately". Apparently, some sportswriters are simply impossible to please. 

In any case, even if the unthinkable happened and they were to face Temple and not us, and then the Sun went nova and the Bobcats beat Temple, they would eventually - more than likely - get UNC in the Sweet Sixteen. Yeah, it's not happening. There is no compelling reason to pick against Michigan in the opening round. If your best recent argument is that the Bobcats have been 8-1 and we've been 7-2 in the same stretch and that the Bobcats almost beat Louisville once, then you don't have an argument. 

Now, Beat Other Ohio. 

MN Go Blue

March 12th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^

Michigan went to overtime against a bad Minnesota team and then got thumped by the other Ohio.  They are a trendy team to pick against more than Ohio is a cinderella.  They pick against Michigan and then look for ways to say Ohio is a cinderella.  Lets just hope that midnight comes early on Friday night.

bklein09

March 12th, 2012 at 6:15 PM ^

With our team, I have a feeling that its a really good thing that people are picking Michigan to go down on Friday. 

Our performance against OSU (and to a lesser extent Minny) was terrible. And I think people are reading into that a lot when they are saying we are going to be upset. 

You can be sure that our team is hearing it all, and I think we will respond with a fury. Novak and Stu are not ready to go out, and Burke will want to show that the OSU game was a fluke. Hardaway will be fired up as well.

And let's not forget that Beilein has a week to get this team ready, and he has a great record of doing so. Our performance against OSU at home this year cam after a week off and that went pretty well. 

Now I know the BTT was after a week off as well, but we didn't know we would play Minny for sure until the day before. 

Long story short, I am confident that the team will deliver a good performance on Friday. Sunday will be tougher but there is not reason we can't beat Temple as well.

UNC woul require a miracle, but I'll worry about that when we get there!

umchicago

March 12th, 2012 at 6:59 PM ^

i like beilein, given several days to prepare for a team.  he is not given nearly enough credit for his defensive coaching and does a great job of containing the opponents best offensive threats.  and it's much tougher for opposing teams to prepare for beilein's teams. 

SAvoodoo

March 12th, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^

Sorry, this year's Cinderella is St. Bonaventure...FSU is over confident, comes out flat, Nicholson goes beast mode and SBU wins by 7, bet on it.

/don't bet on it, that would be a bad bet, but a guy can dream...