Does Michigan basketball help football?
I have to step away from the game for a minute or my blood pressure is going to get deadly.
The question I present to you is, do you think Michigan being so highly ranked in basketball helps them in football? From a psychological perspective, they are being talked about a lot on ESPN and other sporting news sites. That puts their name in the minds of high schoolers, basketball and football alike. One could argue that Michigan’s name sells itself, but remember that current high school juniors were roughly eight or nine the last time Michigan won a Big Ten title. Therefore, they would have experienced a good amount of the low points for Michigan football and basketball. (strictly being devil’s advocate) At the same time historical basketball powers like Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke have not fared well in football. Again, the argument can be made about history. So, in your opinion does Michigan’s basketball team being highly ranked this season ultimately help them in football?
EDIT: Bad timing, I know. Would you have answered this question differently three hours ago?
February 12th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ^
Good question. Bad timing.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
I know...I had the question in mind and had to get away from the game.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
Well, this game will give Michigan football a point total to strive for when we play up in EL.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:51 PM ^
Not tonight.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:52 PM ^
I hope not
February 12th, 2013 at 10:53 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:56 PM ^
Yes.
Great M basketball overall can only help in good publicity for the M brand and the football program
February 12th, 2013 at 10:54 PM ^
Tonight-NO
Last week-Debatable
Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, etc are typically basketball powers and football whipping boys. USC, Alabama, LSU, etc are football powers and basektball whipping boys. Good press is good press but I doubt much correlation between the two
February 12th, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
I think an agrument could be made for Ohio and Florida.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:54 PM ^
I couldn't imagine this game being a positive for Drake Harris. If I were coach Hoke, I would be extremely embarrassed right now. I am extremely embarrassed right now!
February 12th, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
Might not be a positive for Harris tonight, but after he cools off he'll remember he decided to play football and quit basketball. When we wreck Sparty in their house just like the good old days he'll recognize the better choice. And I don't think Hoke is ever embarrassed of Michigan.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:54 AM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
The team went 16-0..or 17-0 and has now gone 5-4 since. That is not going to help football..and Michigan is a football school anyway, traditionally.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:57 PM ^
Probably doesn't help our chances with recruits watching on tv, plus Drake Harris.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:00 PM ^
Three hours ago would you have answered the question differently?
February 12th, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
I remember reading about what a great time McGary had at the football game and such. Seeing the facilities and how nice the upgrades are helps.
Michigan basketball isn't going away anytime soon, there will be impressive crowds and the games will be fun which will help make visits fun.
Yes it helps to some. Not a whole lot.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:05 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 11:09 PM ^
It does seem as though there is atleast one football power that always does well in basketball and football at the same time. Ex. Ohio and Florida.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:11 PM ^
For most of the 70s, 80s and early 90s...then, Hello Coach Ellerbe!
February 12th, 2013 at 11:15 PM ^
Very good point, when I was young Michigan was an absolute power in both. I got to watch them play in three title games between the both in the 90's.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:25 PM ^
Used to be true of Oklahoma as well. We got a break in our National Championship run when OK was upset and we did not have to face them.
February 13th, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
Florida and all Florida schools were nobody's till the 80's. Florida won back to back NT's in bball and then like disappeared, now they are decent but SEC basketball is horrible....usually always.
ohio has been good in both sports and they have some history in bball but it's not like they were always good in bball. They were a tire fire of a program more than once in the past.
Things appear shitty right now but Michigan is JUST starting in basketball and football once again. They are on track in both sports, it's just taking time.
Congrats Sparty for beating Michigan for the first time in 2 years in basketball.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:07 PM ^
They can help clean the football team's weight room as punishment for their complete lack of effort.
Other than that, I think a highly ranked bball team creates excitement on campus and can help recruiting, especially since football recruits often cannot visit until their seasons are over.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
When is the last time we even made a sweet 16?
February 12th, 2013 at 11:20 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 11:52 PM ^
Yet you decided to post...Congratulations hypocrite, you gave enough of a F@#$ to post, jackass.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^
In places like LSU, Texas, and Alabama (there are more) football is king in the region. Alabama and Texas could drop basketball all together and football wouldn't even blink. Kids in Texas and SEC territory are just more focused on football and basketball is just something to do between football seasons.
February 12th, 2013 at 11:31 PM ^
February 12th, 2013 at 11:40 PM ^
February 13th, 2013 at 1:02 AM ^
People like to be associated with winning traditions.
To the extent a traditional football power also has a basketball tradition, I would think it lends shine to the overall athletic program. But it's of marginal benefit.
February 13th, 2013 at 5:50 AM ^
February 13th, 2013 at 6:56 AM ^
I think it has to help. The hardest part is staying relevant. When you constantly hear a school's name over and over, its bound factor into the decision making process. And I don't think it necessarily matters that both teams need to be consistently killing it. Sure, winning helps, but half the battle can often be getting someone to remember your name.
February 13th, 2013 at 10:05 AM ^
February 13th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
I think it is a great question and I definitely think basketball can help or can hurt your chances in recruiting. I say this because when I was 17 or 18 I was extremely competitive about everything and I wanted my favorite teams/schools to win in every sport everytime. I would watch ESPN and brag, haha my school is better then yours. Or if my school was hurting in my favorite sport I could atleast say, "look at (add sport), they are good at that too". So to think that high school kids don't watch nationally broadcasted games of the school they are thinking about it, you would be niave. To get raped by a rival like we did, it definitely hurts our national image as a whole and will definitely leave a sour note in some kid's mouth.
February 13th, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
The good thing about us being in the national spotlight in basketball is that recruits watching
SportsCenter (which I imagine every recruit does) repeatedly hear the name "Michigan." It keeps us current and in their minds. Also, I would assume that many FB players also watch basketball, so going to a school with a powerhouse team is an added attraction. Let's put aside the past game or so - look back to our home win at OSU. Watching that game on TV, seeking Hoke in the crowd and seeing Denard living it up and cheering with the student section had to have a positive impact on anyone watching, just from the perspective of "this looks like an awesome place to go to school and an awesome, rah-rah campus to be a part of."
Now, many on this thread have made the point that Duke is dominant in BB without any real football team, and that 'Bama dominates in FB with a crappy BB team. Sure, this is true, because Duke BB and Bama FB are in such an elite strata that they recruit themselves, and are considered amongst the top of their perspective sport. Sadly, after our recent struggles, annual losses to OSU, lack of championships and general down decade, we are not currently in the league of Alabama in the minds of many national recruits, so we can't just open our arms and expect recruits to come running. So, for a team like us - national fanbase, national recruiting, but coming off of a very down period and not yet considered amongst the elite college FB - having a top ranked BB program is certainly a positive factor.
February 13th, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^
yes
tournament run raises the school's profile with recruits, alumni and general public.
basketball generates cash on multiple levels--ie donations, undergraduate admissions, ticket sales, jerseys...