Michigan needs Indiana to beat Wisconsin
I am concerned that if Wisconsin beats Indiana to reach the BTT final or wins the whole thing, the Badgers could get a higher seed than Michigan. This could then bump the Wolverines from Auburn Hills and send Michigan off to Austin or San Jose or someplace. So, I will be rooting for the Hoosiers to beat Wisconsin tomorrow.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
March 15th, 2013 at 10:50 PM ^
Iowa has blown a 12-point second-half lead and fallen behind by eight . . . but now is within one. Crazy.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:54 PM ^
With the help of some VERY friendly officiating in favor of Izzo's team. Which is shocking, I know.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:22 PM ^
I hate to intrude on all the doom and gloom, but I'm actually looking forward to playing some non-conference games after the last few grueling weeks. In conference play, even when opponents weren't watching us directly, they were watching us play against their next opponent(s). All due credit to opposing B1G coaching staffs; imo we've forgotten how talented we are because of how good our opponents have been at countering that talent. Now we get to play against a team (knock on wood that should be plural) that's only ever seen us on film. I'm not saying it will be as easy as November-December was, but I highly dooubt it'll be as ugly as the last 6 weeks.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:35 PM ^
March 16th, 2013 at 12:26 AM ^
In a strange way, you almost made my point for me. UM's B1G opponents struggled in some of their OOC games due to inferior talent, but they succeeded against UM despite inferior talent because of familiarity. Based on pure talent, UM is at least an Elite Eight team, and without the familiarity that Crean, Izzo, Matta, Ryan, and the rest have with UM, I believe that the talent advantage will be quite a bit more noticeable than it has been for the last 6 weeks.
March 16th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
Our superior talent is a myth. State and Indiana roll in five stars, we don't. We have excellent recruiting classes, but we haven't picked off any really elite, five star type prospects.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:33 PM ^
Maybe more important than how Wisconsin does tomorrow is the fact that Sparty (many project as a 3-seed) probably maintained it with their ugly win tonight. Also, Syracuse and maybe KState (both projected as likely 4-seeds) may both be getting the benefit of resume boosting wins tonight and possibly another tomorrow. I really want Michigan to play the opening game(s) in Auburn Hills. First off, I have tickets. Second, it would be nice to maybe feel a home court type advantage. I am not sure where we stand at the moment.
March 15th, 2013 at 11:56 PM ^
It doesn't matter if we are a 3 or a 4 seed. we will not get past the 2nd round. This team is terrible. They make me want to puke every time I watch them. They can't rebound they can't shoot free throws and they surely can't play defense.
March 16th, 2013 at 12:23 AM ^
March 16th, 2013 at 12:12 AM ^
Michigan is toast. One win tops in the tournament.
March 16th, 2013 at 12:31 AM ^
March 16th, 2013 at 12:48 AM ^
A week off isn't bad, but a "couple of cupcakes" isn't going to happen. Given that we're now looking at a #3 or #4 seed, the opening-round game might be easy depending on whom we draw, but the round after that will probably be against a top 25-caliber team.
I agree with jmblue RE: facing a top 25 team will come sooner rather than later. Also, to get out of our bracket and make it to the Final Four, keep in mind that we will have to beat the 1 seed and then the (presumably) 2 seed.
EDIT: Yeah, so I replied to the wrong person, but hope y'all catch my drift.
March 16th, 2013 at 12:33 AM ^
we will lose in the first round either way
I'm hoping this team plays different during the tournament. I have a feeling Stauskas will really play well in tournament. On the short turnarounds, the opposing teams' scouting reports will basically anoint him as just a shooter, and we all know that's just not true. Also, McGary has come on of late and Horford isn't a complete liability on both ends anymore. I hope Morgan is just living in a hyperbaric chamber all week, that ankle might be at 90% but it's effecting his play and most likely swollen as shit after a game. I don't think he'll be able to play two games in a weekend, so in the first game I hope they only use him if we need him. Wisconsin is just a pain in the ass of a team to play and they really shot lights out in the second half. We've been playing Big Ten teams for about 2.5 months now and now it's time to play some teams from other conferences. Maybe the first weekend against non-Big Ten teams will help this team regain the confidence and swagger that we saw earlier this season. I am cautiously optimistic
March 16th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
March 16th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^
they beat us......move on - will be good to play someone in the tourney that does not know you so well instead of someone who knows intimate details about your entire roster.