Only 5 out of 11 WWL "experts" pick Michigan over Kansas

Submitted by taistreetsmyhero on

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/82063/on-the-record-expert-predictions

Considering all the hype going Michigan's way over on ESPN, it's interesting that less than half of their analysts picked Michigan to beat Kansas. Granted, they didn't poll Scoop Jackson and some of the other people who built up the Michigan hype train. I still think this shows how the WWL cherrypicks it's stories to advance whatever narrative they think people want to hear...

Coldwater

March 28th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^

Everybody is entitled to their opinion and that's all their giving. The team with the most points at the end of the game will win. And I sure hope its Michigan

WolvinLA2

March 28th, 2013 at 2:33 PM ^

Exactly. Just because some people at ESPN had picked Michigan doesn't mean everyone there needs to agree. And sometimes fans take a person's opinion as the opinion of their employer. If Sam Webb picks Michigan to win a game, that doesn't mean Scout or Detroit News has that same opinion.

taistreetsmyhero

March 28th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^

It just seems that everyone was railing on ESPN for "flip flopping," as in they published several articles about how Michigan was the upset special before the first two rounds, and now published several articles about how Michigan is the favorite.

But in reality, it seems like the general opinoins of their analysts is consistent, it's just the narrative they are spitting out is inconsistent.

WolvinLA2

March 28th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^

Is that flip flopping though? We played good basketball. People are allowed to change their opinion when new information presents itself. Would you rather ESPN say "we picked Michigan to get upset before, so we're sticking with that no matter what."?

The Bugle

March 28th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^

This.  Changing your opinion on something in response to a different data set is not flip-flopping.  If the flip-flop is a result of analyzing a different data set and coming up with a different conclusion, shouldn't this be a good thing?  If not, what's the point in having rankings?   Pre-season #1 is post-season #1 -- no flip-flopping on ballot rankings allowed.  

Gulogulo37

March 28th, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^

Right, but the data set isn't WHOLLY different, so you're not supposed to put all of the weight on the most recent data point. Kenpom has updated along with the tournament as well, but the odds of Michigan winning vs. Kansas hasn't changed much for him from before the tournament to now.

I don't think ESPN is trying to spin some particular narratives about Michigan, but it can't be denied that the main articles on predictions in the media picked Michigan as a popular upset, and then completely changed their tune after the first weekend. Of course that doesn't mean everyone in the entire media believed Michigan to be upset in the first place, but we didn't know everyone's opinions.

EDIT: If the Marquette game holds up, it would be a perfect example of why not to put too much stock in the first weekend just because it's the tourney.

umfan323

March 28th, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^

I picked Kansas as well... I just don't see us being able to keep them off the glass..Rebounding will cost us the game

MGoLogan

March 28th, 2013 at 3:10 PM ^

Fair enough.  You very well may end up being right, but I like UM to win this game becuase of the huge mismatch at PG.  If you look at all of the teams Kansas stuggled with (even in wins), they all have on thing in common, good to great PG play.  Baylor (Pierre Jackson), Oklahoma State (Marcus Smart), and Iowa State (Korie Lucious) all were at a disadvantage on the interior, but managed to beat (or should have beat in Iowa State's case) Kansas due to having very good PG's.  Either way it should be a great game.

Michigan4Life

March 28th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^

In rebounding based on KenPom rankings.

Michigan is ranked 136 with a offensive rebounding percentage of 32.6 and 68 with a defensive rebounding percentage of 29.2. Kansas is ranked 91 with a offensive rebounding percentage of 34.1 and 69 with a defensive rebounding percentage of 29.2. Despite Withey's shot blocking prowess, he is just solid in rebounding and McGary is a superior rebounder. Withey is almost comparable in defensive rebounding. Kevin Young is the guy who gets the bulk of rebounding and it's up to GRIII to keep him off the glass.

MGoCombs

March 28th, 2013 at 4:18 PM ^

I think his point intended to convey that the split of the picks is a reflection of how close this game will be and how difficult it is to predict. If all 11 picked Michigan, it wouldn't change anyone's prediction, but then it also wouldn't be an accurate reflection of the consensus of predicitons.

Perkis-Size Me

March 28th, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^

I think you read into my comment way too much, pal. This is a tough game to predict, so its easy to see why the so-called "experts" are more or less split down the middle on who they think would win.



But to answer your question, even if 11/11 picked Michigan, my opinion wouldn't change. Kansas is a 1 seed for a reason.

hopkinsdrums

March 28th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^

That's correct. If I remember correctly that was his final game.

 

hopkinsdrums

March 28th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^

Just kidding. I think it's ESPN, the WorldWide Leader in sports.