Live Stream/Open Thread

We've become too dependent on Stauskas' threes.  Everyone else was afraid to take one when he was shut down.

1.  I've often thought that other coaches (like Coach K) are way overrated and Beilein should be mentioned in that realm.  Today, I had to eat my words.  Coach K was a mile ahead of Beilein all night.  Every time we switched to 1-3-1, Duke got an open three-pointer.  When Spike Albrecht was in the game, they ran him through screens or simply abused him with Cook.  When Morgan was in the game, Duke crashed the glass and went hard to the paint and bullied him in the paint on offense.  Not to rip on Beilein, but this is why Coach K is the winningest coach of all time.

2.  Morgan is not a B1G-caliber rotation player.  Last year he might have been because of his ability to draw charges, but under the new rules he can't even do that.  McGary and Horford both bring better length, athleticism, offensive ability, touch...Morgan is this year's Vogrich.

3.  Walton made some awful passes but I was really impressed with him.  Besides LeVert, he was the only player that found a way to make things happen off the dribble.  I think Beilein should have played him more.  Also, when he was in the game it felt like he was at least able to gamely defend Cook, unlike Albrecht who was a revolving door.

4.  The team was mentally somewhere else.  Maybe the calls in the beginning got to them, maybe they didn't react to the crowd well...but mental errors and focus were clearly issues.  I don't want to make excuses because Duke deserved to win, but it's a disturbing trend.

5.  If an NBA team is paying me millions of dollars to be its general manager, I'm not picking Glenn Robinson III before the late second round.  His jump shot is good, not great, and he has a terrible habit of passing up open three's for contested mid-range jumpers.  So far, he is Michigan's most disappointing player.

6.  Irvin should have seen more time. 

Overall, the team is still learning and growing.  I, for one, did not expect Michigan to beat Duke on the road (though I expected a slightly closer game).  After two years of going undefeated at home until the last game, expect Arizona to change that trend with a double-digit win.  Hopefully, we will see Michigan put up more of a fight, but the minute we have to defend Tarczewski with Morgan the game will be over.

I don't know why Smot left but he was the 6'9-6'10 guy who can stretch the floor type that Beilein loves in his system.

It is becoming clear to me that Trey Burke covered up a lot of our flaws last year and made some of these guys appeared to be better than they really are. I know it is still early but this team has a ways to go.

Everyone stay positive please! We started the season ranked in the top 10, but we've just had a couple setbacks and should be right back up in that range after a few more weeks. Young team is still finding their chemistry. Go Blue!

I really hope none of our players or recruits read mgoblog. So many people are so quick to say how terrible our players are and that they have no heart, etc. when we don't win (or if we don't win convincingly enough). I am ashamed for our fanbase - what happened to supporting our players and teams? I will admit I am guilty of it at times, too, but many of you sound worse than what our rivals would say about our players. If you want to piss and moan about our michigan athletes please go do it somewhere else.