Nebraska Beats Minnesota and Other Basketball Discussion
In a pretty good game, Nebraska beat (upset?) Minnesota 82-78. Nebraska remains unbeaten at home except for its loss to Michigan. In the only other Big Ten game today, Indiana beat Illinois 56-46 in a not-so-pretty game. Arizona also leads Utah 31-26 at the half.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
It is really hard to beat a team on its home court in basketball. The fact that Michigan is 4-2 so far is really good and cannot be overstated. Happy that Nebraska broke through and got a win in the Big Ten.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^
Would've bolstered our resume a bit for Minnesota to keep winning and get into the tourney. They likely would've been #7 for the B1G.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
Now that we have wins over Wisconsin, Iowa and MSU, it doesn't really matter about Minnesota.
Minnesota should still make the tournament though. There are six probable tourney teams from the conference: UM, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
It still matters. A road win against a tournament team is still a big deal for SOS.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^
Sure, but we've got a few of those now.
Also, if Nebraska can finish in the top 100, that might actually be better for SOS/RPI purposes, since Minnesota should finish in the top 40 or so even with this loss.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
Yep. Tough to win away games, especially in the B1G.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^
This is actually Nebraska's second Big Ten win
January 26th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
Michigan's 4-2 road record this year is expected by many to be the catalyst for solving world hunger.
BOOM overstated.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
Nebraskas play at home has been impressive. Last year they were a doormat and their addition to the conference looked ridiculous. They have really improved a lot and probably surpassed many traditional Big Ten doormats. I credit their TV shitters.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
What is a TV shitter?
January 26th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^
Something Randy Quad watches.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
His is full though. The ones in Nebraska still have some room left.
Hence the improvement in basketball.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:41 PM ^
When we played at Nebraska, they showed parts of the new locker rooms. For some reason they thought it was a good idea to show the rest of the world that they had installed TV's in every shitter stall.
Hence, the TV shitters.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
Is that only in the locker room? Not that I shit at sporting events but man it'd be a relief if the game was on in there
January 26th, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
Hell, I'd camp out in there and only leave to get beer and peanuts.
January 26th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
Doesn't the buffalo wild wings in Ann Arbor have TVs throughout the restroom? When I went in the day before the OSU game this year, they definitely had TVs in front of the urinals.
January 27th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
It has had TVs in the men's room since 2006 or earlier. Theirs are not as nice as the ones in the Nebraska johns.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^
Huge game Tuesday night as Iowa could hand the Spartans a second straight loss, and in the process give us a two game lead.
On Saturday, Wisconsin and Ohio State battle in a de facto Big Ten Title elimination game. Strange considering where those teams were just a few weeks ago.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
I think Iowa wins very easily. Without Payne and Dawson their inside presence will be lacking and Iowa will absolutely dominate them inside.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^
Yes, they will definitely have there hands full without Payne and Dawson. Coming off a emotionally draining game with no home crowd to fall back on doesn't help them at all either.
January 27th, 2014 at 12:33 AM ^
Rumblings on the MSU board that Izzo may have to rest Appling as well. He's been playing really hurt apparently.
January 27th, 2014 at 6:53 AM ^
The excuses start before the games go final nowadays?
We need the Hindenberg announcer to do the 2014 Spartans highlight tape.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
Hope so. Iowa has a lot of bigs (they go 11 deep as everyone knows). Plus they are at home so Fran should get the calls. I expect an Iowa win and a comfy 2 game lead for Michigan heading into the Purdue game.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
With 4 losses already, OSU would practically have to win out to have a shot at the championship. The champ is probably not going to have more than 4-5 losses in conference play. And even 5 losses is probably a stretch.
I think the Big Ten Championship contenders are now down to Michigan, MSU, or Iowa.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^
The teams with 3 or more losses are in trouble in regards to winning the regular season title. As we've seen so far, going on the road and winning at just about any venue is tough. These teams would almost have to run the table or acrue only one more lost to probably have a realistic shot at the title. It's possible but highly doubtful imo.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:45 PM ^
I think they lose, in part due to a post UM let down (so in effect, we beat them twice).
If Iowa loses, the Hawkeyes will be 3 games back and almost eliminated from the race. It is a no lose situation for us.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
I hope Iowa gives Izzo something more to whine about. We need shirts about how our team "crushed" Izzo or about how Coach B makes him cry, since the players said he was "teary eyed" in the locker room and his comments at the presser seemed like he was ticked that Michigan is now competitive again.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
To be fair to Izzo though the mSU resurgence in football doesnt exactly thrill me either. So I kinda get where he's coming from.
January 27th, 2014 at 6:35 AM ^
But you're not a coach and responsible for preparing the team to play 30-odd games, not just one rivalry one. Moreover, in basketball, individual regular-season games don't carry the same weight as in football. You just have to get in the tournament and go from there.
The crazy thing about Izzo is that he does behave like a fan, constantly whining, making excuses and generally being histrionic.
January 26th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
Should we be sad for little Ricky Pitino?
January 26th, 2014 at 9:41 PM ^
Because Dad is sad enough for all of us
January 26th, 2014 at 9:47 PM ^
Not sure why but Lil Pitino just looks like someone you wouldn't like. He looks like a spoiled kid who throws tantrums and says things like "DONT YOU KNOW WHO MY DAD IS?!"
January 26th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
for a reason, and I've never seen him nekkid.
January 26th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
Played for him at Louisville and always had great things to say about Richard. He said that Rick Pitino is a prick but all the players loved Richard and hated to see him go. FWIW.
January 27th, 2014 at 12:36 AM ^
I don't mind Little Pitino either. His dad is just a bad human being though.
January 27th, 2014 at 8:42 AM ^
That's not really surprising. Players almost always get along better with the assistants, because they don't have to be the main disciplinarian - that's the head coach's job.
January 27th, 2014 at 8:33 AM ^
in Italian anyway?
January 26th, 2014 at 9:49 PM ^
It's so damn impressive that Michigan has won four conference road games so far. Especially in the arenas they have done it in. Even the Nebraska win looks better every day with the way they have been playing at home knocking off the Buckeyes and Gophers. Beat Purdue!
January 26th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
What's impressive is the talent development.
Stauskas looks a like a poor mans Larry Bird right now. YEP
Walton seems to raise everyone's game and to me, he just made the jump to STAR. Watch the game again and feel the poise. this is a freshman. He's at the same level that Burke was at this age...
Horford is making key plays at key moments now...wow he has come around finally.
LeVert's movement is raw but blindingly fast and deadly. That's elite speed. The upside here is off the charts in two years.
Irvin is young but look out next year....
And then there is Robinson and Spike to boot....
And I don't want to forget my favorite player McGary.
This team can win it all because Stauskas is now a star, and our point guard truly arrived in Walton, and everyone contributes.
There could be five NBA players on the roster now.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
Replay of last nights game just starting on BTN.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
Last year I did it all the time, hell, I can watch that Tourney run any day of the week.
But for some reason this year, I can only watch once. I'm not sure why...I still get nervous when I rewatch the games this year. They're not relaxing and fun like last year.
I also think it may be because we have more "not so good" stretches where you want to scream at the TV this year. We're a little less flashy and more methodical...but equally as effective.
Lastly, I think it's just Burke. With Burke, we were always in control. Now it's a bunch of young guys growing up before our eyes. You don't know what you're going to get (which is fun...but works my damn nerves!) With Burke and THJ, you knew what was coming, it was just whether they could stop it. Not this year...the unknown is every game, every half, hell every play.
I'm loving this year, and I knew exactly what we were getting...but still, trying to watch twice has been tough for me.
I'm weird. very weird.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
Arizona was given a test today but is finally pulling away to beat Utah. We've still played them closer than anyone else.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
But tightened up in the end. I'm glad we've learned from it...
January 26th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
A few key stats:
Minnesota eFG% - 58.49&
Nebraska eFG% - 61.00%
Minnesota OREB% - 24.24%
Nebraska OREB% - 22.58%
Minnesota Free Throw rate - 47.14%
Nebraska Free Throw rate - 66.00%
Same old story. Shoot better, find yourself on the line a little more and you'll win a game you probably should not have by the numbers otherwise.
January 26th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
on MSU, that they must not have slapped the floor enough.
January 27th, 2014 at 1:34 AM ^
It was a bit of high scoring game but starting with about a minute left, MSU fouled UM every time UM got the ball. The last minute took a long time. Thankfully, UM made almost all of their free throws. All those points in the last minute inflated the final score a little bit.
January 27th, 2014 at 7:20 AM ^
It inflated the score a bit but we still had 66 points with 2:26 to go, which is a pretty solid offensive showing. That was despite the officials allowing a ton of contact to go uncalled for most of the game (until Beilein blew his top).
January 27th, 2014 at 6:50 AM ^
I know, that's not over played and irritating at this point. It's about as frightening as a Detroit pistons home crowd.
January 27th, 2014 at 12:26 AM ^
Ok, it's getting ridiculous how perfectly this season is playing out for us. I'm starting to get worried about our bubble bursting.