Playing in the belly of the beast - Michigan basketball at Assembly Hall
Do you remember?
Tomorrow we travel again to Bloomington to play Indiana at dreaded Assembly Hall. While the historical record against the Hoosiers is a dismal 56-103 we are an stunning 12-64 when playing in their gym. In my opinion, of all the houses of B1G officiating horrors, Assembly Hall stands alone as the Pantheon of "home cooking" when it comes to getting biased calls favoring the home team. Which means that despite our respective records through the years - the best squad does not always prevail if not in candy striped warm-ups. In fact they rarely, if ever, do in Indiana.
A few notable games stand out through the years:
1977 - The one loss and 5th ranked Wolverines lose to unranked #2 Indiana 73-64
1989 - The 6th 13th ranked and eventual National Champions fall to 9th ranked uanked Indiana 71-70 76-75
1990 - The 5th ranked Wolves lose to unranked Indiana 71-69
1992 - Fab Five get blown out 89-74 by unranked Indiana.
1993 - This time the #2 in the nation Fab Five get screwed at the end and lose 93-92
1994 - No Webber, no change. 11th ranked Michigan goes down 74-64
1997 - Ranked #13, Michigan loses yet again to unranked Indiana 72-70
1998 - Ranked #15 going in, Michigan gets crushed by unranked Indiana 90-65
2012 - #16 Michigan goes down 73-71 to unranked Indiana
2013 - Ranked #1 - Michigan loses to Indiana 72-71 81-73. Lots of Televisions die
I watched all those games. I can tell you beyond a shadow of doubt that when playing at Assembly Hall expect at least 3-5 "WTF" calls per game that will go against us. I think we can and should win tomorrow. But if history has taught me anything it is to not expect the win to be easy (should it come) or without 40 minutes of me yelling at the TV in anger.
Let the game begin.
February 1st, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
I'm pretty sure he'd say something like "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED". Well maybe not, but I know as a Michigan fan. My sole purpose of interviewing Bobby Knight would be to get him to throw something and to cuss on air.
February 1st, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
February 1st, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
With good reason. Assembly Hall is Cameron-West when it comes to homer calls. It goes beyond absurd.
February 1st, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
February 1st, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
Um, no. Not at Assembly Hall. Yes at places like Ohio State, but no, not at Assembly Hall. Not even close.
As MGrowOld points out, anybody who has been following Michigan basketball for many years has seen it directly.
February 1st, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
February 1st, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
12-64. And let me take a wild guess at your age.....
Under 21.
You could only type that if you had not seen what I've seen over the past 40 years. And look at the other comments in the thread - this isnt just one nutty old guy's opinion - this is life playing at Assembly Hall. And if you don't know it already prepare for an education in about 21 hours.
Win or lose the game will not "balance out". Or at least it hasnt in the 40+ years I've watched games there. Or do you think 12-64 is an accurate reflection of the competitive balance between our two schools?
February 1st, 2014 at 3:11 PM ^
February 1st, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
Shits about to change this year. All of those Indiana HS recruits are on our squad now.
February 1st, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^
RobM_24 - I want you to know you're quickly becoming my favorite "new" poster. Seriously dude I really enjoy your writing.cause you're reeally funny and contributing good stuff to the board.
February 1st, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
NW could do the same at Minnesota, up at half. Everyone but MSU and Iowa could have 5 losses. This is the craziest race I have seen EVER in the B1G. I feel like every road trip this year is a coin flip and tomorrow is no different. Assembly Hall used to be pretty much a guaranteed L - thankfully that is not true any more. If Walton Jr continues his play I like our chances.
February 1st, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
We had their undefeated team beaten, but then a last second tip in was allowed that shouldn't have been, and that put it into overtime where we lost. That was the most painful for me.
February 1st, 2014 at 3:31 PM ^
Michigan must ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK from the get go....who gets the loose balls at the beginning will tell us if they are there to ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK....I always count at Bloomington a L...PLEASE prove me wrong
February 1st, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
February 1st, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
February 1st, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
Be prepared, not only for officiating, but for IU to shoot at least 10 percentage points above their norms.
Some personal lowlights over the years:
1989: Jay Edwards hits 30 footer after time expired, but IU clock operator held it b/w 0 and the horn. (1985 Gary Grant hits winning shot with :02. IU gives up [clock didn't stop back then] and doesn't call TO, but clock freezes at :01 for a moment before ticking out.)
1990: Michigan jumps out to 33-13 lead in 1st half, quits the rest of the game, loses.
1993: Fab Five gets hosed
2012: IU hits every shot, including four blind-folded, half-court hook shots. ["The Hoosiers scorched the nets inside and out, 53% on twos (20-38) and 64% on threes (7-11). Christian Watford was mostly unstoppable when Indiana went his way (25 points on 11 shots) [!!!] and Cody Zeller was equally efficient (18 points on 10 shots). Watford was 3-of-4 on three point attempts while the only Hoosier to miss a [all of his] three[s] was Victor Oladipo (2 for 10, 0-3 3pt)." http://www.umhoops.com/2012/01/06/game-15-michigan-at-indiana-recap/]