Mike Damone

December 18th, 2018 at 10:52 PM ^

NET has it right - we have played better than any of the other top teams this year.

The negative posters (a growing population) have made a case that we are lucky to be #4 after a mediocre performance by us against Western Michigan.  But Kansas has looked mediocre most of the year, including pulling out a close one v. South Dakota State on Saturday.  And Tennessee won on Staturday – but gave up 92 to a poor Memphis team.  Nice defense Vols.

As Andy Katz stated in his NCAA.com poll, putting us at #1:  I’m still all in on this team (Michigan) being the most complete team.

Go Blue!

Whole Milk

December 18th, 2018 at 11:49 PM ^

It was something like 8 of the top 15 teams in the country struggled for at least a significant portion of their games against inferior opponents on Saturday. Not all games are going to look pretty, and not all will seem super encouraging, but the best teams simply win and Michigan has done that while simultaneously looking very impressive for the most part. The critics of this team at this point are simply searching for something to complain about.

TrueBlue2003

December 19th, 2018 at 1:17 AM ^

I agree re: Kansas and Tennessee although I think Kansas could put things together as the season goes on and they get experience and get healthy.

I will say, I don't think we've played better overall than Duke.  They are flat murdering teams.  Their one loss - by three to Gonzaga - is still less shaky, IMO, than our close wins over NW and WMU.

And hence they're pretty far ahead of M in the fancy stats.  I am of the opinion that the numbers don't lie (generally).

J.

December 18th, 2018 at 11:22 PM ^

Also, the #3 one seed on the Bracket Matrix, #4 on KenPom, #3 on Torvik, #5/6/3/1 on Sagarin (Overall, Predictor, Golden Mean, Recent), #1 on Massey...

Don't look now guys, but this team is off to a pretty good start this year. :)

That won't stop certain posters on the board from dumping on them when they fail to become the first undefeated college basketball team in 42 years (or, if they do, when they fail to score on every possession or allow a four- or five-point run).

Roughneck

December 19th, 2018 at 7:40 AM ^

Early season basketball is crazy.  Always amazes me how few road games are played.  It’s wild that Duke has not played a single road game yet. 

Hell, UM has played twice as many road games as teams 2-5 combined. 

outsidethebox

December 19th, 2018 at 7:48 AM ^

There is  a lot to like about this team and its potential. Opponents will do their best to exploit their weaknesses...and will likely be successful at times. The key here is how well the staff self-assesses and makes adjustments to mitigate its faults. Anyone who claims to have anticipated this start is a flat out liar...I cannot imagine that there will not be some disappointments along the way-the other guys are good and are trying hard too. So far they have been up to every challenge...and are a joy to watch.