Jerry Palm: Brackets Finalized, Michigan will get 4th 1-seed. Edit: So much for that.

Submitted by a2_electricboogaloo on

The bracket is final...even if Michigan loses, I'm sticking with them as the 4th No. 1. The committee could rightly disagree, but not w/UVa

— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) March 16, 2014

So despite the mess that is this game, I guess we have that going for us.

ijohnb

March 16th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^

and I don't think Syracuse sounds like the worst possible thing anyway.  Today showed how vulnerable we are against good aggressive man to man.  The Illinois zone move worked as an unexpected gimmick, that is all. I would welcome a game against a 2-3 zone that this team was aware of and expected.  In a way, Syracuse is a really good match up for us because we at least can control the pace of the game, like last year.  I would rather this team avoid Duke and Witchita Stae.  I am fine with Syracuse.

ijohnb

March 16th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

not make too much out of this loss.  Michigan State is very good and also had a motivational advantage that could not be off-set.  Anybody paying attention knew this was an ass-kicking that Michigan had coming.  You're right, we should not be a one seed, but not because of that game.  I actually just hope that our players took it for what it was and really just let it go emotionally.  Kind of a shitty game to have to play actually.

Blue Durham

March 16th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^

I agree, and not just based on the results of today's game.

I love watching this team, and they are a very good team. But they are not one of the best 4 teams in the country. I don't even think they are one of the 8 best teams in the country.

But I think they earned a 2-seed, which all things considered, is pretty incredible.

Blue Durham

March 16th, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^

Yes, and they have arguably played one of the most difficult schedules in the country. But soooo many games could have gone the other way.

I can't think of too many games that Michigan lost but really could have/should have won. But the last few wins (Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue) have been pretty shakey.

Bobby Boucher

March 16th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^

Jesus, I hope they don't play this bad during the tourney.  They won't be able to beat anyone if they shoot less than 30% and go almost the entire game without so much as a rebound!!

denardogasm

March 16th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^

MSU knows us better than anyone in the country.  No team will be this well prepared for us with a short prep time.  Couple that with the fact that once again it feels like we're not getting much respect relative to our accomplishments and we might sneak up on some good teams.  And yes, there's no way we shoot 30% again.

JamieH

March 16th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^

Being a 1 seed in a bracket with Kansas and Syracuse would not be good.  I'd rather be the 2 seed with Witchita and whoever else honestly.

buddhafrog

March 16th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^

DISAGREE.

As the one, we would only have to beat either Syracuse or Kansas.  plus whoever they have as a four seed (please OSU - won't happen, but still, please?).  Both have current problems, and Syracuse is looking horrible right now.

(ignoring any comment about us looking horrible today, obv.)

bronxblue

March 16th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

I love how UM loses for the first time in 8 games and everyone is acting like they're a 12 seed.  They lost a game to a motivated team.  Congrats to MSU, but that shouldn't diminish what UM has done.  And honestly, who else is a #1 seed outside of maybe UVa?  

BlockM

March 16th, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^

Meh. Tired legs, foul trouble early, yada yada. Congrats to MSU, they played a hell of a game, and shot worse than we did from 3. We don't have the horses to compete down low with a dominant rebounding team, especially without Morgan and/or Horford down there.

Let's get some teams like VCU, etc. in our region and make some noise. Bonus that we won't have to play three games in three days again!

bronxblue

March 16th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^

Well, they also hit 10 more 2-point shots.  That's really was the difference in the game.  MSU shot 50% with 10 more rebounds, mostly because they could get to the rim with UM's bigs in foul trouble.  They played well enough to win.  Congrats to them.  But this is still the same MSU team that limped into the BTT, and I definitely think that they are one bad shooting night away from being knocked out as well.  Their defense isn't really that spectacular; UM just had a horrible shooting night.

Blue Durham

March 16th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

We must have seen different games. Michigan State had a lot of points off of their defense and a lot of dunks. They had a lot of uncontested shots. Everything Michigan put up was contested.

Michigan State was a better team today. And healthy, they are a better team because they are bigger, more physical, and more experienced/older.

bronxblue

March 17th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^

Well, that's part of the reason they scored 10 mores baskets.  And they rebounded better.  Nobody is arguing that.  I do think it helped that none of UM's bigs could stay on the court because of foul trouble.

And we don't know if MSU is better healthy because UM isn't fully healthy either.  It's an academic argument regardless; if UM meets MSU in the tournament we'll have to revisit it.

umchicago

March 16th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

stauskus looked totally gassed to me today.  he stumbled and fumbled so many times at the top of the O today.  i think that was tired legs.  tired legs leads to missed jump shots.

despite todays game, i think the ncaa is built for beilein's teams; grabbing and holding on screens are actually called fouls in the tourny which bodes well for us.