Iowa 71, Michigan 61 Comment Count

Ace



That about sums it up. [Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog]

As Spike Albrecht thanked the fans in a pre-recorded video, many of them were already headed for the exits.

No seniors played on Senior Night; Albrecht and Caris LeVert, dressed in suits, took their familiar places on the bench after an understated pregame ceremony. The Crisler Center crowd then watched the same old team play the same old game.

Jarrod Uthoff obliterated Michigan's defense to the tune of 29 points, finding his range with ease against the smaller Zak Irvin. The Wolverines struggled to stay in front of their marks, stuggled to hit shots, struggled to do so much as put the ball in play—at one point, a wayward Irvin inbounds pass turned into a perfect outlet for a Mike Gesell breakway dunk. Mike Gesell plays for Iowa.

To be frank, deconstructing this game feels like a waste of time. We've seen this before, against Wisconsin and Ohio State and Michigan State and Indiana and Iowa again. Any one of those games could've given Michigan the final quality win they so desperately needed to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament before the end of the regular season. Instead, the Wolverines fell well short in all of them, and in all likelihood they'll not only need a victory in the 8/9 game of the Big Ten Tournament—against either Northwestern or Penn State—but an upset over top-seeded Indiana to make the field.

If you feel good about that scenario, you're far more optimistic than me, not to mention the steady stream of fans who high-tailed it to the parking lot with a few minutes left on the clock. They'd already seen this before. No need to prolong the inevitable.

Comments

G Money

March 6th, 2016 at 1:44 AM ^

...we looked like a bad team that was recently coming off of a Finals and Final 8 team. 

We've recruited some talented players, but less than what you should recruit after the seasons we've had.

Even then, I don't think these guys look good on the court. Like Walton. The others,  either weren't that great or haven't develeped well.

JB should hire a couple Perry Watson types and get some studs.

Tater

March 5th, 2016 at 11:52 PM ^

Don't talk CC after JB took this team to twenty wins and a 10-8 record in the Big Ten without his best player and his best stabilizing presence.  

As far as tournaments go, I want Michigan in the NIT.  No team seeded worse than 32nd in the country has EVER won the NCAA Tournament.  This is not one of the 32 best teams in the country.  They are one of the best 64, but not one with a realistic chance to win the NCAA.  On the other hand, they could win the NIT.  At the very least, they could get a few home games to end on a positive note.

olm_go_blue

March 6th, 2016 at 1:13 AM ^

So we'd rather win the nit than make the real tourney? I'd rather make the actual important post season tourney and get bounced the first round any day, and it not even close.

Don't see anyone bragging about nit final fours

victors2000

March 6th, 2016 at 2:40 AM ^

than from teams bounced in the first round of the Division I tournament. I will continue to root for the team to win but if they miss the DI Championship but make the NIT and win the thing I would be more proud of them than if they got bounced in the first round of the Basketball Championship. It would fit; everyone would be asking what could have been had Caris or Spike - and for that matter Austin Hatch, who knows what he could have been - been healthy. I always want the guys to win but to say it would be best to get bounced in the first round of March Madness than it would be to win the NIT is hubris to me.

Michifornia

March 5th, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^

Just players who give max effort consistently.  Never seen a team play so tentative for most of the game.  Irvin makes so many mistakes every game it's mind boggling.  Walton works hard but just can't find consistency.  MAAR seems to be the only consistent effort player on the floor.  Really hard to watch this team for 40 minutes...

blue90

March 5th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^

It looks like they learned nothing all season except rebounding and took this entire week off to do nothing. Everyone looked lost. Beilein completely missed the boat on Zak. Not a good player even though he was a top 100 prospect, same with Chatman. Walton looked okay, Donnal looked okay. Duncan can't hit anything. #cantwaitfornextyear. I guess we'll be a bit better but at this point, if we're not I wouldn't be surprised. Beilein has lost his game right now, he's done for if we don't make it to the sweet sixteen next year.

blue90

March 5th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^

It looks like they learned nothing all season except rebounding and took this entire week off to do nothing. Everyone looked lost. Beilein completely missed the boat on Zak. Not a good player even though he was a top 100 prospect, same with Chatman. Walton looked okay, Donnal looked okay. Duncan can't hit anything. #cantwaitfornextyear. I guess we'll be a bit better but at this point, if we're not I wouldn't be surprised. Beilein has lost his game right now, he's done for if we don't make it to the sweet sixteen next year.

Maizen

March 5th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^

The sad part about this is the program is in the same spot now as it was 6-7 years ago.

After sinking 100 million dollars into the facilties and making John Beilein one of the 10 highest paid coaches in the country this program deserves/expects better. Inexcusable to miss the NCAA's two years in a row.

Bergs

March 6th, 2016 at 12:43 AM ^

Except with a National Championship appearance and Elite 8 appearance sandwiched inbetween.

Also, the circumstances were a lot different surrounding last year's absence from the NCAA tournament (Caris & Walton out for the majority of the season). Not saying they would've made the tournament with them, but it's a little disingenuous to lump it in there as if coaching alone was the reason they did so poorly last year.

I'm not pleased with this season or the direction this team seems to be headed and I'm willing to put Beilein on the hotseat, but this coach and his success here is infinitely better than anything Tommy Amaker accomplished. Please do not suggest otherwise.

EDIT: Realized you were referring to the early Beilein years, which yeah, kinda.

blueday

March 7th, 2016 at 6:33 AM ^

Top 4 finishes in the Big every year with a title
Quite frequently. .. like Wiscy or better. Who on the bench stepped up this year? That is part of the problem.

I think we need to take a closer look at talented kids from Detoit and the State of Michigan that went elsewhere. Why is this?

ryebreadboy

March 5th, 2016 at 10:36 PM ^

This team sucks. Even if we squeak into the dance, we'll probably lose the play-in game. No real difference, IMO. Beilein had better fire everyone if he wants to save his job. Another year like this one, and he gone.




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jmblue

March 5th, 2016 at 10:37 PM ^

This is bad.  I've been a Beilein guy, but it sure feels like he may have lost his fastball.  The recruiting concerns have been there, but previously we could tout his record of player development and ability to get his teams to play fundamentally sound basketball.  We can't say that anymore.

 

 

Fishbulb

March 5th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^

If Irvin is your best player, you're not going very far. He's a complementary guy asked to be THE guy. He gets to the rim on defensive breakdowns or the odd crafty angle. He long-jumps his way into trouble. He gets his stuff thrown. He takes long 2's. He misses free throws. With LeVert out, the other wings all had to move up a role. Problem is they are best suited for the roles they had. Too much has to go right for this team to beat a good team. Losing two rotation guys was too much to overcome.

JOHNNAVARREISMYHERO

March 5th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

The amount of missed open shots is nauseating.

Wide open shots that were being airballed and weren't even close to going in.  

That 5 minute window where we actually gave a fuck has to be the entire game. 

The problem is Irvin killing the momentum was worse than him starting the mometum was good.  

The team was gassed.   Again, as usual.  

Why again do we have a fucking open scholarship not being used?

The layup thing is abolsutely ridiculous.

The free throw thing the same.

There has to be something this team could hang its hat on - it was shooting and taking care of the ball - something this team hasn't done in months.

This team is not only not very talent, it is incredibly sloppy and clueless when it comes to urgency and awareness on the court.

 

 

Richard75

March 6th, 2016 at 7:03 AM ^

Regarding the open scholarship: Read somewhere that happened because they thought they could land Jaylen Brown, which necessitated Bielfeldt's departure to open a spot. Bielfeldt was released in mid-April; Brown was still uncommitted at the time.




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Franz Schubert

March 5th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^

186-120 record at Michigan, which is barely over 60%. This is slightly below his career winning percentage which is only 62%. These numbers are actually inflated with all the non-conference cupcakes as he only wins 55% of Big Ten games. Mediocre at best.

JOHNNAVARREISMYHERO

March 5th, 2016 at 11:22 PM ^

Do you email or voice your complaints to the Athletic Department?

Just curious - because you have been upset the entire season (which is understadable)

Just wondering.