FRIDAY POSBANG: GREAT RUN EDITION

Submitted by Joseph_P_Freshwater on

For those of us on our way to work still hungover from last night....

 

M-Dog

March 24th, 2017 at 8:59 AM ^

Holy shit, Bill Self went completely gray in only 4 years.

It must have been Elijah Johnson:

Grantland’s 2013 Kansas Sweet Sixteen prediction:  (This was before the Kansas-Michigan game, during which time Elijah Johnson grabbed McGary’s privates, missed the free throw that led to "The Trey", and missed a runner that would have won it for Kansas) 

 Bill Self will become so enraged with Elijah Johnson that his toupee will fall off.

 Self and Johnson have an interesting relationship, and by “interesting,” I mean that before every game, I’m pretty sure Self pulls Johnson aside and gives him the following speech:

 “I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am today. I spent seven years coaching at small schools in Tulsa just to get the chance to coach at a big-time program. Now I’m here. I have multiple luxury automobiles, I own real estate all over the greater Lawrence area, and women throughout the Midwest want to lay with me. Look me in the eye, Elijah. I have it all, I tell you. IT. ALL. And I’m not about to let some shithead like you ruin it for me." 

"God as my witness, if the other team’s point guard outplays you tonight, I will end you. Your corpse will spend eternity in the crawl space of my summer home, and when guests ask, ‘What’s that smell?” I’ll tell them it’s the scent of mediocrity. It’s the smell of a guy who wasn’t half the man that Tyshawn, Sherron, or Mario were. Look at me, Elijah. I’ll tell them it’s the smell of a man who fell short of success one too many times."

 “Alright, good talk. Remember: Just go out there and play your hardest, and everything will take care of itself. Go get ’em, buckaroo.”

 

dragonchild

March 24th, 2017 at 5:57 AM ^

Michigan was in a horrendous bracket.  They could play with anyone in the bracket, but things needed to go well.  Even if they got past Oregon, Kansas loomed.  Again, another team Michigan could go toe-to-toe with, but four straight coin flips (and that's just to get to the semifinals) is a lot more about luck, assuming the team took care of everything else, which they did.

There never should have been this many good teams in a single region.

ijohnb

March 24th, 2017 at 6:10 AM ^

don't know about going toe to toe with Kansas. They looked like the fucking Globetrotters last night against the regular season BIG champ. I think last night was a more poetic ending than Saturday was likely to be, particularly when it was clear last night that we were starting to tire, at least mentally.

In reply to by ijohnb

Magnus

March 24th, 2017 at 7:38 AM ^

I agree. I think Kansas would have beaten Michigan by 8 or 10 points. I still think Michigan played poorly last night and should have won the game if not for an uncharasteristic off night by Wagner and MAAR, but the run wouldn't have lasted past Saturday, IMO.

901 P

March 24th, 2017 at 9:10 AM ^

Yeah. I'd also add that last night might have been a little bit of a reversion to the mean after a couple of really good games--I guess going 11/15 in a half suggests that there may be other halves when you go 4/15 or something. 

Plus last night's loss is a little easier to accept because it was close (not a blow-out like Purdue) but you can't really point to some sort of large injustice, fluke play, soul-crushing last second half-court shot, etc. Reffing may not have been great but it was not especially bad (or one-sided), team didn't play great but still managed to stay in it, etc. 

I'm certainly disappointed in the loss, but as far as tough losses go Michigan fans have been through far worse over the last few years.

In reply to by ijohnb

M-Dog

March 24th, 2017 at 9:05 AM ^

I think last night was a more poetic ending than Saturday was likely to be

Very good point.  Walton's last shot will be one of those iconic frozen in time moments for Michigan fans, like Trey's Block at the rim, instead of a ass-drubbing and images of guys holding their heads in their hands for the last 8 minutes of the game like Purdue.

 

In reply to by ijohnb

dragonchild

March 24th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^

But we're better than Purdue, and more versatile.  Purdue either matches up well against an opponent or it doesn't, and they seem better suited for frontcourt-heavy teams, so I think the end result was worse than Purdue was overall.  They had 16 turnovers and let Kansas go 15/28 from 3 (Kansas' forwards scored 9 points on 5 shots combined). . . two things Michigan never would've allowed.

We'd definitely have been the underdog and would've had to play well, but I don't think Kansas was guaranteed to have killed Michigan's run if Walton's shot went in.  Point is, you can win squeakers only so many times before luck runs out, if fatigue doesn't get you first.

Kenpom is starting to legitimately scare me, though.

lmgoblue1

March 24th, 2017 at 6:04 AM ^

So many smiles these last two weeks! From the depths of winter to the promise of spring, what a run! When the old season's over, it's going to be Michigan again. Michigan!

UM Fan from Sydney

March 24th, 2017 at 7:21 AM ^

Take a two instead of three.

EDIT: At least UM won a trophy and will be able to raise a banner. Hopefully they can win the real Big Ten championship next season.

Mgodiscgolfer

March 24th, 2017 at 6:23 AM ^

from bubble to sweet 16. On one  hand it sux on the other I can go back to my normal way going home from work. The reason they had this run was because I had to be detoured from the way home from work way back the day after the plane crash. So we all know I could not drive my normal way home till the run was over.

The win streak went so long my wife was asking me whats going on. "Why are you coming home ten min later than usual" So on one hand it's sad it's over on the other it will be nice to not have to take the long way home. 

So bang me for A fantastic run from bubble to B1G Title, to shorter work days and thirdly it's Friday Biotches.

father fisch

March 24th, 2017 at 6:29 AM ^

It was a great second half of the season. They started 14-9? They really put it together, got the fan base moving, and I for one had a lot of fun.

It's sad to see the seniors go but what a foundation for next year!

Go Blue!!

chatster

March 24th, 2017 at 7:39 AM ^

And now, to paraphrase Monty Python's John Cleese, "something (almost) completely different." Welcome back Michigan football!

Different sport, but still Michigan! Go Blue!

Everyone Murders

March 24th, 2017 at 7:48 AM ^

That was one of the most likable teams in Michigan MBB memory.  They were having so much fun out there, it's a shame the music had to stop.

Really glad they finished the season on a run.  All hail Beilein!

chatster

March 24th, 2017 at 7:55 AM ^

Even though we have to turn out the lights on this season for Michigan Men's Basketball, there's more than enough to celebrate, thanks to their great end-of-season run. Here's hoping that when the doors open on the 2017-2018 season, there will be more enjoyment to come.