Duncan Robinson Quotes on our Roster of Unwanted Players
“Quite honestly, when you look at it, it’s a buncha guys that probably shouldn’t be here or weren’t wanted here and, you know, whatever,” he said. “A guy like Moe (Wagner), hardly recruited; Muhammad(-Ali Abdur-Rahkman), two-star whatever; everyone wanted X to be done at Michigan; myself, I had to beg for a freakin’ scholarship. Didn’t get one out of high school. Charles, in the SEC, Kentucky, he didn’t cut it. So it’s like, when you get these personalities and these guys who have kinda been overlooked, whatever, their whole careers and kinda come together and believe in something collectively, it’s pretty special.”
This is straight from Duncan Robinson's mouth. This is the archetypal Beilein team. He finds players that no one else knows about or wants, and he puts the pieces of the puzzle together like a fictional movie character playing chess 15 moves ahead of the competition. There is, and will be, all sorts of over the top praise for Beilein this week (not unlike mine here). He deserves all of it. This roster of players and their accomplishments represent one of the best coaching jobs in modern college basketball history:
32 wins (school record), B1G tournament champions (B2B), Final 4, dominators of rivals, win with flair (Poole), win with class (Wagner), win clean (Beilein/everyone), inspirational fans (Jude Stamper, Mo's mom), ridiculous in season improvement (Z), darkhorse regional MVP (Matthews), ice in veins (MAAR - Maryland free throws), losing starting role with class and becoming B1G 6th man of year (Duncan), transfer from program as possible conference POY to backup PG who stands by his decision and is thrilled to even be in the tournament (Simmons), True freshman starter who plays hard and rarely shows up in the box score (Livers), 7 footer who went from lost boy to incredible defender playing the perfect role off of the bench (Teske) best defensive assistant in the country (Yaklich), unheralded contributor to incredible guard improvement (Haynes), humble yet efective developer of big men and coach who only wins B1G tourney championships (Washington, 2 for 2)...
Those are just a few tidbits of what make this team special.
TELL ME WHY YOU LOVE THIS TEAM...
I approve, XM. Team is unbelievable. Love that all players came with humble recruiting profiles or have transferred in, have improved since arival and that all the doubters have been proven wrong. Season is pure gold. Sparty Schadenfreude doesn't hurt either.
i mean, if 'blukon cornelius' doesn't approve of his own picture, then where the heck would be but lost. ramblers bounce, or so i've been told.
I had to +1 him just for his name. Just beautiful.
As an aside, I could never figure out why the rag doll was on the island. What was the problem that made her a misfit?
‘Dolly for Sue,’ the cute red-haired doll with the red dress and pleasant personality, doesn’t appear to fit in with the other island inhabitants. And that has sparked quite a few discussions online as to why the precious tot would be associated with the other toys. The show’s producer, Arthur Rankin Jr., has a plausible explanation. In a 1987 interview, Rankin said Dolly’s problem was “psychological, caused from being abandoned by her mistress and suffering depression from feeling unloved.” So, while her flaws may not have been visible, her pain was real.
http://www.tbo.com/entertainment/television/why-is-dolly-for-sue-on-the…
March 28th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
Damn - Dolly had some issues that were a lot worse than having square wheels on her caboose.
Under Beilein they learn to move as one.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:26 PM ^
I'm Mister Snow
I'm Mister Icicle
I'm Mister Ten Below
Friends call me Snow Miser
What ever I touch
Turns to snow in my clutch
I'm too much!
March 27th, 2018 at 11:01 PM ^
I'll give someone a couple mgopoints to photoshop that with our team faces and/or michigan jerseys.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:03 AM ^
So does that make Duncan the choo choo train with the square wheels?
Shut up, really? staee fans don't know when to shut up, they are whining to me how easy our bracket was. I then remind them how a) they played at home/LCA, b) lost to a worse team than we won against, and c) we beat their ass twice by double-digits. They just walk away.
...they would not be happy being in an easier bracket region. Also, Michigan cannot help it. They were chosen by a group of people to be placed. Another also, strength of schedule means absolutely nothing when it comes to the tournament. You actually WANT the easiest road possible.
...and instead of saying anything nice, they just say Go Big Ten. I'll take it even though I'm sure they will still be cheering loudly for Hogwarts on Saturday night.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^
Sparty's preposterously easy conference schedule. Which got them home court on the first weekend only to then lose to the worst Syracuse team I have ever watched.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:02 PM ^
I really like cheeseburgers.
...I thought it was vegemite sandwiches???
March 27th, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
I thought he met a strange lady, she made him nervous, but she took him and gave him breakfast.
I personally thinks he owes an explanation, preferrably in either Men At Work or Midnight Oil lyrics. INXS would also be acceptable.
Learn something new everyday...
.....THUNDERSTRUCK!!!!!
March 28th, 2018 at 12:44 AM ^
Michigan like Champions. All these schools with the prima donna one-and-dones that don't play D, don't go to class, and act entitled.....you can have 'em. Gimme a bunch of hard-working, scrappy Michigan men - Coach B will do the rest. Go Blue.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^
Tiffany and Debbie Gibson are totally post-Madonna's.
yesterday in his Bricklayers post, as these guys being Misfit Toys. And I am especially partial to the gif posted from the film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid>
The "Who are these guys?" reference says it all, because that is what personifies the magic that we have witnessed this season, a team that has transformed before our eyes, persistent pursuers on defense, not letting up.
At the beginning we weren't sure what this team was capable of, what it wanted to be, or how it would get there. And then slowly the light came on, and now it's a beacon flooding the end of the tunnel, guiding us with a veneer of unmistakable confidence in what they are and how they can do it, no matter what outsiders say or think. They are prepared to take on the college basketball world and beat it. That is the Beilein way.
I love that teams and "experts" still think Michigan has a soft defense, then act surprised when we're physical, tough, and contest every shot.
Looking at our starting 5, no way you'd assume they are a top 3 defensive team. It's a rude awakening for opponents when they finally see us in action.
that a team with Robinson playing starter's minutes at the 4 and Wagner at the 5 could be a top defense. A lot of people deserve credit for that achievement.
Simpson has started for less than a season and he already seems like the best defender Michigan has had. I don't know who to rank higher. Webber, Howard and Grant were all great, but I don't think they had as much success in shutting down opposing offenses.
I love all my teams. I am just happier when they win. It’s kinda like my kids. Love them when they are good and bad.
Hopefully they're more like the 03-04 Pistons
Yes, would prefer to not lose another championship in San Antonio.
Both the '04 Pistons and this team won the games they needed Staples Center with stifling defense so that's a good start
"Let me tell you something, all of my life people have said to me, "You're too small, Pre. You're not fast enough, Pre. Give up your foolish dreams, Steve!"
But you know what, they forgot something: I have to win."
Nike ad as bonus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzTxG6kEwVU
March 27th, 2018 at 10:02 PM ^
March 27th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
Bumble can box out like a mofo.
Fouls a lot though. Always getting T'd up for eating reindeer.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
T'd him up and turned his back on him....
March 27th, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^
I will remember these guys for a long time. Special is not strong enough to describe what Coach B and these guys have done on the court and for Michigan fans and alum.
GO BLUE!!