An Open Letter To Larry, The Dude Scheduling Michigan Basketball Comment Count

Brian

121711-AJC-basketball-Michigan-vs-Alabama-A-and-M-31_display

never again please

Dude. Larry. We have to talk:

Coming off a 2-27 season, the Bulldogs will play at Michigan at Crisler Center on Thursday, Dec. 21, according to a contract for the game obtained by MLive. U-M will pay Alabama A&M a guarantee of $95,000 for making the trip.

Coach Willie Hayes' team finished No. 351 out of 351 teams in both the RPI and Kenpom's efficiency ranking in 2016-17.

Its lone wins came over Mississippi Valley State (344) and Prairie View A&M (313). The Bulldogs finished last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

This is literally the worst possible game Michigan can schedule. Not only is it an offensive blowout in the making the likes of the Delaware State football game, it is poison to Michigan's RPI. Any SWAC team is an anchor; the worst SWAC team is even more so. A win against a team like Alabama A&M hurts your RPI. It would be better to simply not play that game.

Compounding matters:

John Beilein has previously indicated that there's a chance Michigan will not play a 31-game slate. He told reporters at the NBA Draft Combine that due to a condensed schedule -- the result of two Big Ten games being moved to early December and the conference tournament being moved a week earlier to Feb. 28-March 4 -- he will not shoehorn in an ill-advised game simply to get to 31.

You're not even going to play a full schedule because of Jim Delany! If you've opened the door to not playing games, this is the game you do not play. Nobody buying a season ticket is going to miss it. You are actively harming your RPI by playing it. An intrasquad scrimmage would be better preparation for the rest of the season. There is literally no reason to do this. And yet. Here we are.

I wrote about how to make your schedule pretty five years ago. (Not coincidentally, Alabama A&M was on the schedule that year as well.) Find high-win teams from lower leagues who you have a 98% chance of beating instead of a 99% chance. This has a material impact on your NCAA seedings, as this year's tournament amply demonstrated. A patently undeserving Minnesota got a five-seed this year because they paid attention to the RPI's flaws:

That and that alone was why Minnesota got a 5 seed and Wisconsin, which had a superior resume by any measure that was not an archaic and barely-tuned formula, got an 8. This matters, and every year Michigan plays two to four of the worst teams in the country. You're killing your father, Larry.

Comments

UM Fan from Sydney

June 14th, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^

I hate the NCAA non-conference scheduling. It's too many games. They should substitute four or five of them with conference games.

Longballs Dong…

June 14th, 2017 at 1:32 PM ^

You can make a point and not be a complete asshole while doing it.  I guess everyone in your thread was correct.   There was some discussion about how much of an impact API has on seeding but in general no one disagreed that this opponent is terrible.  They disagreed with the way you conduct yourself.  

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^

And how exactly was I a complete asshole again?

These games are RPI anchors so what's the point in dressing that up? The fact is these games are killing Michigan's RPI, affecting their NCAA seeding, and John Beilein doesn't seem to care and the question is why?

People got all in their feelings and started insulting me but I'm somehow the bad guy. Not playing that. 

Whole Milk

June 14th, 2017 at 1:59 PM ^

Stop trying, there is no point in so many people (myself included) trying to explain the reasoning that he receives the flak he receives. He refuses to listen to it. Instead of wasting our time while simultaneously feeding into his antics, we should just ignore him when he acts like an asshole. 

Franz Schubert

June 14th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^

Is being overly emotional and discarding everything he says because you don't like him, rather than listening and determining if what he is saying is correct. Set a goal to judge each post individually. If your rationalizing the fact he was completely correct on this issue, you should stop being emotional. It's just a blog.

Whole Milk

June 14th, 2017 at 4:14 PM ^

I think you are missing the point. I do listen to his thoughts and reasoning on actual issues, and tend to agree a lot of the time (it really is just like 3 points said over and over again, none of which are that hard to understand). I am not one of the people who auto negs him, as I think it can be childish, but every thread turns into this same fight, and when a new person tries to explain to him that the information he is saying is fine, it's just that he presents them in a terrible way, he then responds either sarcastically or defensively like he has never said a rude thing in his life and starts to get emotional about his negging. 

I don't know why i'm even here explaining it again, because the exact same situation will arise the next time anything Beilein related comes up. I just wish one time he would present the point he is trying to make without the clear anti-beilein bias he has just to see how much his negative reception declines. There will always be a few people who auto-neg him, but I think that is a minority of the hate he receives.

And for the record, I do not get emotional over interactions on a blog. Hell, I don't even really care about the bias or way he presents things most of the time (I do get annoyed of the same "poor me" shtick, but I digress). The first time I do get emotional about something on here, I will surely leave because my priorities will be severly misguided.

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 5:33 PM ^

and when a new person tries to explain to him that the information he is saying is fine, it's just that he presents them in a terrible wayhe then responds either sarcastically or defensively like he has never said a rude thing in his life and starts to get emotional about his negging. 

Neg away. I couldn't give a shit. And FTR I don't call other posters assholes, douchebags, pricks, etc like I'm called on a weekly basis. So who's the real one getting emotional in those exchanges? This also gets back to the point Franz is making, "to judge posts individually and based on the content of what's being proposed rather than judging it based on who posted it, or if it meets the criteria that you determine which in this case whether it's as good as Brian's writing. It doesn't have to be." Stop giving a shit how it's presented and who is presenting it. It's wasting everyone's time.

I just wish one time he would present the point he is trying to make without the clear anti-beilein bias he has just to see how much his negative reception declines.

I have articulated my position quite clearly in this thread and in others re Beilein. It would behhoove you to take the time to read it. 

 

Whole Milk

June 15th, 2017 at 9:08 AM ^

Ugh. That's all i've got. Last ditched effort. I will just say, stop trying to convince people that you don't care. We all know you do, and you also know that you care no matter how hard you have tried to convince yourself otherwise.

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 1:24 PM ^

Quite a few people disagreed with it yesterday. Moreover people's sensibilities are getting offended way too easily to the point they are actually holding internet grudges. I find it hilarious but par for the course for a segment of this fanbase. 

lhglrkwg

June 14th, 2017 at 2:33 PM ^

I mean, do you not see how the title of your thread yesterday "John Beilein continues to kill Michigan's RPI with the way he schedules OOC" is a worse way of conveying this idea than what Brian just wrote? You're stirring the pot instead of presenting an argument like Brian just did

Franz Schubert

June 14th, 2017 at 3:41 PM ^

Now is it? He posted truth and instead of dialogue about that truth, you lemmings focused on everything instead of the truth. Set a goal to judge posts individually and based on the content of what's being proposed rather than judging it based on who posted it, or if it meets the criteria that you determine which in this case whether it's as good as Brian's writing. It doesn't have to be. He was right. Period.

BigBlue02

June 14th, 2017 at 4:07 PM ^

Actually, this is exactly the issue. Maizen has already decided that anything that goes wrong is not only absolutely horrible, but also all Beilein's fault. It doesn't even matter what the topic is, he concern trolls. About recruiting. About the schedule. About the talent on the roster. He wasn't right about a single one of those things (and we know because he didn't post a fucking thing the second half of the season bragging about it) and instead of talking about any of that or admitting he was wrong about pretty much everything he's posted in the past year, he starts new concern troll posts. He posts them in a way that he can argue about it and no one can prove him wrong (because the doom and gloom he predicts is in the future), and then when he's wrong he just conveniently forgets he said all that and starts on a new batch of concern trolling. It's old. He's a one trick pony that everyone is tired of

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^

He wasn't right about a single one of those things (and we know because he didn't post a fucking thing the second half of the season bragging about it) and instead of talking about any of that or admitting he was wrong about pretty much everything he's posted in the past year.

Wrong, but glad I got you so triggered and all in your feelings. 

BigBlue02

June 14th, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^

Man, I wish you gave a fuck about what I thought so you could respond to every one of my posts instead of ignoring them like you so often do.

Also, I guarantee you don't now nor have you ever had Michigan basketball season tickets. I'm just wondering now if you're an MSU troll or an OSU troll

Franz Schubert

June 14th, 2017 at 3:35 PM ^

"His reputation"...Is this middle school? This board is insufferable because of the contrived group think peer pressure going on in here. He was completely right on this issue, it's ok for you lemmings to accept that without rationalizing your teenage girl overindulgence in emotions in the other thread; Yeah it's true, BUT he was a jerk, or he has a bad reputation or he made me run to my safe space.

In reply to by Franz Schubert

AlwaysBlue

June 14th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^

significance of being right is when it's an observation made completely out of the context of Beilein's reasons, which he admits not to know.  Secondly, I thought the serious chatter in January was that the RPI was going to play a diminished role in tournament seeding.  Finally, there are plenty of Beilein comments over the years about how he breaks down a season and his goals. Maybe he doesn't give a damn about RPI like most respected sources.  

A2toGVSU

June 14th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^

I can be a dick, too. Just ask any of my ex-girlfriends.

The problem is you didn't own your dickishness, fought back by being petty, and have therefore volunteered to fill this community's hatred vacuum left by WD's departure.

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 1:31 PM ^

If the community needs someone to hate I would say that's more an indictment on the posters here than the person they are hating on. We're all Michigan fans here, and I think it's safe to assume we all want what's best for UM. How we express that is different for each individual. The sooner people realize that the better.

bronxblue

June 14th, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^

Do you honestly think people need someone to hate?  It's a message board; I barely ever check the name before I comment back at someone.  But when that person consistently has a negative take with moderate evidence to back it up, you'll get some brush back.  Nobody disagreed with the general thesis that Michigan could schedule better OOC games.  But the hyperbole used to describe what is a moderate problem in the grand scheme of basketball was what brought along the comments.  

I will say, the drive-by auto-neggers around here can go die in a fire.  If you disagree with someone because of their point, so be it.  But I do feel bad when I see 3-4 downvotes next to every one of your comments when some are truly benign.

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^

I think there's a segment of fans who can't handle anyone saying anything negative about their teams or coaches and crouch behind the "it's not your point it's how you're making it" excuse. I joke about safe spaces but in my mind it's true. By now people should know two things: I'm a Michigan alum and fan, and I don't exactly dress things up or chortle anyone's balls before making a point. And contrary to popular belief they aren't all negative. If that rubs people the wrong way that's fine, but calling me a prick, asshole, douchebag is uncalled for and frankly has no place on this board. Life is too short and there are so many people in this world dealing with actual serious things that I can't even begin to get upset at anything posted on a sports blog. That's just me though. 

ijohnb

June 14th, 2017 at 2:18 PM ^

the issue that I have with you is that you actually don't seem to be a fan.  I am not saying that to call you a dick or a prick or anything else, and I will take you at face value that you are, I have just never read a post from you about Michigan basketball that was positive.  

I have never seen you participate in a positive snowflakes or muppets thread.  In fact, when you do pop up in those threads, it seems to be only to make a buzz-kill point that things are somehow not as good as we think or should have been better in the past.  Why is that?  Nobody (ever) wants their balls chortled by you, but you go as far as to prevent others from chortling their own balls when chortling is completely appropriate.

I see you said yesterday that you have season tickets, do you cheer for Michigan at the games or if they are winning by 5 are you mad because they are not winning by 10?  Do you ever see the glass as half full regarding Michigan basketball. 

I guess I have just seen a "fan" take less pleasure from the team they are purportedly a fan of.  Is that fair?

Maizen

June 14th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^

My thoughts on UM basketball are basically this, while it's not a Kentucky, Duke, Kansas etc type job it's right in that tier below so I have high expecations especially for a school with as much money and resources and national appeal as Michigan. Secondly, John Beilein has been good for UM basketball. They had gone a long time without producing NBA players (check), winning the B1G (check), making a final 4 (check), and running a clean program (check). He's a good guy and done a good job. My biggest criticism is that I think he's a top 10 coach that tries to win with top 40 talent. He signed one top 10 class and immediately went to the final 4 and produced 5 NBA picks. I think that his program has had some inconsistencies because he's missed on a lot of plan A guys. I love that he has hit the transfer market as well as he has but I also think that it says something we are going to have 3 transfers in the starting ineup this year. And the fact that he hasn't signed a McDonalds All American in 10 years is hard to excuse. I just want to see him do more with more like he did in 2013 instead of less with more, that's all. I'll continue to harp on these things until it changes but all that said, I like John Beilein and realize right now I'm not sure there is a guy we could get that would do better. An last years run at the B1G title and Sweet 16 was exciting and enjoyable.

ijohnb

June 14th, 2017 at 2:44 PM ^

post.  Why do you think he misses on Plan A guys?  Honestly asking.  I see a lot of harping about "how Beilein recruits," but I really don't get a good idea of what he does different or why it may be deficient.  It can't simply be the no offer until visit thing - I don't really see that as a super big deal.  Most kids would probably get the offer on the visit.  So why does it seem that a good deal of the big time talent that considers Michigan ends up passing?  Is it "bag men."  Is there something inherent about the way Beilein coaches that a lot of player don't like?  What is your opinion on that?