Amaker's NCAA Curse Continues
Took a buzzer beater to do it, but Princeton beat Harvard 63-62 to win the Ivy League's automatic berth. Still a chance that Harvard could gain at-large berth tomorrow, but I think that would be the league's first ever. I guess the NCAA tournament remains Tommy Amaker's Kryptonite.
The Harvard folks I know would have been absolutely insufferable all week if they'd won, so it's probably best this way (though our win over the Crimson was arguably our best non-conference victory, but I think we're in regardless)
I don't wish Tommy Amaker any ill will...
...but apparently the basketball gods do.
Here's an image of Tommy Amaker explaining why our non conference win over Clemson was better.
I watched the game and felt for Tommy. I think that Beilein is a better coach, but Tommy brought us back to respectibility. We would have been in in 2003 but for sanctions, and winning the NIT in 2004 wasn't a bad year.
I hope he makes it next year.
Well at least they'll win the NIT?
I certainly don't have ill will toward Amaker, but I wouldn't say I have a soft spot either. He acted really aloof his last season here and it turned me off a bit.
To see him get in the tournament with HARVARD and not Michigan would have been an awkward Letterman collar moment for sure.
My initial reaction was "poor Tommy" but after sleeping on it the "in with Harvard, not with Michigan" mantra is a bit unsettling. I'm no Al Davis/Mike Shanahan on this either but he's not here and he's not a Michigan alum so I shouldn't be stumbling all over myself to root for him. Best wishes to him and I hope we crush him every time we play his teams.
Go Harfurd U!
March 12th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
Horford*
That game was crazy! I was really pulling for Harvard to put Tommy into the NCAA's. Great pump fake by the kid from Princeton though.
Would love to see a Princeton-Michigan rematch of the Bill Bradley/Cazzie Russell classic.
March 12th, 2011 at 11:35 PM ^
"The Harvard folks I know are as a rule absolutely insufferable."
There.
I as well don't wish ill will against him, but if he doesn't get in, I'm not going to feel bad for the guy. Don't get me wrong, he proved he's a good coach (both at Seton Hall and UM), but he had 6 seasons and couldn't get into the tourny. I'm stoked about what we have going with this group and with Coach Beilein this year and for the years to come. Winning the NIT is great, and Amaker did help to restore UM's rep amid the scandal crap, but 6 seasons with only NIT appearances isn't going to cut it at Michigan.