Don't lose this: The game was fantastic.
Call me crazy...but it sure seemed like reading and listening to players comments but there may be a shocking number of them returning next year. These guys starve for winning. Lets hope....Regardless, what a run! Just like any other sport in the majority of playoff seasons, it's a crapshoot and someone has to lose. Last night, there were no losers. Just a team that fell one step short and a champion!
Where would one find these words to read? My interest is piqued.
As always, UMHoops has the post-game locker video. I got the same vibe from people who are not Trey Burke. Now that might be them speaking in the moment after a really tough loss like it was for Morris two years ago, but it's certainly the impression I got.
THJ had a pretty terrible tourney so it's not like GMs are tripping over themselves to draft him in the 2nd round
GRIII...maybe. Still hasn't done anything amazing but I know the NBA doesn't draft like that
McGary said he was gonna be 100% back but then backed off, but I assume that means he's still at 80-90%.
I kind of expect everyone to be back next year except Burke. If Burke came back, my head would explode. I would rule it out, but ever since Taylor Lewan, I cannot rule that out anymore
Has guys saying they're going to come back. They're hurt and all they can think about is the game.
Then those that realized that have a payday waiting get over the hurt. Doesn't mean they're gone, but what they say in the locker about coming back means less than nothing.
I thought it was a good game with the potential for greatness ruined by the officials.
by some questionable play-calling. And although I am biased, I do think it's a closer--even better--game down the stretch if the refs get some of those calls right. On the other hand, it must be allowed that Burke on the bench means Spike with 17 in the first half, so. . . that may help to even things out a bit. Despite Spike's 17, I want my player of the year, who came out scorching the nets himself, on the floor in the final.
In the end, of course, our observations don't alter the outcome. But if we're voting on whether this game assumed classic proportions (not the OP's assertion), the officiating--lamented openly even by the commentators--definitely pulled it down a peg.
It was a great game, and a worthy team won both from a talent and class perspective. This isn't the Indiana team and Crean coaching his players to fake cheap shots. Beyond the obvious Ware story, Louisville had Peyton Siva helping his dad overcome drug addiction as a young teenager, Luke Hancock and his dad making it to Atlanta to see his son play the games of his life... Losing the championship to OSU or Duke or MSU would've been terrible. I was actually happy for the Louisville kids.
It was indeed the finest game of tackle basketball I've ever had the privilege of watching.
I particularly enjoyed when 3 Louisville players had Mitch tackled on the ground and it was a "jump ball". Srsly, what the hell.
Or the other time he was in the middle of 3 of them and some how he traveled before he got fouled.
It was an unbelievable run. With exception of one Louisville fan (told me to "sit down and shut up" after "the block") I found them to be very gracious winners, with a few heavy praise on our team on my way out.
I think the opening comments between Gottlieb and Patrick in this clip pretty much summarize my sentiments. Best NC game Gottlieb had ever seen and recognizes how the crowd appreciated it too.
For those wondering whether any pundits had something to say about the officiating, tune in to the conversation at the 5:05 mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAcbVNrJFTY
Patrick is from Ohio -- and has made his views towards Michigan clear in the past (i.e. he does not despise us, but he is definitely not a fan. Listen to his interview with Denard from Feb 2013 to get the gist) -- and I think that explains why he's so quick to claim that the charge Morgan took at the end of the Syracuse game was an "obviously bad call." It was anything but an obviously bad call, as described here by Brian on Sunday. In real-time, and in replays, it looked like a charge and the referee did not hesitate to call it one.
Anyway, this was a fantastic game. I just kept telling my gf, who doesn't watch much basketball, to enjoy what she was seeing, because it was the kind of spectacular performance I had never seen before. May never see again. So proud of this team and how they left it all on the court yesterday.
The team played fantastically. And so did Louisville. Two outstanding teams doing battle.
While the refs may have changed the outcome, they could not take away the excellence that was displayed by both teams on the floor.
The OP is absolutely correct.
my fellow Michigan alums and fans as I was last night. We knew we were going to lose but EVERYONE in maize stood and sang The Victors. It picked up our kids. We all clapped for Louisville and Petino. They are a class act.
Also, I was proud of the Fab Five. Jalen sat in front of me and he was going crazy for Michigan. He was the biggest "ass" out there. It feed me to be a crazy "ass" as well.
All I can say is its great...to be... a Michigan Wolverine. Thanks to theFab Five for attending. Thanks to Team 94 for defying the odds.
The first half was the most exciting and interesting first half of basketball I've ever seen, and the second half was a great display of college basketball as well.
Even if I were a neutral observer, I'd be viscerally pissed about the foul on Burke's clean block (I was viscerally pissed at the quick jump ball whistle at the end of the UL-Wichita St. game because it robbed fans of a potentially great finish).
Although I think Louisville was the more complete and therefore better team, that call changed the complexion of the last 5 minutes and might have robbed college basketball of an all-time great finish. Both teams were playing at such a high level and the game was so interesting in multiple respects--I would have liked to have seen Trey Burke with the ball and Michigan down 2 points with 30 seconds left.
That said, my two emotions today are sadness that I'll probably never see Burke play for Michigan again--and pride for my alma mater. Go Blue.
On threads blowing sunshine up everyone's ass?
Last night congrats and thanks to the team was fitting for what they've accomplished. Today a half dozen threads on how everyone should feel good sounds like rationalizing away the loss.
We're also 6-1 in Semifinals at the Final Four. We haven't "failed" at all.
I hate to be a downer, but I really don't care how great the game is if Michigan loses.
And won by 24, or even if they had won by 1 39-38, that would have been great. They don't give any points for pretty.
Nope. This was not a great game. No game we lose is a great game to me. I will never watch it, nor any highlights ever again. The 2006 Ohio game was not a great game. The 2011 hockey final was not a great game. The 2005 Rose Bowl was not a great game. I can appreciate the high level of play in all those games, but none of them were, and never will be 'classic' or 'great'. I have never, and will never, ever watch anything from those games again. This still does not take anything away from the teams that played in them, but all of these games are dead to me.
This thread made me wonder how the TV ratings were, so I googled it and this came up from the Hollywood Reporter: "Kentucky's victory over Michigan grows 18% from last year....." It sort of made me laugh. Sorry, Louisville.
It was a great game of back and forth. UL was one play away from opening a real lead for about 6 minutes from 11:00 remaining to 5:00 remaining, with every time UM made a play to cut it to 2 or 3.
With 5:00 to go UL was up 3 going in for the momentum building score when Burke made the block. ...players make plays.... Without that call, the back and forth continues down the stretch. With the call, UL got some momentum, made a number of good plays, and made it a desperate comeback finish instead of what that game deserved.
(additional boo, if they called the over the back with 0:50 to go, Burke could have made 2 FTs to cut it to a 2 point game. Woooo, that too could have made for a great finish!)
It's scary how similar the 1992-93 team and 2012-13 team are.
- Both had 31 wins
- Both made it to the championship game
- Both lost by 6 points.
The only reason 2012-13 > 1992-93? Their banner will stay up forever.
But you know we thought that in 1992-1993 too.
He won every national player of the year award, all conference, everything unanimously and consensusly. It's ridiculous. Noone has ever won all those awards and then came back if they had eligibility left (maybe Duncan but I don't think he even won that many)
All this combined with weak draft class, the fact he barely came back last year... he's gone. Just start convincing yourself of this now and it will be easier.
Nothing is ever 100% but come on.
Not trying to be a dick. Just trying to help.
As a silver lining, Walton is very good and Spike showed he's ready to lead the team in many ways as well.
If Hardaway leaves, Irvin is ready to contribute already.
Let's just hope Mitch and Grob III realize it's best to get one more year of seasoning in. Losing either of them would be biggest unforeseen blow.
To more great memories...
Hail!
I like Barkley and Smith on TNT for the NBA, but listening to them talk all over each other with mostly terrible points was almost unbearable. Questioning Belein for sitting Burke? He was buying time and they had a lead at half time. Thinking Burke in the game would prevent Hancock from going off like he did as quickly as he did is pure stupidity. I wouldn't be as mad at the officiating if the missed calls weren't so blatant and if they didn't hurt Michigan exponentially worse. Even the missed kick ball hurt Michigan more since McGary picked up a foul moments later. By my count there wasn't just one missed goal tend, there were two. I can't remember anyone saying anything but Morgan had a continuation that was almost as blatant.
I don't complain about officials outside of anonymous internet fan board posts, but the refs literally took points off the board. The Trey Burke three pointer foul was bad but it was understandable. All the other calls were some of the worst I've seen.
So, so, so proud of this team and to be a wolverine! We showed the world what we are capable of. The our youth may have held us back but next season is looking even brighter than this one did. Guarantee we are a top 5 team in the preseason rankings. Go Blue!
Damn doubles, but love double doubles