Expectations for the next 3 MBB games
Michigan basketball is entering a possibly season-defining three-game stretch against 3 ranked teams (Iowa will be after they beat MSU and Purdue in consecutive games). We play at Purdue, vs. Maryland and at Iowa. It reminds me of January 2014 when Michigan played at Wisconsin, vs. Iowa and at MSU and went 3-0.
What are the expectations from everyone in these three games? I think a 1-2 record would be holding serve, and anything on top of that is gravy. Hopefully Caris will be healthy for Purdue and going forward!
Go Blue!
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
I think we can beat Maryland at home with a good shooting night. The other 2 will be very difficult. Just too much size.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:56 AM ^
What about MD isn't too much size. Is it roBert carter who is averaging almost a double double? Diamond stone the 5 star center who just put up 38 points? Damonte dodd the center who starts over stone? Jake layman the 6'8 guy who shoots 40% from deep. I'm failing to see a lack of size here since they probably have a top 5 front court in the country. Throw in melo trimble who gets into the lane at will against good defenders and they are actually a terrible matchup for us.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
We shoot like we did today we can beat anyone.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 8:08 PM ^
I thought Iowa was at home?
I hope everyone watches tape on how Iowa pressured Purdue and they fell apart. If we can do that, I think that's a win.
January 2nd, 2016 at 10:35 PM ^
Away on the 17th and then at Crisler on March 5, last game of the resular season.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:12 PM ^
Fuck it. I'll be optimistic to start 2016. 2-1
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January 2nd, 2016 at 8:17 PM ^
Unfortunately I have to guess 0 and 3. If Lavert isn't full go it could be ugly.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:23 PM ^
Is Lavert related to Ty Issac and Dennis Northfleet?
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:33 PM ^
Close relative of Tloy Woolfork.
January 2nd, 2016 at 10:59 PM ^
And "Jake Ruddock"
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January 2nd, 2016 at 8:18 PM ^
Being optimistic: 2-1... At best. 1-2 at worst. If we go 0-3 it'll suck ass... But it'll certainly be just fine. In my opinion, making the tourney they year is the main goal, no matter how enjoyable the journey there is. And then just hope that at that point in the season were playing our best ball.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 8:20 PM ^
Maryland isn't really that good and it's at home. Think we win that one.
January 2nd, 2016 at 11:49 PM ^
Diamond Stone may get arrested for what he is going to do Doyle and Donnal. We go 0-3.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 8:22 PM ^
Kid just has a foot problem. Sad. Will slide in draft
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:45 PM ^
troll. Beilein said in his post game presser they are evaluating him every day.
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:43 AM ^
Get bent
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:22 PM ^
When looking at the schedule after non conference . I believe most realistic fans said 3-2 after the first five conference games would be good. It would be nice to show this years team is capable of beating one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the conference.
2-3 =not great
4-1 = great «««( my opinion)
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:23 PM ^
on Caris' injury. Beilein didn't sound confident about the nature of the injury let alone a timetable for return.
I'm shocked that Iowa came back. I saw the halftime score and didn't bother to watch.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:35 PM ^
For some reason my gut tells me LeVert is done for the year (despite no walking boot or crutches). I hope I'm wrong. Like you said, Beilein's comments scared me.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:36 PM ^
He played through the Illinois win after he injured himself. If that's what it was, it seems more like a Walton situation than anything long term.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:40 PM ^
I guess I shouldn't be so worried about it. Beilein did say it was a day-to-day thing, I would have loved to hear a timetable though.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:36 PM ^
the same ominous impression from Beilein's comments. He sounded as if the day to day was about figuring out what was wrong. I will try to be more optimistic.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:23 PM ^
Depends if we can press Purdue like Iowa did. Holy crap did that discombobulate them.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:25 PM ^
We're going to go 3-0
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:28 PM ^
Would have to shoot 30 threes vs Purdue and make at least half. Hammons/haas/swanigan will rape us
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^
Going 15/30 from 3 for this team really isn't that difficult. Certainty? No but not absurd.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 10:58 PM ^
That size can be taken advantage of by our offense.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:29 PM ^
Gives me shivers
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^
Awesome job trolling there, pal.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:34 PM ^
Sparty hasn't really looked that good since mid december. They barely beat a bad Florida team.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:36 PM ^
But they did beat Kansas, Louisville, provi. Just hope it's not a blowout like last year :(
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:39 PM ^
Oakland too. I'm not afraid of a team that gets taken to overtime by the golden grizzlies.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:33 PM ^
Unfortunately I expect that they'll lose all three. Tough to win on the row in the big ten, especially against the top teams. And would need a great game to beat Maryland at home. Hoping Michigan goes 3-0, but not expecting it.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 8:41 PM ^
without Caris, I'm thinking 0-3 or 1-2 if we are "on". I just don't see us winning these without Caris and Spike.
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:53 PM ^
L
L
W
January 2nd, 2016 at 8:53 PM ^
If we go 2-1, I will be ecstatic. We have seen the difference between when we shoot the ball well, and when we don't. Any permutation is possible, but if I had to bet, I'd say 1-2. Hopefully we exceed that projection.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:02 PM ^
0-3 if Levert doesn't play
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^
Just landed tickets for Thursday at Mackey from a friend! Heading up the road into enemy territory and hoping for the best!
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^
Hard to see us winning more than one of those games, if any. Purdue is going to absolutely manhandle us on the boards.
If we won one, I'd be happy. Two, ecstatic. Three, orgasmic.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
I have a gut feeling we'll beat Iowa.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:27 PM ^
3-0, for no good reason.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:28 PM ^
Hope we get at least one of three, but could see us losing all three. All depends on how well we shoot and if the bogs can continue to improve. We shoot like we did today, could get all three, but just average shooting, then these three are going to be touch. Schedule gets a bit easier the couple games after these three. See this season being a year of streaks based on shooting and schedule. Win 2-4 in a row, lose 2-3 in a row - repeat. Think we need 8 more wins and we are dancing. With the way this team can shoot, just need to get to the tourney, get hot, and who knows what could happen.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^
Sorry for the typos, man that was bad. I am ashamed, as I should be.
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January 2nd, 2016 at 9:53 PM ^
That's my expectations.
Really, who can say? If:
- Robinson continues to shoot the lights out
- Irvin's stroke really is back
- LeVert is healthy and he both creates and hits threes
- Walton stops turning the ball over and he hits threes
- Donnal continues to catch, put in everything, not get intimidated, rebound, and stay out of foul trouble
- Wagner and Doyle spell Donnal with some quality minutes
- Rahkman and Dawkins spell the wings with quality minutes
then we can play with anyone and beat almost anyone.
Of course, that's a lot to ask for. But having 4 guys on the floor who can hit threes regularly, and who don't turn the ball over, and who pass well, is going to really, really open up things for the 5 man. And at the 5, it appears that both Donnal and Wagner can hit some threes. This high pick and roll is going to do a lot for Michigan.
I'm just gonna be optimistic. Beilein and the basketball team have way overachieved expectations. If they keep this up, the sky's the limit. And it will pay huge, huge dividends down the road. If they continue to play this way and to win, here's what happens:
- higher seed in the tournament, meaning more wins (playing against weaker opposition)
- more importantly, better recruiting in 2017 and especially 2018. Right now, it seems we have plateaued in recruiting. The problem may be perception. If Michigan does very well, it tells potential recruits out there that this is a good place to end up.
January 2nd, 2016 at 9:57 PM ^
0-3. This is the same team we've seen all year, just has played a slew of crappy teams. They've looked good against every bad team they've played, and shitty against every good team. There's nothing to go on that would suggest that trend to change
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January 2nd, 2016 at 11:17 PM ^
but it turns out Xavier is really, really good
January 2nd, 2016 at 11:35 PM ^
SMU is 13-0.
January 2nd, 2016 at 10:16 PM ^
if we can split, that would be impressive.
January 2nd, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^
a loss and a tie?