MBB Silver Linings Thread
Maybe it's too soon for this for most people, but despite the shitty ending, shitty refs and disappointing loss, I figured we could use some positive thoughts.
-The result of this game won't end up making that big a difference long term. We're going to make the tournament regardless and no one was expecting us to win/compete for the B1G title so seeding wise it won't matter too much. It may hurt NCAA seeding a line or two, but that's very manageable.
-In terms of eye test, this game only helped our stock. Anyone who watched that game came away impressed with how we played. The offense had it's down moments at time but overall was pretty productive against a good Purdue team, and the defensive effort was good as well. Credit to Purdue as they hit a lot of contested shots even when we played good D. If we play like this from here on out we'll be winning a lot of games, and in almost all of them.
-On a personnel basis, this game was awesome for the continued growth of both Livers and Simpson. Both made huge plays all game long on both sides of the ball and look to be legit B1G starters growing into stars. The year started with the 1 and 4 as the two question marks on this team, but if those two play like this the rest of the way, the ceiling for this team is high.
-Related to that, but the future here is bright. Even if this year isn't the year and we get knocked out 1st/2nd round due to poor seeding, this team will be a force next year and the year after. Livers and Poole look like future stars as Freshmen, Simpson the same as a Sophomore. Teske is a force defensively and looks to be a great heir apparent to Moe. Brooks is a good contributor as well as a Freshman. Combine that with the great recruiting class coming in and the potential (likely?) return of Moe and/or Matthews, and this team could be making noise nationally next year, and definitely the year after that.
January 10th, 2018 at 12:42 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:47 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 12:52 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 1:30 AM ^
he's shooting 60 percent on twos (on some nifty drives and step backs), he's hitting 40 percent threes, 47 percent in conference play!
He has an ability to get a shot just about anytime he wants and he's hitting them at a very efficient clip. He has a lot of Nik Stauskas in him.
True, he doesn't do any passing yet, and makes freshman mistakes on defense, but talent-wise, he has all the makings of the star.
January 10th, 2018 at 12:56 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 1:34 AM ^
he shot with confidence, once or twice over Haas after a switch. No complaints about his game tonight. He took ten shots and was the leading scorer in a game we should have beaten Purdue. Did not expect that to be the case a few weeks ago.
January 10th, 2018 at 1:23 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 1:32 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 6:23 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 8:15 AM ^
The schedule looks very promising down the stretch IMO.
January 10th, 2018 at 7:28 AM ^
In my Dan Dakich voice: THAT WAS A GREAT GAME!
January 10th, 2018 at 7:41 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 8:05 AM ^
Simpson/Brooks/Dejulius
Poole/Watson/Nunez
Matthews/Brazidikes(sp?)
Livers/Johns
Wagner/Teske/Davis/Castleton
I think one guy has to transfer or leave early to make room, but that could be a very athletic, dangerous team.
January 10th, 2018 at 8:19 AM ^
your hunch is correct.
1 transfer or exit to NBA required
January 10th, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
D Robinson is a senior, isn't he? So his (probable) lack of eligibility is already considered? Because he would be the obvious, excepting one of the deep bench practice players, obviously. Not sure how that works in bball...
January 10th, 2018 at 10:47 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 8:13 AM ^
| L Sat, Jan. 13 | at Michigan State | Noon, FOX | |
| W Mon, Jan. 15 | Maryland | 6:30 p.m., FS1 | |
| W Thurs, Jan. 18 | at Nebraska | 9 p.m. BTN | |
| W Sun, Jan. 21 | Rutgers | Noon, BTN | |
| L Thurs, Jan. 25 | at Purdue | 7 p.m., ESPN2 | |
| W Mon, Jan. 29 | Northwestern | 7 p.m., FS1 | |
| W Sat, Feb. 3 | Minnesota | 2:30 p.m., FOX | |
| W Tues, Feb. 6 | at Northwestern | 7 p.m., BTN | |
| W Sun, Feb. 11 | at Wisconsin | 1 p.m., CBS | |
| W Weds, Feb. 14 | Iowa | 6:30 p.m., BTN | |
| ? Sun, Feb. 18 | Ohio State | 1 p.m., CBS | |
| ? Weds, Feb. 21 | at Penn State | 7 p.m., BTN | |
| ? Sat, Feb. 24 | at Maryland | Noon, ESPN/2 |
I love how well Michigan Basketball develops and improves seemingly every season under Beilein. The guy is a top 10 coach all time in terms of player development IMO. Having the B10 down overall this year will hurt from a seeding perspective, but on the other hand we should get to see a lot of wins against B10 teams as compared to years past.
Looking at the remaining schedule, I see 2 very probable losses and the rest of the schedule very winnable. Our away games against Nebraska, Northwestern, and Wisconsin are all vs teams currently ranked >70 in KenPom. I definitely like our chances in all home games up to Ohio. As well as the team is currently playing, it's no stretch to see Michigan 22-6 (11-4) heading into the last three games of the regular season.
With continued improvement from the freshmen, and overall team cohesion typical of a late season Beilein coached team, I could easily imagine Michigan taking 2/3 out of those last three games. There will probably be a clunker or two in the games remaining, but I'd be surprised if Michigan didn't end up at least 22-9, with 24-7 as a ceiling going into the postseason.
That'd be a very good season. Go Blue!
January 10th, 2018 at 10:37 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 9:17 AM ^
The end result of last night's game was heartbreaking. But I had so much fun watching Crisler light up the way it did when we tied that game. We had a chance to win. We should have won. But it was still fun to watch. I love this basketball team and I am so glad we have the coach that we do. Also, Iseah Livers and Jordan Poole are fucking awesome. Brooks is fun to watch too. Go Blue!
January 10th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
I am not really even that upset about last night in terms of team effort and overall play - I mean, we lost by one to the #5 team in the country and that in itself says something about how competitive we are.I was far mor upset at the performance of Steratore And The Striped Clown Show, which sadly a few thousand people got to witness live.
The team's performance is the silver lining, I think.
January 10th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 9:39 AM ^
Will Livers start being on the floor a lot more than Robinson?? I just don't see how this staff continues to keep him out there for such long stretches as a huge defensive liability while not adding much to the offense recently.
January 10th, 2018 at 9:55 AM ^
It must happen. Case in point - early 2nd half yesterday, Robinson played woeful defense on an easy Purdue drive to the hoop for a layup. JB yanked him immediately. Livers ran the rest of the 2nd half, I think. I honestly don't recall seeing Robinson on the floor in the last 18 minutes of the game. This trend will continue.
January 10th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
put Teske AND Mo on Haas everyone KNEW thats where it was going at the end..they shouldve doubled team him...That sas one of the WORST officiated BB games I havea ever seen..so many Phantom fouls against us..It really does make you think that B10 officials are conspiring against US in FB and BB..I mean what else can it be? to CONSTANTLY be on th wrong side oif these calls is very fishy..and its been going on now for awhile
Also what a way to RUIN a good game by Bad Officiating
January 10th, 2018 at 12:17 PM ^
1) Purdue shot 7-10 on 3s in the first half and was over 50% for the game. Some were contested, but PJ Thompson (who is shooting 49% on 3s for the year) was wide open on both of his.
2) Purdue got back-to-back put-backs on offensive rebounds in the second half from Nojel Eastern, a freshman who otherwise looked lost on the court. Failure to block out twice in a row; don't blame D-Rob, he wasn't in the game.
3) When Brooks and Teske are on the court at the same time, our offense seriously suffers. We're basically playing 3-on-5.
4) We have the final possession. JB is preparing to call a time-out (we have 2 left) with roughly 15 seconds to go. Matthews waves him off, and essentially freelances. Worse yet, he drives to his left, making a drive-and-dish all but impossible. Even if Matthias doesn't get his hand on the ball, Haas is waiting to clean up.
5) Purdue inbounds the ball with 6 seconds left. We have a foul to give. So of course Zavier fouls Carson Edwards - he should. But why so soon?? Edwards was dribbling to his off-side, away from the basket. Z should have waited another 1-2 seconds; instead, Purdue still has 4.8 on the clock.
6) Purdue is inbounding the ball with 4.8 left and no time-outs. Everyone in Crisler knows that the ball is going to Haas. Carson Edwards (all 6'0" of him) is inbounding the ball. Here's where a creative substitution could have made a difference -- I fully agree that Teske should have subbed in to guard the inbounds pass. it would have been awfully tough to get the ball over him. If he deflects and M recovers, we still have 1 time-out to set up a final play.
7) Livers rebounded the missed final FT with 3.8 seconds left. M has 1 timeout left. Why not use it to set up something other than a desperation heave?
Having said all of that, I hope that this team is able to grow together. Purdue started 4 seniors (Haas, Thompson, Vince Edwards, Matthias). The Boilers don't have anywhere as much talent on their roster top to bottom as MSU, but they're a group of battle-tested veterans....and Thompson, Matthias, and Carson Edwards can drain 3s from NBA range.
One final observation: JB found some success late in the first half with Livers and D-Rob on the court at the same time. If Mo and Teske aren't going to play together, a lineup of MAAR/Matthews/D-Rob/Livers/Mo (or Teske) is likely the biggest lineup that we have - and can also get up and down the floor pretty quickly.
January 10th, 2018 at 1:08 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
I'm sorry...what is cowbell?!
January 11th, 2018 at 1:09 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
After the Illinois and OSU losses last year when we looked pretty listless, I had a long conversation with my pals about how Beilein needed to retire and that the fire to motivate guys passed him by.
Then he takes them on the run through the end of the season, the Big Ten tourney, and the win over Louisville which is one of my top 5 favorite Michigan games ever.
THEN, he has Livers playing like a total baller by early January and Simpson is emerging into another Beilein point guard.
So sorry Coach. I'm a dick. You are smart and I am dumb.
January 10th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
January 10th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
Silver linings: without ridiculous 3pt luck and the worst replay review overturn in the history of basketball we beat the #5 team. And Livers continues to outplay Robinson and soon will get the starting nod and then maybe Duncan's play will pick up too.