MBB vs. MSU Game Open Thread

Submitted by M-Wolverine on

OK, we're almost an hour away from the biggest game in John Beilein's Michigan career, which makes it just about the biggest in recent Michigan Basketball history. For some of you, you might not have been alive long enough to remember anything bigger.  If we lose, we can probably pinpoint bigger games, but if we win, and can follow it up with a Tourney appearance (showing going isn't just a fluke), turning a corner (if not actually catching up) against MSU, which can only help on the recruiting trail, and to basically not have all the positive momentum derail, there's no way to overstate how big that would be.  Which makes this afternoon BIG.  If ever we needed basketball to GO BLUE, it's today.  Let's do it.

justingoblue

March 5th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^

I almost feel like I have a game today. I'm sitting here in bed trying to time my shower correctly so I can just leave to watch the game right after.

I'm not as nervous as before one of my hockey games, but this compares mentally to a cross country meet or a tennis match, I think.

Soulfire21

March 5th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^

Methinks it feels like football, the week off, the late-autumn-feeling air.  Ahh, yes.  This is athletics at its finest.

And, of course, GO BLUE!

um09inohio

March 5th, 2011 at 1:03 PM ^

It feels just like a 3:30 kickoff during football season.  Particularly watching the games that are on before ours and seem like they will never end.

This is the biggest game at Crisler Arena that I can remember.  A must-win game for both teams.

Go Blue!

BRCE

March 5th, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^

I think it's more must-win for us. MSU will still be .500 in the conference with a loss and they have rep, which shouldn't mean anything to the committee but unfortunately always does.

BRCE

March 5th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^

You have to qualify it with biggest regular season game, which it is by far.

Obviously, Clemson and Oklahoma in the 2009 tourney were bigger games.

 

BOX House

March 5th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^

I'm not even sure those were bigger games.

This is an opportunity to beat our biggest basketball rival, to send them to the NIT, to secure our spot in the tourner, to stamp the Tim Hardaway Jr. Era. Personally,  I think this is a lot bigger than the tournament games.

M-Wolverine

March 5th, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^

If we had nothing to lose, and it was only about them losing. Taking glory in beating your rival yourself and causing them suffering isn't little brother-ish. You're over-extending the term.

joeyb

March 5th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^

I disagree. This is a chance for us to turn recruiting in the state in our favor. This would be a statement win. This is a chance to sweep a rival and perennial power and secure a spot in the tournament. Once we were in the tournament in 09, everything else was gravy.

M-Wolverine

March 5th, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^

There was nothing to lose. House money. No one would complain losing to either. This can be a step up OR a set-back.
<br>
<br>Tourney games will be bigger when we actually have a chance to win something in it.

BRCE

March 5th, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^

Another thing that just adds to the incredible hugeness of this thing. It's just the Big Dance bid and it's not only breaking Sparty's heart and sweeping them, but we are also playing for a #4 or #5 seed in the B1G tournament today. That means a Friday start, which is big.

Sambojangles

March 5th, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^

What's everyone watching until gametime? I don't know if I can handle waiting 30 minutes. I'm already geeked up, and most of the other games don't look that exciting.

Blues Brothers is on VH1, however.

TheOnlyVictors

March 5th, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^

I mean guys this team has seen a lot and you all know how close our losses against the big guys have gone. We all know that this team will be very great in a couple years- but I'm not really sure- even if we are in the tournament- that we can really make it far.

Of course, the same was probably said about the Fab Five.

AlwaysBlue

March 5th, 2011 at 1:32 PM ^

And the radio broadcast begins.  Hyped?  Damn, I can't sit still.

David Merrit says the pressure is all on State, pre-season Number 2 fighting for their life.