Wow. I've tried to ignore you, but I failed miserably. In the words of Pete Carroll, "what is your problem?" I don't know if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday or if you were just upset because of the Michigan loss, but you seem to be in the midst of an extended conniption fit.
Cussing, ranting, and raving is not going get people to agree with you. We are all Michigan fans and want the best for our team. We give our opinions about the team and sometimes we're critical, but it's because we want the best for our team.
Now, I could understand you cussing out Michigan State trolls if they came on the site and criticized the Wolverines. I would understand it, but I still wouldn't agree with your methods. Stomping your feet, throwing punches, cussing, and raising your voice will not bring me around to your way of thinking. These methods have the opposite effect.
On the other hand, if you're suffering from "keyboard tourettes syndrome" and just can't help yourself, then I deeply apologize for the above comments. Thank you, and as always....
I like D. Walton but for some reason in the last 2 games he has been intent on taking the ball to the hole. Penn State blocked at least 2 of his shots early in the game and their guys are not 7-footers. So then we play Purdue AKA The Land of the Giants, and the first and second thing I see is Walton driving to the basket and the ball being knocked into the stands.
Derrick Walton is a good player. I agree he is not at Burke's level. But I like him. He just needs to understand that sometimes it's better to drive the ball and kick it out to the 3-point shooters (especially when there are 7-footers waiting in the lane), than it is try to play the high-trajectory game.
It does seem like in every game, the first and second possessions (and sometimes the third) consist of passing the ball around the perimeter, seemingly with no purpose. No one will take a shot, even if they're open.
This can't be a coincidence. I don't know. Maybe Beilein has the players do this in order to figure out the defense? Maybe he wants everyone to touch ball early on? I don't know. I don't get it. And then it seems like every once in awhile they still think they have a 35-second shot clock.
I would be interested in knowing how many shot clock violations we have so far this year. Shoot the freakin' ball.
I don't know what Nik Stauskas' 3-point percentage was in his first season but I do remember that he had a few tough games during the Big Ten season. And I think it was Gary Harris (6'4") who gave Stauskas (6'6") fits during the Michigan State game.
I'm hoping that since Duncan Robinson is 6'8" it will be a lot more difficult to find someone with both size (to be able to block his shot) and speed (to keep him from driving to the basket). I think he can hit the 50% mark for the season.
I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst with regard to Levert's injury.
Until I see him in uniform, out on the court, with the ball in his hands, during an officially NCAA-sanctioned game, I'm going to assume he's out for the season.
Despite what Ty Isaac says, I think he is outta here. And even though he probably has a higher ceiling than the other running backs on the roster (excluding Kareem Walker), I just get the feeling his work ethic does not match Harbaugh's demands. I wish him the best.
I don't know if now is a good time to admit I was wrong about the quarterback mass exodus prediction I made a few months ago. I thought for sure we would hear transfer announcements from 2 or 3 quarterbacks after the bowl game ended. And I was shocked that Shane Morris decided to stay. I'll wait and see what happens after signing before admitting to being absolutely wrong.
We had a great season. I went through the "9 days of Harbaugh" in late December, watching one game per day leading up to the Citrus Bowl. beginning 9 days prior to the Citrus Bowl. I only looked at the 9 wins but I will admit that re-watching the Indiana and Minnesota games was brutal. I'm glad we won, but man did those 2 games feel like losses.
Look, I know we lost a few key players to injury, but it sure seems like we hit a wall at the halfway point, which is understandable since Harbaugh is slightly demanding. I'm hoping that the returning players can get the incoming players ready for the demands of the offseason workouts, spring practices, fall submarine practices and weekly practices so that next season the players will be able to maintain the same level of excellence displayed in the first half of the season, throughout the entire season.
First of all, I would like to apologize for comments I previously made on this site and other sites regarding Donnal. I really did not think he could play Division I basketball. Even after his first couple of baskets, I chalked it up to luck. But when he continued to go crazy I realized this is what the coaches have been seeing in practice. Wow. Hats off to Donnal.
Second of all, early in the game it looked like Duncan Robinson was going to pull a Nik Stauskas and deliver a goose egg in Big Ten play, so I'm glad he was able to at least get a few baskets.
Third of all, I'd like to thank mgoblog and all the other Michigan Wolverine websites and podcasts for offering me a couple of hours per day to escape from the absolute craziness that resides in Columbus, Ohio. It is not easy living in Columbus as a Michigan fan. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year.
Even when he wasn't starting and was still recovering from the ankle injury and was trying to get into playing shape, he was still my favorite player when he entered the game. The guy played with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
I'm not surprised. He got off the plane with swag. He's not playing scared. He's driving the ball to the hole. And anytime an opponent drives the ball to the basket, Wagner tries to knock it into the stands.
Nope, not surprised at all. He has already played with and against professional players. Now it's time to take these college kids to school. Class is in session.
I agree. Every time I see Wagner make one of those quick offensive moves at the elbow, foul line or near the basket, I think about McGary. Even that one pass in the second half where he pivoted at the elbow, headed toward the basket and sent a no-look pass to the corner for a 3-point shot reminded me of McGary.
And wWe didn't see McGary doing these types of things until the tournament. Wagner is already doing them. As for bringing the ball up the court, I remember that McGary said it was OK to do it as long as he didn't turn the ball over, and that during the season coach Beilein had him running a lot stairs for turning the ball over in practice. So Wagner should get ready to run some stairs.
Also, similar to when McGary started showing flashes of offensive prowess, you would see the other big men (Morgan and Horford) try to pivot at the elbow and shoot or at least try to drive. I saw Ricky Doyle try to drive once after pivoting at the elbow against NC State but he turned the ball over near the basket. I still applauded him for at least trying.
Our bigs need to be a threat no matter where they receive the ball. It forces the opponent to defend five players instead of four and it opens up the floor for the 3-point shooters.
Am I the only one frustrated with this new system of calling every ticky tack foul? Sheesh. And I'm not just talking about the ones called against Michigan. There was a series of plays in the first half where the refs called 3 or 4 consecutive calls against NC State. And of couse the refs returned the favor and did the same to Michigan a few times in the second half.
The announcers mentioned that they liked the new policy and that this is how the game was played 20 or 30 years ago. Really? So increasing the number of stoppages in play is better for the game? I could be wrong but it seemed to me that 20 years ago there was a much better flow to the game and a lot fewer foul calls.
It got so frustrating in the second half that I turned down the volume and semi-watched the game, always waiting for the next whistle. I really would rather watch a free-flowing basketball game than a freakin' free-throw procession. Sheesh.
I agree, regarding Dawkins. He was the player I was most looking forward to seeing this season but other than 1 or 2 highlights per game, he has played very passively. And he was pretty much a No-Show last night. I know he's our best athlete but if he can't produce then he shouldn't be starting.
Funny you should mention "stone hands." I've been calling Doyle "brick hands" all season. Every once in awhile he'll hold onto to a pass near the rim, but it's a 50-50 deal. I stopped getting upset about those hands 2 or 3 games ago.
I like Doyle's size, but he has brick hands when he's near the basket. I would love to see Wagner start but I'm betting that won't happen until we're half way through the Big Ten schedule.
I can't offer an opinion on the officiating because I no longer know that constitutes a foul. So, in the words of Jim Harbaugh, I capitulate. I'm crying Uncle, throwing in the towel, and tapping out when it comes to foul calls.
I liked what I saw from Wilson but I don't know what's going on with Chatman. I'm beginning to think that either his game is not a good match for the Beilein offense or for college basketball in general. I choose the former. I think he can play but this is not a good match. I feel bad for him because I think he chose the wrong school.
I agree with you regarding Levert, Irvin, Walton, Robinson, and Wagner. Glad to see Levert taking over the game when he has to. I love his aggressiveness. Also glad to see Walton being more aggressive offensively. And Irvin seems to be regaining his form with both the dribble drive and the threes. Robinson and Wagner have both demonstrated to me that they have high basketball IQ's.
Did you notice that when Wagner is at the elbow or free throw line, when he receives a pass he pivots towards the hoop before passing the ball? The defense has to react to that. I wish our other bigs could do that, even if they aren't going to shoot or drive.
What's wrong with me? Why am I applauding every rebound? Why does Moritz Wagner remind me of Mitch McGary? Why do I no longer understand what a foul is? And why, after listening to these announcers for 3 nights in a row, do I not like them?
I said 2 days ago that I would like to see more of Wagner and Wilson. Their efforts might not be pretty sometimes but you can tell they're giving it their all.
Wagner showed flashes of McGary. I'm tired of watching our big men to through the motions, standing at the elbow or top of the key, catching and passing the ball from one side to the other with no freakin' threat of scoring. Sheesh.
You can probably tell that I'm frustrated. I was spoiled by the McGary era, as shortlived as it was. McGary (and Wagner last night) showed us what a big man is supposed to look like in Beilein's system - not a conduit, but a participant and a freakin' threat to score. Thank you Mr. Wagner. My coffee tastes a little bit better this morning.
I'll give Wilson a "youth" pass because he didn't play at all last season. He may look awkward at times, but at least he's giving effort out there.
And Wagner might be young but I don't think that will hinder him. I'm sure in his mind he remembers that his German teammates also called "young." He proved himself then and he's ready to prove himself now. He's hungry. He has skills and he will be great - this year.
But MAAR, Dawkins, and Doyle have to turn in their "youth" cards. Trey Burke, Caris Levert, and Nik Stauskas set the standard for the "leap" we now expect from our players between years 1 and 2. The "leap" does not take place in November when the season begins. The "leap" is a product of all the hard work put in during the offseason.
All we're getting from Dawkins is 1 or 2 highlights per game, just like last year. This from one of the most athletic players in the country. And Doyle? He's playing at exactly the same level he played at last year. MAAR? He will provide 1 or 2, maybe 3 drives to the basket per game, just like last year, but that's it. And I won't even mention Donnal.
I'm proud of the team for last night's victory, but please let's not go into Brady Hoke mode and use "youth" as a reason for our struggles. How about somebody just grab a freakin' rebound?
Last night I heard one of the announcers say that we should be healthy by January and then we can make a nice run. Excuse me? If we play like this througout December we're gonna dig too deep of a hole to climb out of.
Oh my God. Before the season began I had modest expectations for this team because I didn't know what to expect. Aubrey Dawkins was my up-and-comer, but it turns out all he can give me is one or two highlights per game. Duncan Robinson has been up and down but at least he's giving us some effort. He's at least tryin', for cryin' out loud.
We have 6'7", 6'8", 6'9", and 6'10" guys running around out there who can't grab a freakin' rebound. Zack Novack and Stu Douglass were 6'4". Our current big men make those 2 guys look like Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley. Sheesh.
I know I can depend on Spike when he gets into playing shape. And I hope I can depend on Zak Irvin when he's back to normal, but I don't know. Right now the only person I trust is Caris Levert. Folks, we are officially a one-man team.
I no longer trust Derrick Walton. And Ricky Doyle? I trust him even less. I would like to see more playing time for Moritz Wagner and DJ Wilson. They might look awkward at times but at least they are getting after it, showing signs of life.
After last season's results I expected the team to come back this season fired up, but all I've seen this season is what looks like 5 players at a time going through the motions. Can somebody besides Caris Levert drive the freakin' ball to the basket? Please, I'm begging you. And grab a freakin' rebound, fergodsakes. Please.
I said it before and I'll say it again. I'm very thankful. Four road victories in the Big Ten? Who woulda thunk it? That's why I'm now wearing my maize and blue colored glasses and I see no flaws at all. Woo-hoo.
I have to be the strangest Wolverine fan on the planet. When there's a critical 3rd or 4th down, it doesn't matter if we're on offense or defense, or if there's a goal-line situation, I stand up. I've been doing it for 30 years (except for last year).
So during the Indiana game, I stood up a few times in the first quarter then realized it was futile and sat my butt down for the rest of the game, seriously shaking in my boots 'til the end.
So the Penn State game begins and next thing I know Barkley is running down the field like an Indiana tailback. I said, "Ruh roh, I guess I won't be standing up for this game either." LOL. Eventually I regained my confidence and stood my monkey ass back up.
Not just "roughing the passer." The way things have gone this year I expected a targeting call and an ejection for Willie Henry. Immediately. They don't even need to bother with the reviews any more. We know what's coming. Just get him out of there.
I really really really wish we could've saved Peppers for the OSU game only. It would've been fun to watch Urban Meyer call a bunch of timeouts like Dantonio did when he saw Peppers on offense.
As another Michigan fan living in Columbus I'll tell you what's funny. Once my co-workers found out I was from Michigan one of my co-workers came over to my partition with his cell phone playing some song that I was not familiar with.
He goes, "that hurts, doesn't it?" I responded, "what is it?" He said, "It's the OSU fight song," as if everyone on the planet has to know the Buckeye fight song.
Look, I know Michigan's fight song and I recognize Notre Dame's fight song when I hear it. That's about it. All I could tell him was, "play it again, Sam."
Great article, Brian. I haven't been keeping score but I think this is the most I've laughed out loud in a long time.
Except I wasn't laughing when I saw Brady Hoke's name. I would like to say he ruined my life last year or that he ruined my year, but the best I can do is say he ruined 4 months of my life. Now when I see or hear his name, I involuntarily flinch.
I made a crazy decision as I watched the Utah-Michigan game last year. I'd had enough. I couldn't take it anymore. I decided that the only way Hoke would leave is if he got fired. And I didn't think he would get fired if we won 6 games and made it to a bowl game. So I decided to root against my own freakin' team. That hurt.
It felt strange. And I couldn't root against them without turning the audio off. So I watched each game while listening to 80's music. I know, strange right? But later in the season when I saw Drake Johnson doing his impersonation of Gayle Sayers, I almost reversed my decision as if I was a referee at a Michigan game reversing a freakin' targeting call against a Michigan opponent.
I've been a Michigan fan since 1985. I'm also a Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers fan but I've never rooted against any of them - not even to get a better draft pick. I'm glad to see Michigan is back and was ecstatic last year when I heard, "Brady Hoke has left the building."
My favorite part of the press conference was when a media member asked the coach if he had sought and received any clarity concerning some of the penalty flags. I'm still laughing. He said he capitulated. That is funny as hell because I capitulated (actually cried Uncle) 4 or 5 games ago when I realized we would never see a targeting call go our way. .
I no longer get upset when I see a flag. I just wait for them to mark off the freakin' yardage and say "let's play ball." LOL. Capitulation? Yeah, that sounds about right.
I agree with you. The players at Michigan in 3 or 4 years will love Harbaugh just as much as the players he's coaching now. He's not going anywhere.
The college landscape and the pro landscape are miles apart. College players want to be pushed. They're hungry. They want to make it to the NFL.
Pro players (49ers players specifically) want to be pushed too, but only to a point. They're millionaires. They've already made it. Do you remember when the 49ers' players said they had already reached the pinnacle? They took going to the Super Bowl as a sign that they didn't need to improve anymore. They had already made it to the top.
A millionaire's attitude is going to differ from a hungry college football player trying to make it to the league. Look where the 49ers are now. Hello. Is that what the pinnacle looks like?
Now, when I say pro players only want to be pushed to a point, I'm not talking about players like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. They will never stop trying to get better.
Harbaugh will not overstay his welcome. These kids are being pushed but they love Harbaugh and they understand that even though they're being pushed to the limit, there's a method to the madness.
LOL. He might look and sound like a players' coach at these press conferences but I guarantee you he's got his foot up these players' arses at every practice. They are being pushed to the limit, and that's a good thing.
Brady Hoke, on the other hand? Now that's a players' coach (pats on the butt, clapping on the sidelines, referring to injuries as boo boos and owies).
Fortunately (or unfortunately), I'm also a Detroit Lions fan so I learned early on in 2008 to hold my applause after a good play because a flag was coming. Every time the Lions made a good play, which was rare, a penalty flag would magically appear out of nowhere. That year I mastered the art of "hold the applause."
A holding call on a defensive lineman? Really refs? Really?
LOL. I visited some of the Penn State message boards throughout the week last week and most of them talked about how the officials always favor Michigan. That was a shock to my system, but O.K.
So I checked those same message boards after the game yesterday, and even the Penn State fans were saying the referees kept them in the game. Wow. How about that?
First of all, let me just say that I am lovin' me some Michigan Wolverines. 4 wins on the road in the Big Ten? Priceless. If we had won every road game 2-0, I would still be turning cartwheels. No backflips, but cartwheels every day.
Under normal circumstances I would come on here and talk about how I'm disgusted with the pre-snap penalties on both sides of the ball. And I would probably say here we go again with the turnovers. And I might even mention my hostility towards the referees regarding all these "reversed" targeting penalties. Heck, I might even ask why we're still getting our punts blocked 11 games into the season.
But not today. No complaints about my Wolverines today baby. I live in Columbus and today is a good day to be a Michigan fan in Columbus. The Michigan win drove me to the edge, but the Buckeye loss (at home) pushed me across the boundary into this State of Euphoria. Don't get me wrong, I still hate Michigan State. But do you know how hard it is for a team to come into the horse shoe and walk out with a victory? Wow.
Here's what I know from past experience. The gym will be a little emptier today because the few Buckeye fans who do work out, are devastated. Also, lots of Buckeye fans will take the day off from work on Monday (Loser's Holiday), and maybe even the rest of the week.
Here's to hoping my Wolverines can get me back to the State of Euphoria next Saturday. It doesn't get any better than this.
Doyle must be in Beilein's doghouse for something. I'm not familiar with other Big Ten team rosters, but I don't think Donnal would be a starter for any of the other 13 teams.
Unfortunately, I remember that play where Irvin was 6 inches from the ball and didn't grab it. Not a good sign. I don't know how much more recovery he needs, but I was quite surprised to see him in the starting lineup.
And don't get me started about the decision to start (or even play) Mark Donnal.
I agree. Wagner has that fire in his belly like McGary had. Before McGary's tournament run, I thought our big men's role was to stand at the elbow, catch a pass, throw a pass. McGary proved that Beilein has a plan for the big men. All they have to do is execute. At least pretend like you're interested in doing something other than being a passing conduit.
Wnen McGary was destroying people off the dribble and throwing no-look passes, I can guarantee you Morgan and Horford were thinking the same thing I was thinking, "wait, it's O.K. for us big men to be aggressive on offense?"
Prior to the season I thought we might have 2 NBA prospects - Levert and Dawkins. But there was a caveat to Dawkins' chances. Would this athletic player with great potential pull a GRIII and play passively with 1 or 2 highlights per game, or would he get after it?
So far all I'm seeing is "passive/aggressive" Dawkins. And I can't see anyone else on this team getting drafted or even making it onto a summer league team. I hope someone surprises me, but as of 9:38AM, Nov 21, 2015, I see one NBA prospect.
It sure feels like we've regressed back to the early Beilein days where if we didn't hit 70% of our 3-pointers, it was an automatic loss. Our defense was really bad back then and it is really bad right now. The difference is back then we had a couple of 6'4" players (Stu Douglass and Zack Novak) who took it upon themselves to grab a freakin' rebound if we got lucky enough for the opponent to actually, I don't know, miss a shot?
We struggled on the boards against LeMoyne, Northern Michigan, and Elon so I thought we would struggle against Xavier, but not to this extent. They made us look bad. Wow.
I was surprised to see Zak Irvin start since he didn't make a shot in the last game, but I said to myself, "O.K. maybe Beilein knows something I don't know." But when I saw Mark Donnal in the starting lineup, that actually upset me. I guess he played O.K. against LeMoyne, but he got pushed around by Northern Michigan and Elon. And didn't make a dent last night.
I love and trust my coach, but come on coach. Donnal? Really? It's going to be a long season.
I just want to know when Brian Cole is coming back. Ever since he go injured, we have not come close to blocking a punt. Well, unless you count the 2 "roughing the kicker" penalties.
I am very disappointed in Donnal. During the 2013 championship run where Donnal took a redshirt, all the players kept talking about how great he looked. So he shows up in 2014 and plays like he's still in high school. So this year I'm thinking that he maybe he worked on his weaknesses during the offseason? Next thing I know, against Elon he's missing layups left and right. Against Elon, for cryin' out loud.
I watched both games and came to the conclusion that we really are barely a top-25 team. And then I watched Duke-Kentucky last night and saw all the athletic big men on both teams and wondered how we would fare against either of them. During our championship run we had McGary, Horford, and Morgan and it worked out O.K. because McGary went crazy during the tournament.
Right now we have Moritz and Doyle, Chatman and Wilson look like they might eventually be able to play "big." But I'm hoping that Moritz can show the type of improvement that McGary showed in 2013. I need for Moritz to go crazy. Then we might have a chance at making a run.
I thought it was a crazy question too but in that guy's defense, Michigan had just finished a game that was played in INDY. So I'm assuming it was an INDY reporter who asked the question. And we all know the situation with Pagano. I don't necessarily support the question, but I understand it. They want Harbaugh really really really bad.
Each week I like to take a look at the opponent's websites to see what writers and commenters are saying. Now, I know Indiana is a basketball school but c'mon man. I could only locate 2 websites: Crimson Quarry and the school's official website. I could not get an idea of what the fans were thinking prior to the game.
Of course I listened to the Michigan Man podcast, where they always interview the opponent's play-by-play guy. And that guy said what I already knew - no one's really interested in the football team. He said there's no way there would be a sellout (he was correct). And he said "they're exciting, but can't finish." Right again.
I listened to a couple of their coach's press conferences and he seems very competent even though he has that "go 1-0 each week" approach, just like the Rutgers coach. The difference between the 2 coaches is that at least Kevin Wilson will acknowledge the result of the previous week. The Rutgers coach won't even talk about the previous week's loss.
Anyway, I was just surprised to see the lack of interest in Indiana football. I live in Ohio so I visit something like 15-20 Michigan websites every day. I appreciate the work of all the Michigan bloggers, writers, and commenters. It just goes to show nobody's got better than us. Noooooooooobody.
I should've checked this site for info prior to the game. I just figured Elon was some cupcake school. Next thing I know, they're launching 3-pointers from all over the court and keeping the game close.
So I Google the name just to see if there's something I should know about this school (remember Appalachian State?). Hello. The only information out there is located on the school's website. And like one of the previous commenters, all I could think of was Elon Musk. LOL.
LOL. I had the same problem as you. I have BTN Plus and there I was thinkin' they wouuld be showing the game. It's my fault though. I didn't check the MGoBlue site until I had already logged into BTN Plus. So once I confirmed that I was not going to be a happy camper I logged into WATCHESPN on my smartphone.
I enjoyed the game but I ended up with a neck ache. I'll hook my laptop up to the TV and re-watch it today. Duncan Robinson looked good, even though I could barely see him. And I think Moritz Wagner is going to have to play a lot this year. I still don't trust Donnal.
I'm happy for Jake Rudock but I'm more happy for Jehu Chesson. The guy didn't have a receiving touchdown in the first 7 games and now he has 7 receiving touchdowns in the last 3 games. Woo-hoo.
I know he had a couple of rushing touchdowns and a kickoff return in the earlier games, but he had to be wondering "what's a guy have to do to get a receiving touchdown around here?"
LOL. I understand the consequences of a Michigan State win, but I just cannot force myself to root for Ohio State. I have to live here. These people are crazy.
Recent Comments
Wow. I've tried to ignore you, but I failed miserably. In the words of Pete Carroll, "what is your problem?" I don't know if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday or if you were just upset because of the Michigan loss, but you seem to be in the midst of an extended conniption fit.
Cussing, ranting, and raving is not going get people to agree with you. We are all Michigan fans and want the best for our team. We give our opinions about the team and sometimes we're critical, but it's because we want the best for our team.
Now, I could understand you cussing out Michigan State trolls if they came on the site and criticized the Wolverines. I would understand it, but I still wouldn't agree with your methods. Stomping your feet, throwing punches, cussing, and raising your voice will not bring me around to your way of thinking. These methods have the opposite effect.
On the other hand, if you're suffering from "keyboard tourettes syndrome" and just can't help yourself, then I deeply apologize for the above comments. Thank you, and as always....
Goooooooooo Blue!!!!
I like D. Walton but for some reason in the last 2 games he has been intent on taking the ball to the hole. Penn State blocked at least 2 of his shots early in the game and their guys are not 7-footers. So then we play Purdue AKA The Land of the Giants, and the first and second thing I see is Walton driving to the basket and the ball being knocked into the stands.
Derrick Walton is a good player. I agree he is not at Burke's level. But I like him. He just needs to understand that sometimes it's better to drive the ball and kick it out to the 3-point shooters (especially when there are 7-footers waiting in the lane), than it is try to play the high-trajectory game.
Gooooooo Blue!!!!
It does seem like in every game, the first and second possessions (and sometimes the third) consist of passing the ball around the perimeter, seemingly with no purpose. No one will take a shot, even if they're open.
This can't be a coincidence. I don't know. Maybe Beilein has the players do this in order to figure out the defense? Maybe he wants everyone to touch ball early on? I don't know. I don't get it. And then it seems like every once in awhile they still think they have a 35-second shot clock.
I would be interested in knowing how many shot clock violations we have so far this year. Shoot the freakin' ball.
Goooooooo Blue!!!!
I don't know what Nik Stauskas' 3-point percentage was in his first season but I do remember that he had a few tough games during the Big Ten season. And I think it was Gary Harris (6'4") who gave Stauskas (6'6") fits during the Michigan State game.
I'm hoping that since Duncan Robinson is 6'8" it will be a lot more difficult to find someone with both size (to be able to block his shot) and speed (to keep him from driving to the basket). I think he can hit the 50% mark for the season.
Go Blue!!!
Was the probability chart created before or after the Levert injury? I would think his playing status would affect those percentages.
Go Blue!!!
I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst with regard to Levert's injury.
Until I see him in uniform, out on the court, with the ball in his hands, during an officially NCAA-sanctioned game, I'm going to assume he's out for the season.
Gooooooooo Blue!!!
Go Blue!!!!!!!!
I hope so.
Go Blue!!!!!!!!
Despite what Ty Isaac says, I think he is outta here. And even though he probably has a higher ceiling than the other running backs on the roster (excluding Kareem Walker), I just get the feeling his work ethic does not match Harbaugh's demands. I wish him the best.
I don't know if now is a good time to admit I was wrong about the quarterback mass exodus prediction I made a few months ago. I thought for sure we would hear transfer announcements from 2 or 3 quarterbacks after the bowl game ended. And I was shocked that Shane Morris decided to stay. I'll wait and see what happens after signing before admitting to being absolutely wrong.
We had a great season. I went through the "9 days of Harbaugh" in late December, watching one game per day leading up to the Citrus Bowl. beginning 9 days prior to the Citrus Bowl. I only looked at the 9 wins but I will admit that re-watching the Indiana and Minnesota games was brutal. I'm glad we won, but man did those 2 games feel like losses.
Look, I know we lost a few key players to injury, but it sure seems like we hit a wall at the halfway point, which is understandable since Harbaugh is slightly demanding. I'm hoping that the returning players can get the incoming players ready for the demands of the offseason workouts, spring practices, fall submarine practices and weekly practices so that next season the players will be able to maintain the same level of excellence displayed in the first half of the season, throughout the entire season.
Gooooooooooo Blue!!!!!
First of all, I would like to apologize for comments I previously made on this site and other sites regarding Donnal. I really did not think he could play Division I basketball. Even after his first couple of baskets, I chalked it up to luck. But when he continued to go crazy I realized this is what the coaches have been seeing in practice. Wow. Hats off to Donnal.
Second of all, early in the game it looked like Duncan Robinson was going to pull a Nik Stauskas and deliver a goose egg in Big Ten play, so I'm glad he was able to at least get a few baskets.
Third of all, I'd like to thank mgoblog and all the other Michigan Wolverine websites and podcasts for offering me a couple of hours per day to escape from the absolute craziness that resides in Columbus, Ohio. It is not easy living in Columbus as a Michigan fan. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year.
Go Blue!!!
Even when he wasn't starting and was still recovering from the ankle injury and was trying to get into playing shape, he was still my favorite player when he entered the game. The guy played with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
Oh, wait. Are we discussing Wagner or McGary?
Go Blue!!!!
I'm not surprised. He got off the plane with swag. He's not playing scared. He's driving the ball to the hole. And anytime an opponent drives the ball to the basket, Wagner tries to knock it into the stands.
Nope, not surprised at all. He has already played with and against professional players. Now it's time to take these college kids to school. Class is in session.
Go Blue!!!
I agree. Every time I see Wagner make one of those quick offensive moves at the elbow, foul line or near the basket, I think about McGary. Even that one pass in the second half where he pivoted at the elbow, headed toward the basket and sent a no-look pass to the corner for a 3-point shot reminded me of McGary.
And wWe didn't see McGary doing these types of things until the tournament. Wagner is already doing them. As for bringing the ball up the court, I remember that McGary said it was OK to do it as long as he didn't turn the ball over, and that during the season coach Beilein had him running a lot stairs for turning the ball over in practice. So Wagner should get ready to run some stairs.
Also, similar to when McGary started showing flashes of offensive prowess, you would see the other big men (Morgan and Horford) try to pivot at the elbow and shoot or at least try to drive. I saw Ricky Doyle try to drive once after pivoting at the elbow against NC State but he turned the ball over near the basket. I still applauded him for at least trying.
Our bigs need to be a threat no matter where they receive the ball. It forces the opponent to defend five players instead of four and it opens up the floor for the 3-point shooters.
Go Blue!!!
Am I the only one frustrated with this new system of calling every ticky tack foul? Sheesh. And I'm not just talking about the ones called against Michigan. There was a series of plays in the first half where the refs called 3 or 4 consecutive calls against NC State. And of couse the refs returned the favor and did the same to Michigan a few times in the second half.
The announcers mentioned that they liked the new policy and that this is how the game was played 20 or 30 years ago. Really? So increasing the number of stoppages in play is better for the game? I could be wrong but it seemed to me that 20 years ago there was a much better flow to the game and a lot fewer foul calls.
It got so frustrating in the second half that I turned down the volume and semi-watched the game, always waiting for the next whistle. I really would rather watch a free-flowing basketball game than a freakin' free-throw procession. Sheesh.
Go Blue!!!
I agree, regarding Dawkins. He was the player I was most looking forward to seeing this season but other than 1 or 2 highlights per game, he has played very passively. And he was pretty much a No-Show last night. I know he's our best athlete but if he can't produce then he shouldn't be starting.
Go Blue!!!
Funny you should mention "stone hands." I've been calling Doyle "brick hands" all season. Every once in awhile he'll hold onto to a pass near the rim, but it's a 50-50 deal. I stopped getting upset about those hands 2 or 3 games ago.
Go Blue!!!
I like Doyle's size, but he has brick hands when he's near the basket. I would love to see Wagner start but I'm betting that won't happen until we're half way through the Big Ten schedule.
I can't offer an opinion on the officiating because I no longer know that constitutes a foul. So, in the words of Jim Harbaugh, I capitulate. I'm crying Uncle, throwing in the towel, and tapping out when it comes to foul calls.
Go Blue!!!
I liked what I saw from Wilson but I don't know what's going on with Chatman. I'm beginning to think that either his game is not a good match for the Beilein offense or for college basketball in general. I choose the former. I think he can play but this is not a good match. I feel bad for him because I think he chose the wrong school.
I agree with you regarding Levert, Irvin, Walton, Robinson, and Wagner. Glad to see Levert taking over the game when he has to. I love his aggressiveness. Also glad to see Walton being more aggressive offensively. And Irvin seems to be regaining his form with both the dribble drive and the threes. Robinson and Wagner have both demonstrated to me that they have high basketball IQ's.
Did you notice that when Wagner is at the elbow or free throw line, when he receives a pass he pivots towards the hoop before passing the ball? The defense has to react to that. I wish our other bigs could do that, even if they aren't going to shoot or drive.
Go Blue!!!
What's wrong with me? Why am I applauding every rebound? Why does Moritz Wagner remind me of Mitch McGary? Why do I no longer understand what a foul is? And why, after listening to these announcers for 3 nights in a row, do I not like them?
Go Blue!!!!
I said 2 days ago that I would like to see more of Wagner and Wilson. Their efforts might not be pretty sometimes but you can tell they're giving it their all.
Wagner showed flashes of McGary. I'm tired of watching our big men to through the motions, standing at the elbow or top of the key, catching and passing the ball from one side to the other with no freakin' threat of scoring. Sheesh.
You can probably tell that I'm frustrated. I was spoiled by the McGary era, as shortlived as it was. McGary (and Wagner last night) showed us what a big man is supposed to look like in Beilein's system - not a conduit, but a participant and a freakin' threat to score. Thank you Mr. Wagner. My coffee tastes a little bit better this morning.
Go Blue!!!!
I'll give Wilson a "youth" pass because he didn't play at all last season. He may look awkward at times, but at least he's giving effort out there.
And Wagner might be young but I don't think that will hinder him. I'm sure in his mind he remembers that his German teammates also called "young." He proved himself then and he's ready to prove himself now. He's hungry. He has skills and he will be great - this year.
But MAAR, Dawkins, and Doyle have to turn in their "youth" cards. Trey Burke, Caris Levert, and Nik Stauskas set the standard for the "leap" we now expect from our players between years 1 and 2. The "leap" does not take place in November when the season begins. The "leap" is a product of all the hard work put in during the offseason.
All we're getting from Dawkins is 1 or 2 highlights per game, just like last year. This from one of the most athletic players in the country. And Doyle? He's playing at exactly the same level he played at last year. MAAR? He will provide 1 or 2, maybe 3 drives to the basket per game, just like last year, but that's it. And I won't even mention Donnal.
I'm proud of the team for last night's victory, but please let's not go into Brady Hoke mode and use "youth" as a reason for our struggles. How about somebody just grab a freakin' rebound?
Go Blue!!!
Last night I heard one of the announcers say that we should be healthy by January and then we can make a nice run. Excuse me? If we play like this througout December we're gonna dig too deep of a hole to climb out of.
Oh my God. Before the season began I had modest expectations for this team because I didn't know what to expect. Aubrey Dawkins was my up-and-comer, but it turns out all he can give me is one or two highlights per game. Duncan Robinson has been up and down but at least he's giving us some effort. He's at least tryin', for cryin' out loud.
We have 6'7", 6'8", 6'9", and 6'10" guys running around out there who can't grab a freakin' rebound. Zack Novack and Stu Douglass were 6'4". Our current big men make those 2 guys look like Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley. Sheesh.
I know I can depend on Spike when he gets into playing shape. And I hope I can depend on Zak Irvin when he's back to normal, but I don't know. Right now the only person I trust is Caris Levert. Folks, we are officially a one-man team.
I no longer trust Derrick Walton. And Ricky Doyle? I trust him even less. I would like to see more playing time for Moritz Wagner and DJ Wilson. They might look awkward at times but at least they are getting after it, showing signs of life.
After last season's results I expected the team to come back this season fired up, but all I've seen this season is what looks like 5 players at a time going through the motions. Can somebody besides Caris Levert drive the freakin' ball to the basket? Please, I'm begging you. And grab a freakin' rebound, fergodsakes. Please.
Go Blue!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving.
I said it before and I'll say it again. I'm very thankful. Four road victories in the Big Ten? Who woulda thunk it? That's why I'm now wearing my maize and blue colored glasses and I see no flaws at all. Woo-hoo.
Let's Go Blue!!!!!
I have to be the strangest Wolverine fan on the planet. When there's a critical 3rd or 4th down, it doesn't matter if we're on offense or defense, or if there's a goal-line situation, I stand up. I've been doing it for 30 years (except for last year).
So during the Indiana game, I stood up a few times in the first quarter then realized it was futile and sat my butt down for the rest of the game, seriously shaking in my boots 'til the end.
So the Penn State game begins and next thing I know Barkley is running down the field like an Indiana tailback. I said, "Ruh roh, I guess I won't be standing up for this game either." LOL. Eventually I regained my confidence and stood my monkey ass back up.
Let's Go Blue!!!!
I don't see what all the fuss is about. Harbaugh was just doin' his best Cam Newton/Superman impersonation.
Not just "roughing the passer." The way things have gone this year I expected a targeting call and an ejection for Willie Henry. Immediately. They don't even need to bother with the reviews any more. We know what's coming. Just get him out of there.
Go Blue!!!
I really really really wish we could've saved Peppers for the OSU game only. It would've been fun to watch Urban Meyer call a bunch of timeouts like Dantonio did when he saw Peppers on offense.
Go Blue!!!!
As another Michigan fan living in Columbus I'll tell you what's funny. Once my co-workers found out I was from Michigan one of my co-workers came over to my partition with his cell phone playing some song that I was not familiar with.
He goes, "that hurts, doesn't it?" I responded, "what is it?" He said, "It's the OSU fight song," as if everyone on the planet has to know the Buckeye fight song.
Look, I know Michigan's fight song and I recognize Notre Dame's fight song when I hear it. That's about it. All I could tell him was, "play it again, Sam."
Let's Go Blue!!!!
Great article, Brian. I haven't been keeping score but I think this is the most I've laughed out loud in a long time.
Except I wasn't laughing when I saw Brady Hoke's name. I would like to say he ruined my life last year or that he ruined my year, but the best I can do is say he ruined 4 months of my life. Now when I see or hear his name, I involuntarily flinch.
I made a crazy decision as I watched the Utah-Michigan game last year. I'd had enough. I couldn't take it anymore. I decided that the only way Hoke would leave is if he got fired. And I didn't think he would get fired if we won 6 games and made it to a bowl game. So I decided to root against my own freakin' team. That hurt.
It felt strange. And I couldn't root against them without turning the audio off. So I watched each game while listening to 80's music. I know, strange right? But later in the season when I saw Drake Johnson doing his impersonation of Gayle Sayers, I almost reversed my decision as if I was a referee at a Michigan game reversing a freakin' targeting call against a Michigan opponent.
I've been a Michigan fan since 1985. I'm also a Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers fan but I've never rooted against any of them - not even to get a better draft pick. I'm glad to see Michigan is back and was ecstatic last year when I heard, "Brady Hoke has left the building."
Goooooooooo Blue!!!
My favorite part of the press conference was when a media member asked the coach if he had sought and received any clarity concerning some of the penalty flags. I'm still laughing. He said he capitulated. That is funny as hell because I capitulated (actually cried Uncle) 4 or 5 games ago when I realized we would never see a targeting call go our way. .
I no longer get upset when I see a flag. I just wait for them to mark off the freakin' yardage and say "let's play ball." LOL. Capitulation? Yeah, that sounds about right.
Go Blue!!!!
I agree with you. The players at Michigan in 3 or 4 years will love Harbaugh just as much as the players he's coaching now. He's not going anywhere.
The college landscape and the pro landscape are miles apart. College players want to be pushed. They're hungry. They want to make it to the NFL.
Pro players (49ers players specifically) want to be pushed too, but only to a point. They're millionaires. They've already made it. Do you remember when the 49ers' players said they had already reached the pinnacle? They took going to the Super Bowl as a sign that they didn't need to improve anymore. They had already made it to the top.
A millionaire's attitude is going to differ from a hungry college football player trying to make it to the league. Look where the 49ers are now. Hello. Is that what the pinnacle looks like?
Now, when I say pro players only want to be pushed to a point, I'm not talking about players like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. They will never stop trying to get better.
Harbaugh will not overstay his welcome. These kids are being pushed but they love Harbaugh and they understand that even though they're being pushed to the limit, there's a method to the madness.
Let's Go Blue!!!!
LOL. He might look and sound like a players' coach at these press conferences but I guarantee you he's got his foot up these players' arses at every practice. They are being pushed to the limit, and that's a good thing.
Brady Hoke, on the other hand? Now that's a players' coach (pats on the butt, clapping on the sidelines, referring to injuries as boo boos and owies).
Go Blue!!!
The definition of targeting? Let me help you out. I have the official NCAA rule book right in front of me.
Page 10, paragraph 4: "If a Michigan player is flagged for targeting, eject that player. I repeat - eject that player."
Page 15, paragraph 2: "If an opponent targets a Michigan player, reverse the call, pick up the flag, and dance a freakin' jig."
Gooooooooooo Blue!!!
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), I'm also a Detroit Lions fan so I learned early on in 2008 to hold my applause after a good play because a flag was coming. Every time the Lions made a good play, which was rare, a penalty flag would magically appear out of nowhere. That year I mastered the art of "hold the applause."
A holding call on a defensive lineman? Really refs? Really?
Go Blue!!!!!
Nooooooooooooooofreakin'body!!!!!!!!!!
Goooooooooooooo Blue!!!!!
LOL. I visited some of the Penn State message boards throughout the week last week and most of them talked about how the officials always favor Michigan. That was a shock to my system, but O.K.
So I checked those same message boards after the game yesterday, and even the Penn State fans were saying the referees kept them in the game. Wow. How about that?
Let's Go Blue!!!!
First of all, let me just say that I am lovin' me some Michigan Wolverines. 4 wins on the road in the Big Ten? Priceless. If we had won every road game 2-0, I would still be turning cartwheels. No backflips, but cartwheels every day.
Under normal circumstances I would come on here and talk about how I'm disgusted with the pre-snap penalties on both sides of the ball. And I would probably say here we go again with the turnovers. And I might even mention my hostility towards the referees regarding all these "reversed" targeting penalties. Heck, I might even ask why we're still getting our punts blocked 11 games into the season.
But not today. No complaints about my Wolverines today baby. I live in Columbus and today is a good day to be a Michigan fan in Columbus. The Michigan win drove me to the edge, but the Buckeye loss (at home) pushed me across the boundary into this State of Euphoria. Don't get me wrong, I still hate Michigan State. But do you know how hard it is for a team to come into the horse shoe and walk out with a victory? Wow.
Here's what I know from past experience. The gym will be a little emptier today because the few Buckeye fans who do work out, are devastated. Also, lots of Buckeye fans will take the day off from work on Monday (Loser's Holiday), and maybe even the rest of the week.
Here's to hoping my Wolverines can get me back to the State of Euphoria next Saturday. It doesn't get any better than this.
Let's Go Blue!!!!!
LOL. All day yesterday I was looking forward to some great Michigan basketball last night followed 13 hours later by some great Michigan football.
I know one has nothing to do with the other, but now I'm even more worried about the football game.
Go Blue!!!!
Doyle must be in Beilein's doghouse for something. I'm not familiar with other Big Ten team rosters, but I don't think Donnal would be a starter for any of the other 13 teams.
Go Blue!!!!
Unfortunately, I remember that play where Irvin was 6 inches from the ball and didn't grab it. Not a good sign. I don't know how much more recovery he needs, but I was quite surprised to see him in the starting lineup.
And don't get me started about the decision to start (or even play) Mark Donnal.
Go Blue!!!!
I agree. Wagner has that fire in his belly like McGary had. Before McGary's tournament run, I thought our big men's role was to stand at the elbow, catch a pass, throw a pass. McGary proved that Beilein has a plan for the big men. All they have to do is execute. At least pretend like you're interested in doing something other than being a passing conduit.
Wnen McGary was destroying people off the dribble and throwing no-look passes, I can guarantee you Morgan and Horford were thinking the same thing I was thinking, "wait, it's O.K. for us big men to be aggressive on offense?"
Go Blue!!!!
Prior to the season I thought we might have 2 NBA prospects - Levert and Dawkins. But there was a caveat to Dawkins' chances. Would this athletic player with great potential pull a GRIII and play passively with 1 or 2 highlights per game, or would he get after it?
So far all I'm seeing is "passive/aggressive" Dawkins. And I can't see anyone else on this team getting drafted or even making it onto a summer league team. I hope someone surprises me, but as of 9:38AM, Nov 21, 2015, I see one NBA prospect.
Go Blue!!!!!
It sure feels like we've regressed back to the early Beilein days where if we didn't hit 70% of our 3-pointers, it was an automatic loss. Our defense was really bad back then and it is really bad right now. The difference is back then we had a couple of 6'4" players (Stu Douglass and Zack Novak) who took it upon themselves to grab a freakin' rebound if we got lucky enough for the opponent to actually, I don't know, miss a shot?
We struggled on the boards against LeMoyne, Northern Michigan, and Elon so I thought we would struggle against Xavier, but not to this extent. They made us look bad. Wow.
I was surprised to see Zak Irvin start since he didn't make a shot in the last game, but I said to myself, "O.K. maybe Beilein knows something I don't know." But when I saw Mark Donnal in the starting lineup, that actually upset me. I guess he played O.K. against LeMoyne, but he got pushed around by Northern Michigan and Elon. And didn't make a dent last night.
I love and trust my coach, but come on coach. Donnal? Really? It's going to be a long season.
Go Blue!!!
I just want to know when Brian Cole is coming back. Ever since he go injured, we have not come close to blocking a punt. Well, unless you count the 2 "roughing the kicker" penalties.
Go Blue!!!!
I am very disappointed in Donnal. During the 2013 championship run where Donnal took a redshirt, all the players kept talking about how great he looked. So he shows up in 2014 and plays like he's still in high school. So this year I'm thinking that he maybe he worked on his weaknesses during the offseason? Next thing I know, against Elon he's missing layups left and right. Against Elon, for cryin' out loud.
I watched both games and came to the conclusion that we really are barely a top-25 team. And then I watched Duke-Kentucky last night and saw all the athletic big men on both teams and wondered how we would fare against either of them. During our championship run we had McGary, Horford, and Morgan and it worked out O.K. because McGary went crazy during the tournament.
Right now we have Moritz and Doyle, Chatman and Wilson look like they might eventually be able to play "big." But I'm hoping that Moritz can show the type of improvement that McGary showed in 2013. I need for Moritz to go crazy. Then we might have a chance at making a run.
Go Blue!!!!
I thought it was a crazy question too but in that guy's defense, Michigan had just finished a game that was played in INDY. So I'm assuming it was an INDY reporter who asked the question. And we all know the situation with Pagano. I don't necessarily support the question, but I understand it. They want Harbaugh really really really bad.
Go Blue!
Each week I like to take a look at the opponent's websites to see what writers and commenters are saying. Now, I know Indiana is a basketball school but c'mon man. I could only locate 2 websites: Crimson Quarry and the school's official website. I could not get an idea of what the fans were thinking prior to the game.
Of course I listened to the Michigan Man podcast, where they always interview the opponent's play-by-play guy. And that guy said what I already knew - no one's really interested in the football team. He said there's no way there would be a sellout (he was correct). And he said "they're exciting, but can't finish." Right again.
I listened to a couple of their coach's press conferences and he seems very competent even though he has that "go 1-0 each week" approach, just like the Rutgers coach. The difference between the 2 coaches is that at least Kevin Wilson will acknowledge the result of the previous week. The Rutgers coach won't even talk about the previous week's loss.
Anyway, I was just surprised to see the lack of interest in Indiana football. I live in Ohio so I visit something like 15-20 Michigan websites every day. I appreciate the work of all the Michigan bloggers, writers, and commenters. It just goes to show nobody's got better than us. Noooooooooobody.
Go Blue!!!
I should've checked this site for info prior to the game. I just figured Elon was some cupcake school. Next thing I know, they're launching 3-pointers from all over the court and keeping the game close.
So I Google the name just to see if there's something I should know about this school (remember Appalachian State?). Hello. The only information out there is located on the school's website. And like one of the previous commenters, all I could think of was Elon Musk. LOL.
Gooooooooooo Blue!!!!!
LOL. I had the same problem as you. I have BTN Plus and there I was thinkin' they wouuld be showing the game. It's my fault though. I didn't check the MGoBlue site until I had already logged into BTN Plus. So once I confirmed that I was not going to be a happy camper I logged into WATCHESPN on my smartphone.
I enjoyed the game but I ended up with a neck ache. I'll hook my laptop up to the TV and re-watch it today. Duncan Robinson looked good, even though I could barely see him. And I think Moritz Wagner is going to have to play a lot this year. I still don't trust Donnal.
Goooooo Blue!!!!
I'm happy for Jake Rudock but I'm more happy for Jehu Chesson. The guy didn't have a receiving touchdown in the first 7 games and now he has 7 receiving touchdowns in the last 3 games. Woo-hoo.
I know he had a couple of rushing touchdowns and a kickoff return in the earlier games, but he had to be wondering "what's a guy have to do to get a receiving touchdown around here?"
Gooooooo Blue!!!!!
LOL. I understand the consequences of a Michigan State win, but I just cannot force myself to root for Ohio State. I have to live here. These people are crazy.
O-H-OH-NO.
OH HOW I HATE OHIO STATE!!!!
Gooooooooooooo Blue!!!!!