abertain

February 18th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^

My issue is actually the defensive effort. It's really annoying to watch Michigan's lack of effort on help defense, boxing out, getting on the floor etc. I know the talent is an issue, but they are also a pretty low effort team in terms of the nitty gritty details that all of my basketball coaches went wild over. 

1145SoFo

February 17th, 2024 at 8:53 PM ^

Frustrating watch, per usual. It sucks too because for the first 10 especially, the players seemed to be playing hard, but so poorly prepared on D it's not enough 

1blueeye

February 17th, 2024 at 8:53 PM ^

So many fundamental details lacking on this team. Remember how the NBA guys hated Belein for trying to teach those things. In college basketball it matters. Michigan is horrible at passing, has no clue how to box out, doesn’t rotate back to prevent transition dunks. Just awful at all things fundamental 

MGlobules

February 17th, 2024 at 9:21 PM ^

In year EIGHT of his tenure, Beilein's D was so awfully bad--as always with his teams--that he was forced to hire a D coach who was, effectively, his analogue. This team is terrible on D, but to say that Beilein's were good just reveals you for a person who makes things up. We used to pray that his teams would become just good enough on D down the stretch to prevent a few opposing team layups! And I say this as someone who loved Beilein. The hagiography here lately for Beilein, as rhetorical whip for Juwan, is hilarious. Please get real.

1blueeye

February 17th, 2024 at 11:36 PM ^

Not sure you responded to the right post . Nothing in there about Beleins teams being good on D. My point was he stressed fundamentals to the point where nba guys hated him. But as a producer of improved college basketball players he was superb. This coaching staff has a poor fundamental basketball team. And that’s on them unfortunately 

B-Nut-GoBlue

February 17th, 2024 at 9:01 PM ^

Ugh.

I know Sparty isn't great and there has been plenty of the usual poor play(s) but this effort and competence isn't half-bad.  If this was on full-display all season we aren't doom and gloom.  Unfortunately the 2nd half will likely bring what we're all used to.

Sparty by 11.

B-Nut-GoBlue

February 17th, 2024 at 9:09 PM ^

Agreed.  I admittedly haven't even seen the entire half.  Maybe the new Bourbon I just bought and too much optimism got to me.

But I do see some great effort on plenty of up and down possessions (they haven't completely quit on this staff/program...I keep waiting for it, though Illinois was pretty close to being there) and as you say the shooting looks good.  Plenty of the "same" though, you're right.

MGoBlue96

February 17th, 2024 at 9:10 PM ^

 I would take any Amaker team over this one at least. I mean what exactly is to sugarcoat here? This team is going to finish last place in the conference for the first time in 40+ years. In a conference that now has more teams in it to theoretically finish ahead to boot. It's pathetic, there is no other way to describe it. Amaker teams were consistently underachieving and frustrating but I wouldn't call them pathetic like this trainwreck.

ST3

February 17th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^

It’s just so easy for other teams to attack our defense. Just keep screening until you get a quick guard against Tschetter or Llewellyn and then attack the rim.

Solecismic

February 17th, 2024 at 9:06 PM ^

State hasn't shot that well. Michigan has, but free throws and dumb turnovers have made a difference. You take down two at the half as an OK result, but shooting like that, they should be up ten.

michfan84

February 17th, 2024 at 9:07 PM ^

What an unbelievably dumb sequence from Dug there. We have last shot, worst case scenario we go to halftime tied. He throws it away, and then commits easily the dumbest foul I’ve ever seen in my life.

MGoBlue96

February 17th, 2024 at 9:08 PM ^

How the fuck can this team play with such a low basketball IQ? Like nothing encapsulates this team better than committing a reach in with .5 left on the clock, on a non shooter, at half court. Just a team that plays with -100 basketball IQ. 

Jay-Z

February 17th, 2024 at 9:12 PM ^

We have the ball with no time on the shot clock before half and somehow we turn it over and foul. My eyes bleed from watching poor situational play over and over again. Only down 2. Need to come out and give sparty a loss.