Iowa 71, Michigan 61
That about sums it up. [Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog]
As Spike Albrecht thanked the fans in a pre-recorded video, many of them were already headed for the exits.
No seniors played on Senior Night; Albrecht and Caris LeVert, dressed in suits, took their familiar places on the bench after an understated pregame ceremony. The Crisler Center crowd then watched the same old team play the same old game.
Jarrod Uthoff obliterated Michigan's defense to the tune of 29 points, finding his range with ease against the smaller Zak Irvin. The Wolverines struggled to stay in front of their marks, stuggled to hit shots, struggled to do so much as put the ball in play—at one point, a wayward Irvin inbounds pass turned into a perfect outlet for a Mike Gesell breakway dunk. Mike Gesell plays for Iowa.
To be frank, deconstructing this game feels like a waste of time. We've seen this before, against Wisconsin and Ohio State and Michigan State and Indiana and Iowa again. Any one of those games could've given Michigan the final quality win they so desperately needed to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament before the end of the regular season. Instead, the Wolverines fell well short in all of them, and in all likelihood they'll not only need a victory in the 8/9 game of the Big Ten Tournament—against either Northwestern or Penn State—but an upset over top-seeded Indiana to make the field.
If you feel good about that scenario, you're far more optimistic than me, not to mention the steady stream of fans who high-tailed it to the parking lot with a few minutes left on the clock. They'd already seen this before. No need to prolong the inevitable.
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...we looked like a bad team that was recently coming off of a Finals and Final 8 team.
We've recruited some talented players, but less than what you should recruit after the seasons we've had.
Even then, I don't think these guys look good on the court. Like Walton. The others, either weren't that great or haven't develeped well.
JB should hire a couple Perry Watson types and get some studs.
Wichita State* (or Dayton)
Don't talk CC after JB took this team to twenty wins and a 10-8 record in the Big Ten without his best player and his best stabilizing presence.
As far as tournaments go, I want Michigan in the NIT. No team seeded worse than 32nd in the country has EVER won the NCAA Tournament. This is not one of the 32 best teams in the country. They are one of the best 64, but not one with a realistic chance to win the NCAA. On the other hand, they could win the NIT. At the very least, they could get a few home games to end on a positive note.
than from teams bounced in the first round of the Division I tournament. I will continue to root for the team to win but if they miss the DI Championship but make the NIT and win the thing I would be more proud of them than if they got bounced in the first round of the Basketball Championship. It would fit; everyone would be asking what could have been had Caris or Spike - and for that matter Austin Hatch, who knows what he could have been - been healthy. I always want the guys to win but to say it would be best to get bounced in the first round of March Madness than it would be to win the NIT is hubris to me.
Be honest: Have you ever watched a single NIT game that Michigan was not in?
I have been following college basketball since the late 70's and I have never seen a single NIT game that Michigan was not in.
In 90% of those years, I did not even know who won it.
There is no glory in the NIT.
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I'd rather have my team get smacked by 900 in the first round of the NCAA than win the NIT.
The NIT means nothing.
I'd rather have my team get smacked by 900 in the first round of the NCAA than win the NIT.
The NIT means nothing.
...is better than an NIT Banner. There. Said it.
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They should get a little better just by natural aging. Pretty clearly none of these guys is turning into a star though.
It's kinda impressive - in a mediocre sort of way - they've had the season they've had with the lack of raw talent.
Just players who give max effort consistently. Never seen a team play so tentative for most of the game. Irvin makes so many mistakes every game it's mind boggling. Walton works hard but just can't find consistency. MAAR seems to be the only consistent effort player on the floor. Really hard to watch this team for 40 minutes...
The sad part about this is the program is in the same spot now as it was 6-7 years ago.
After sinking 100 million dollars into the facilties and making John Beilein one of the 10 highest paid coaches in the country this program deserves/expects better. Inexcusable to miss the NCAA's two years in a row.
Except with a National Championship appearance and Elite 8 appearance sandwiched inbetween.
Also, the circumstances were a lot different surrounding last year's absence from the NCAA tournament (Caris & Walton out for the majority of the season). Not saying they would've made the tournament with them, but it's a little disingenuous to lump it in there as if coaching alone was the reason they did so poorly last year.
I'm not pleased with this season or the direction this team seems to be headed and I'm willing to put Beilein on the hotseat, but this coach and his success here is infinitely better than anything Tommy Amaker accomplished. Please do not suggest otherwise.
EDIT: Realized you were referring to the early Beilein years, which yeah, kinda.
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It's not the assistants. I think the assistants are handicapped by Beilein's recruiting policies and gimmick offense-only approach that doesn't utilize big men.
Oh and does Beilein even believe in defense?
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Time for a Zak Novak anuerysm of leadership moment for this team.
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Dunno why people keep attaching mythological importance to that sideline freakout...
It's because from that game onward, we were an elite Big Ten program for 3.5 years. We went 8-3 the rest of that B1G season, then 13-5 (champs), 12-6 and 15-3 (champs) the next three years.
Unfortunately that run has ended.
We were the best program from 2011-2014 in the conference.
Thanks for explaining that to him. I am amazed people have that short of memories.
No shit dude, but it had more do with a guy called Trey Burke, the fresh five recruiting class, etc. than Novak yelling during a timeout.
OMG aneursym of leadership!!!11!
That was the fucking turning point. Those guys had to reach another level prior to Burke.
We don't even make the tournament if we lose that game.
Yeah I am sure that had no part in securing some of those commits.
Mr. Blandcock.
If anyone truly thinks it's due to that, well, I don't know what to say.
And that's my other qualm. Why the fuck is everyone hurt all the time?
Fire Sanderson while you're at it Beilein.
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This is bad. I've been a Beilein guy, but it sure feels like he may have lost his fastball. The recruiting concerns have been there, but previously we could tout his record of player development and ability to get his teams to play fundamentally sound basketball. We can't say that anymore.
The amount of missed open shots is nauseating.
Wide open shots that were being airballed and weren't even close to going in.
That 5 minute window where we actually gave a fuck has to be the entire game.
The problem is Irvin killing the momentum was worse than him starting the mometum was good.
The team was gassed. Again, as usual.
Why again do we have a fucking open scholarship not being used?
The layup thing is abolsutely ridiculous.
The free throw thing the same.
There has to be something this team could hang its hat on - it was shooting and taking care of the ball - something this team hasn't done in months.
This team is not only not very talent, it is incredibly sloppy and clueless when it comes to urgency and awareness on the court.
it's a shame is all I can say. Just a soft team
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Do you email or voice your complaints to the Athletic Department?
Just curious - because you have been upset the entire season (which is understadable)
Just wondering.
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