The Big Ten Tournament In Photos
All photos/words by Marc-Gregor Campredon.
First day: Iowa
The game was dreadful and the Garden was quiet like a cemetery at midnight. I could even hear the officials talking to the players and the coaches. It was nightmarish and it went to overtime: not what I expected in NYC.
NYC:
First Half:
Air Rahkman in action.
The Fans:
Dance - Dance - Jordan Poole is proud of your move!
Second Half:
Yeah, the ceiling again. Maybe I should reconvert as a carpenter.
The Gamer:
Horrendous officials saving the day. In comparison the ambiance was not awful.
Michigan Bench:
The guy really believed he was getting a low five from Coach Beilein?
The other side:
When your hopes fade away.
[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the tourney in photos.]
Second day: Nebraska
Of course when Michigan and State are part of a double header at MSG, NYC gets Michigan weather. Despite the sleet and the cold... The Garden was finally showing more warmth!
NYC:
Honoring.
First Half:
A good old dunk!
The fans:
That guy was louder than the Nebraska band – to the point a policeman asked him to calm down.
Second Half:
Another three...
The Gamer:
Teske'd: No more hope for you Nebraska!
Michigan bench:
The Defense. The Defense. The Defense.
The Other Side:
Therapy time: Roby is sharing his frustration with Miles.
Third Day: Michigan State
Nothing like the Michigan rivalry to lite up the ambiance at the Mecca. It was electric and ardent. Every time the State Band was trying to cheer, "Go Blue" coming from everywhere quickly shut them off.
NYC:
Hours before the game, the Garden seemed –almost- quiet.
First Half:
They are fun and nice kids and it is very hard to not love them.
The Fans:
The players' families waiting for tipoff.
Second Half:
The Garden was stormed by Maize and Blue.
The Gamer:
You are losing it (and the game) Spartans.
Michigan Bench:
It is always hazardous to count one’s Spartans before they are hatched.
The Other Side:
Izzo’nt pas resister!
Fourth day: Purdue
On a beautiful day, Michigan walked over Purdue to win their fourth game in four days. After the game versus Michigan State, it felt very anti climatic from the very beginning of the game.
NYC:
"On" route to Madison Square Garden.
First Half:
Michigan already took the lead on the scoreboard...
The Fans:
At every offense of Purdue, that guy jumped, moved and yelled... RE2PECT.
Second Half:
Wagner's influence from the bench was important all year long.
The Gamer:
Purdue: You've been Teske'd!
Michigan Bench:
We should change the Michigan slogan to "Pure Beilein."
The Other Side:
Jaw dropping at Michigan Defense.
The End:
Moe and Beilein getting together during the last play of the game!
The Very Best of the Week:
Thanks, Ward, you always provide me with great images!
And the very last frame:
When New York turned Maize and Blue. Well done Wolverines!
You can find all of Marc-Gregor's photos from the weekend on the MGoBlog Flickr page.
MG had a spot close to the hoop, got the entire setup (and bench reaction plus Teske's celebration) but it's impossible to get all that from up close and get a wide angle of a dunk — and it all happens in a matter of seconds. The spots near the hoop tend to get the best stuff but in this instance he would've had to be seated closer to the sideline (the Daily photographer got a perfect angle of it from around there).
I like MG's shot better anyway.
The print edition had the shot I was talking about.
to support your team when they win (see Rose Bowl 1997, Notre Dame 2006 & 2010, Sugar Bowl 2012 and National Semifinals 1993, Kentucky) and almost nothing more miserable than coming home when you travel and they lose (see Rose Bowl 1986 & 2004, Outback Bowl 2013 and National Finals 1993, North Carolina).
On a somewhat unrelated note one of my best friends is a HUGE OSU fan who goes to all their home and away games and was in NYC for the tournament. He texted me Friday night "hey, maybe we'll see you guys in the finals" right before the Penn State game.
I texted him back on Sunday "Well we're here. Where the hell are you guys?" He sent me back a nice picture of him and his wife enjoying Central Park cause he couldnt bring himself to go watch us win it all.
This is awesome, thank you
But I can see that guy's armpit hair from here. And I must be like, 600 miles away
The Matthews and Ward picture is my favorite. Matthews brought the attitude early in that game, and the team fed off of him.
Matthews seemed to be saying, "No matter how much you've convinced yourselves you're tougher than us, we think that's a joke."
Beautiful, brilliant, and inspiring photo essay. Love it!
I just compiled this. All the work was done by Marc-Gregor (MGoFrenchy on here and twitter). I tried to change the byline to his username but it didn't work for some reason. We're really lucky to have MG (and Eric and Bryan and Patrick) working with us.
I am surprised to hear that.
I was at both the Saturday and Sunday games. While the Saturday game was absolutely more intense, anti-climactic is not a word I would have used for the championship game on Sunday. The crowd (more pro-blue than Saturday) was very into it, and the team, particularly Teske, was on point all day. When we went up 18 in the 2nd half it became more of a celebration, but it was not anti-climactic to me.
Anyway, it was a LOT of fun to be there both days. Go Blue!
Beautiful! Thank you
Even without knowing the context that Matthews pic is solid gold. In context, it's pure Colombian awesome.
I didn't see that in the game. Does that play exist as a gif anywhere?
GIFs are taking a while because I needed a day off after four games in four days but I'll have OFAAT posts starting tomorrow and a look at Michigan/Purdue with some GIFs today.
Does Matthews step on Ward's foot a little there?
I don't think so. I think he just steps closer to him.
Thanks Ace, and MG! As far as the gif post, I almost think MSU deserves its own enlarged section.
Now THAT is a team. Ward gets up like he's going to do something only to be met by a grinning, completely unafraid Matthews who in turn is immediately backed up/surrounded by all of his teammates. All before a single other spartan arrives. This team is so, so likeable and awesome to root for.
I noticed that too. In the first pic, you can see Winston in the background; in the next, it's Matthews, unconcerned, but surrounded by his brothers having his back. Love it
I see Mo's mom and MAAR's parents in the family pic. The lady to the far left HAS to be Charles' mom. They look so much alike.
Air Rahkman pic and the chuckling Matthews! Ward must have said something hilarious.
Maize and Blue lighted building was beautiful to see. Such pretty colours. My favourite colours.
Thanks so much for sharing!
I don't know, basketball is by far the hardest sport to officiate. They did do a horrible job in that game, but I think it's far worse in football where you have assistance in place and the refs still repeatedly botch stuff.
I love all the pictures! The pic with Izzo realizing he's about to lose to Michigan by doublle digits again this season is priceless!!!
Go Blue!!
I went to a Garden party . . .
there was magic in the air.
Great images of an unforgettable weekend for the Wolverines! This site has gobs talent. Also, gotta love the captions.
No shame - Am gonna totally re used that for a future caption.
I need the Simpson Strut gif from the Teske posterization of Haas (or was it the other guy?) in my life.
I feel like Vince Edwards needs a thought bubble where he's next to Beilein chewing out the ref
* [to himself] Beilein loses his shit? That happens?
* [to ref] Beilein goin off like this? you musta made the wrong call, man
Beilein started super fast! like a lightning.
I also love Simmons' face in that photo, like he's studying Coach B's technique so he can yell at a ref just like that someday. Even Ibi's sleepy expression (almost as if he's so used to Beilein yelling, but glad it's not directed at him this time).
I may be way too into the stories I'm creating around this picture. It is one of my favorites of the whole non-action set though (I also love the one in rememberance).
Always looking for those kind of images during the game.
I like to get the action, but I like the story more than the action it self.
I guess I am weird photog.
Thanks for the comment on that one - Was very deep moment seeing that place for the first time. Quiet the "story" is told by the emptiness left by the two tower.
I live in NYC so I get there from time to time, and it really is quite a place. I appreciated that you didn't try to capture any of the new buildings in the background. It's a very subtle, but powerful picture.
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