After a crappy loss, some hope for next year's B-ball team
Losses like this suck bad, but I came across this article that might provide some hope for next year's team. Obviously, this year isn't done yet, but Zach Shaw at 247 wrote an article about how well Austin Davis (redshirt) and Charles Matthews (transfer) are playing in practice.
Coach B said: "I hate practice some days. I hate it when Austin and Charles are getting baskets on us or defending us really well," Beilein said. "But I love it when I just think about the future with those two guys. It's really going to be helpful."
If Wagner and D.J. come back, next year's team should have a lot of talent (freshman Poole, Livers & Brooks too) and should do well. Just thought this might help some on the board cope with the NW loss.
Yes, I also recall how Jordan Morgan was saying Donnal was tough to beat in practice.
that he was talking about basketball? Because if not, who knows what they were talking about. Maybe they like to play Jenga or backgammon in the locker room.
Simpson looks much more comfortable. Matthews can play (we think). But Wagner will bolt for pro ball in Germany, and we'll be left with the Teske-Davis-Wilson trifecta to defend last-minute inbound plays...Good luck with that.
But, hey, we can shoot. Sometimes.
a few times the last couple of weeks.
I think it's crazy to talk about firing Beilein at this point with the team playing much better. However, if we are anything less than a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament next year with the talent we'll have, then you can gripe.
Awesome! Never in the history of Michigan athletics have practice reports ever been wrong. Can't wait to see O'korn under center for his 2nd season as a starter.
"Next year we'll show 'em!"
A Michigan tradition since 1997....
JB is not without blame for how poorly we played in January and December but you got guys like Matta that are going to the NIT and there's no one really out there that would be an upgrade. If Brad Stevens or Billy Donovan were on the market that would be an upgrade but you'd be forced to go after Archie Miller or someone with a huge buyout for JB. not worth it
"Wait til next year", an annual Michigan athletics tradition.
Wagner's home/road splits have become genuinely worrying.
there's a gaping hole in the line up when they need to bring a big man into the game for either Wilson or Wagner. It's Donnal's job by default. If Davis was tearing it up in practice so much, we would have seen him on the floor by now.
Can be removed at any time. If Davis was currently better than Teske and/or Donnal, he'd be playing.
Beilein giveth, and he taketh away. . .
No one will deny Beilein is a good at running a pretty offense. . .but unfortunately that's his whole bag of tricks. It works well against non-conference cupcakes and most home games, where the players are comfortable shooting the ball. But when you have to play on the road, he loses a fair chunk of games to inferior teams. His teams often look soft and shaky on the road. Why? Because for some reason, he refuses to emphasize defense and rebounding--which travel much better than pretty offenses.
It's always going to be a struggle to get into the NCAA tournament under the Beilein system, because, unless he stumbles into a loaded roster (the Burke years) he's never going to win enough road games to have anything but a .500 conference record (just like he did in the Big East). Combine that .500 conference record with the 10-3 cupcake built non-conference record, and you're always sitting on the bubble.
There is one extra to the pretty offense, though. . .his style works quite well in neutral site tournaments, where there are no hostile crowds to rattle his shooters, and opponents have less time to prepare for his scheme. . .the disadvantage on defense is canceled out when he goes against non-conference teams that aren't familiar with his system. . .Beilein, if he can get into the tournament, will actually win at a higher rate, and give teams with better talent a tougher than expected game (Oklahoma 2009, Duke 2011 for example). IF he can get his team into the Tournament, they will out-perform what their regular season showing suggests.
It's always going to be a frustrating formula with Beilein. Next year won't be any different.
If Wagner or DJ stay??? Where are they going? If your suggesting that theyre leaving to go to the next level then I want what youre smoking. I must be real good!
All I see is a square peg and that's Irvin. When hes gone, were good!
Irvin actually played pretty well tonight. We would have had a chance to win without him.
He was 6/9 before the rushed 3 he took for the game-winner. Finished 6/10 for 12 points.
Yes. He hit clutch shots against Northwestern in the B1G tourney last year and a big shot against Tulsa in the tourney as well. Irvin was fine last year, he's been a trainwreck this year
going pro in the European leagues. He'd make good money there. Not as much as and NBA player but darned good money. So he may very well be gone after this season.
Show me a coach doing more for less. k thx
How are those coaches doing better? Maybe this year....Few has no Final 4s. Outside of him (WCC) and Wright (BE), none of the others have more conference championships in the last 10 years.
In the last 10 years, Roy Williams has a NC, 2 other Final Four appearances, 2 more Elight 8 appearances and 6 regular season conference titles.
He did not meet my initial criteria. UNC is in a completely different league than UM and that is not anyone's fault. I don't know why I went back to this post, but I cannot let it stand by itself.
I am starting a BANDWAGON! If you give a shit about the Michigan MBB team maybe you will jump on... I know this is a little late for a lot of you, but jump on board. This team is making the tournament and may make a run but! it will require an upset or two. IDK if this will happen. I do know that this team is giving 100% effort and trying to win games for the seniors. ALLLLLL ABOARD!