First Day of CBB
Today marks the first day of the 21-22 season. There are some intriguing matchups in the "Champions" classic with Duke, Kansas, MSU, & Kentucky all in action and many more games as well throughout the next couple of days.
With that being said what are your expectations for the boys in Blue this year? I ultimately think it comes down to Michigan and Purdue for the big ten title and both end up getting 1 seeds in the big dance. I think Michigan gets to the final four and loses to Gonzaga as they are absolutely stacked. Curious to hear everyone's thoughts.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:07 AM ^
I predict they'll get lots of exercise and have lots of fun out there.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:25 AM ^
I'm gonna go ahead and take cuts here.
Gonzaga was stacked last year, if Livers was available, we beat UCLA and would have curb stomped Gonzaga just like Baylor did. It would have been a tall order to beat Baylor but that would have been a great game
Gonzaga's soft schedule in their conference doesn't lend itself to the rigors of the tournament.
This year I expect some growing pains early but we'll have a deep and athletic squad, 11-2 or better in non conference and at least 14-6 to 16-4 in conference for a range of 25-8 to 27-6 before the BTN Tournament.
November 9th, 2021 at 12:17 PM ^
Baylor would've given Michigan fits. Their strengths (absurd speed and athleticism and positional flexibility) played very well against the weaknesses of last year's team. Would've been awesome to see them play, though.
November 9th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Agreed. I feel like making the title game would have been deja vu from '18 where we ran into something we just couldn't handle.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:09 AM ^
Fcuk Staee. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:13 PM ^
Living out here in the middle of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" nonsense-they can both go to hell.
November 9th, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
We want State to win because it makes the Big Ten - and us - better nationally. We'll eff them in conference, lol.
November 9th, 2021 at 6:44 PM ^
Naw I still want staee to lose. The other B1G teams can make the conference look strong.
November 9th, 2021 at 6:52 PM ^
Yeah screw Bill Self and Kansas. It's like who would you root for MSU or Duke? MSU because f Duke but laugh if MSU does lose.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
I predict the preseason rankings will be different than the final rankings
November 9th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
Can we be done w/ the Champions Classic? I guess interesting games is nice, but the Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, Sparty lovefest is old. Maybe it changes w/ Coach K retiring.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:23 AM ^
Laughable that sparty is included in this anyway with their 1 title in the last 40 years. Should probably be replaced by UNC, Nova, etc.
November 9th, 2021 at 7:21 PM ^
sparty is unranked. champions? pfff.
November 9th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
Yeah I don't know why they do these four teams every year, especially MSU right now. Stale match ups
November 9th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
I think it’s more about the coaches! All 4 are HOFers, and that’s the big selling point on this event.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:17 AM ^
For you gamblers out there, I think the Kansas -4.5 line is quite attractive.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
So is your mom! /s
November 9th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
Dammmmn. Can never have enough mom jokes.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
I'll be watching and flipping channels tonight, but won't get even mildly excited until the Michigan opener Wednesday evening.
Full basketball fever arrives for me next Tuesday when I go to Crisler for our game against Seton Hall.
November 9th, 2021 at 12:12 PM ^
Anybody got any bets that they feel strongly about from today's slate of game?
November 9th, 2021 at 12:14 PM ^
Three opportunities to look stupid:
1. Michigan, UCLA, and Villanova make the Final Four
2. Indiana basketball becomes the new CHAOS Team and the best team in the state
3. Michigan eliminates Duke in Coach K's final NCAA game
November 9th, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
Indiana better than Purdue, ballsy prediction. You expecting Indiana better than expected, Purdue worse than expected or a little of both?
I am hopeful that if Purdue is overrated, Michigan will win conference going away (a couple games or more better than second place).
November 9th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
Purdue looks legit! I think Ivey could have a breakout season.
November 9th, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
Purdue may end up with a better conference record, but the thought is IU will be a PITA to play with a new scheme and coach--and will show marked improvement over the course of the season. I'm expecting Woodson to have his team ready for tourney time with lots of complementary play around TJD.
November 9th, 2021 at 12:15 PM ^
My expectation is that ESPN will see a spike in their ratings tonight at 8PM and go back to a flaccid state 15 minutes later.
November 9th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
Do I need to bring tissues?
November 9th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
I've have mine, plus a pillow.
November 9th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
Yes, well the headline "ESPN Experiences Dramatic Rise During Basketball Game" would turn a few heads...
November 9th, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
I think we have a really good chance to make it to the final 4. Brandon Johns is the X-factor. If he plays close to what he’s capable of…think Michigan could run away with the B1G!
November 9th, 2021 at 1:13 PM ^
True but any number of young players growing could even offset any issues with (though i doubt there will be any) Johns. This team goes from strength to strength. If we get some shooting from our young stars and we aren't afraid to box out and rebound, where do we have a glaring weakness? Maybe 3rd string point guard or backup center, but even those can be held over with raw high 4 star talents in a pinch.
November 9th, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
I'd say if there is a potential weakness it will be 3 point shooting. We really have no "proven" 3 point guys coming back that were reliable shooters all season. Brooks was streaky. Jones is a bit of an unknown. Johns and Williams were definitely streaky. Hunter took very few shots. We'll be relying a little too heavily on Houstan as a true freshman. Hopefully a number of guys will step up and we'll be at least fine in that area. I don't think the three will be our strength, that's for sure.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:28 PM ^
Brooks was 4-4 in the exhibition game-shot almost 40% last year. Jones shot 37% on 135 attempts last year and was the Sun Belt Conference POY. Johns was solid last year. Terrance recently made something like 60 out of 70 in a practice, rapid fire drill/contest. Houstan...OMG-that's five already. Fans can dig as deep of a BPONE hole as they wish...this is going to be an intriguing and exciting team-and a very good one. Michigan does not lack shooters!
November 9th, 2021 at 1:23 PM ^
I think people are vastly underrating the transition costs of losing three starters and the first guy off the bench and relying on freshman to fill that gap, regardless of how highly ranked by recruiting sites. I think this team is going to struggle out the gate and drop some bad big ten games, mostly because of offensive spacing issues and a lack of consistent perimeter shot making. Think early in the year the loss of late season Chaundee as a spark plug off the bench will be evident. By the end of the year think the team will be clicking and one of those teams nobody wants to see in the tournament but the early season struggles cost them the regular season title.
I'm thinking its more along the lines of those kentucky teams that made runs as a higher seed.
November 9th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^
I felt that way about last year’s team, because outside of Wagner/Livers there were a bunch of unknowns. This year I think they are a lot more solid. We know who the focal point of this team is in HD. Throw in 5th year Eli and a Sr. Brandon Johns and we have a pretty solid foundation. Jones is more touted than Smith was and is a 2-way player. If Diabate/Houstan are even half of what they’re hyped to be, our floor is a top 3 seed in the tourney.
November 9th, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
I mean struggle is all relative but its wild that someone could say the floor is being a top 12 team in the country for a team replacing 4 of its 6 best players and relying on freshman to have literally any sort of spacing and 3 point threat.
If Houstan struggles as a shooter and Johns takes threes at the same rate as last year this could be a miserable offense that is incapable of getting a clean look in the paint consistently. I don't think its the most likely outcome, but I don't think anyone should be surprised if there are more than a few dud offensive games where the team struggles to get to 60 points
November 9th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
Agree that this team is going to need time to gel, fit into their roles between 1st and 2nd team minutes. We're seeing the lack of veteran ball-handlers coming off the bench right now with Zeb & Frankie injured. I noticed Eli playing post defense on a few possessions, that's with Hunter & Johns on the floor, so the defensive switches/box-outs were poor. Caleb looked like he was trying to be a playmaker against Wayne St, which doesn't seem to be his strength right now. I like our starting 5, but seems like 4 guys moving around Hunter...no playmakers. That's why Kobe seems like a pretty important piece, offensively.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
Going into last year, 3 of our 6 best players were new to the team and we got a #1 seed. The talent that is being infused into this team is better this season. Instead of someone like HD being asked to carry a large piece of the offensive load, our Freshman this season are more complimentary pieces. Houstan can just be a knockdown shooter, Moussa can come in and bring energy off the bench. Anything that Kobe gives us will be icing on the cake. I agree with you, that there may be some struggles early. However, I think the one thing that is tried and true offensively throughout time is a good post-up game. Getting cuts/open looks off that may ease our offensive struggles a tad.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^
The talent being brought in has higher ceilings, it doesn't mean they will be better this year. Up transfers are always a risk. Jones could struggle to run the pick and role given a lack of practice, or struggle to finish at the rim in the big ten and his lack of a 3 pt shot could mean he is a pretty significant downgrade on the offensive end from Mike Smith. 18 year old Moussa could make significantly more mistakes coming in off the bench as an energy guy compared to senior Chaundee Brown. Brandon Johns and Caleb Houstan could easily shoot worse than Livers/Wagner from 3, defend worse, and have more turnovers.
All of these things can be true and still result in Houstan and Diabate going in the top 15 picks of the draft next year. I'm not trying to argue the team is going to be bad or the bad outcomes are guaranteed. I just think people are vastly underselling the possibility that this team could deal with a fair amount of struggles and transition costs just because everything did go right last year.
November 9th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
Agree 100%. I will always bank on an experienced C, PG and 2G with a relatively experienced 4 vs last season with 2 experienced forwards and a PG. Also more confidence in Jones than Smith simply because of athleticism and Juwan really knowing the development process after Smith. More athleticism & depth on this team to create competition in practice and fill minutes during the B1G grind.
November 9th, 2021 at 1:57 PM ^
I'll side with optimism for a few reasons.
- Hunter D taking a big year two jump. If he develops a jump shot, we're in good hands.
- Devante Jones will be much more of a scorer than Smith was. Maybe we lose a few 3's here or there but getting to the rim should be nice.
- Freshman, man. Caleb H and The Moose should be fun to watch.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:33 PM ^
Brooks and Jones...and Juwan is the coach. There are "bumps" in every season. Every other team will be finding their footing too. Michigan will be fine.
November 9th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
Kinda sick of this crowd of teams always being in first games of the year. I get these are the blue blood, top recruiting schools but why can't you rotate the top team(s) in the ACC, B1G, SEC, Big 12 every year. Hell MSU is like the 6th best team in the B1G...
Gotta be the $$$
November 9th, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
I believe we will go to the NCAA Championship and get screwed over by some bullshit call.
Like a sack fumble in the endzone
Or a block on a fast break to a team that had to vacate their championship anyway because Pitino forgot to tip the hookers.
Not that I am still bitter or anything.
November 9th, 2021 at 2:07 PM ^
Super pumped, can’t wait until tomorrow. College bball probably my favorite sport to watch / follow.
And unlike the football team, we get results from the basketball team and they don’t need the media hype train to boost them up. The results speak for themselves.
November 9th, 2021 at 2:11 PM ^
My first NCAAM bet of the season is Kansas -3.5.
November 9th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Go, Blue!
November 9th, 2021 at 4:13 PM ^
All I know is that every single Michigan basketball game will be televised - like for real televised and not on BTN+. My DVR will be getting a workout this season!
November 9th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
This a total gut feeling and isn't based on anything other than that, but I actually think we'll struggle in the regular season and come alive in the postseason. We'll go on a run to win the B1G Tournament and then enter the NCAA Tournament as a 6th or 7th seed. Then we'll make a run to the Final Four and play in the National Championship Game.
November 9th, 2021 at 6:14 PM ^
Thanks to whoever posted this originally on the board. I turned on Villanova/FS1, and I hear it every time they go to commercial:
November 9th, 2021 at 7:07 PM ^
Bet this game stays close. I think Sparty ends up being solid this year with their transfer taking a decent load of the offense. But Kansas is still Kansas but it's so early that neither team is in peak shape...and so Sparty goes and gets a big signature win tonight even though if they played each other in 2 months Kansas would dominate.
I dislike both. Fuck Kansas and Bill Self. But I kind of do want to see them murder Sparty.