High Expectations: Corum guarantees national championship
https://twitter.com/CSayf23/status/1623485153149435904?s=20&t=xwrUBmshoiGo3n2SN8doWA
A little conflicted on this. Love the confidence of the team and love the enthusiasm from Blake and the leadership of the team going forward but my BPONE always acts up when I see stuff like this. Revenge Tour and the TCU smash fest comments come to mind and how guarantees only raises expectations and pressure. Either way, looks like we’re going all in on 2023. Betting everything on the next hand.
Let’s hope it pays off.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
OMG he was playing to the crowd. He didn't guarantee anything. He said what he feels. I would hope a player on a team that went to the playoff and is returning 81% of their productivity should feel like they are going to win the NC. I would be disappointed if he said "we hope to do good"
This is great confidence. You need that.
February 9th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
Well, even if we actually won the title, I'm sure Bama would still be favored. In fact, I bet a team of mini-Sabans would be favored over a 15-0 UM team that won the playoff. And that's all that matters.
February 9th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
It depends. What about Coach Saban, would be mini too? If so, then Michigan 35 (with full size Harbaugh), Bama 31.
February 10th, 2023 at 9:01 AM ^
Exactly fish!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
With all the talent coming back and transfers in and our coaching staff, we no doubt have a great shot at it! Third time is the charm!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
EGJ, are you old enough to remember when the pistons got good in the late 80's/early 90's? we got the eastern finals and lost. got to the championship and lost. and then we won. twice.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^
Dude :) Did you read, "Bad Boys"? I read every book from the era I could get my hands on - Chuck Daly's book, "The Jordan Rules" (?) was just money in uncle Chuck's pocket IMO. Zeke's book, "Bad Boys" is one of my all-time favorite sports books from my all-time favorite athlete. His depiction of labeling and how you have to make it work for you or it will work against you - how you can use it to create an identity. That was the essence - the psychological essence of what laid the foundation for those teams IMO. When Isiah got sent packing by the owner for opening his mouth up at the wrong time - one of the most depressing sports events in my lifetime - I hated the Pistons for that up until like last year.
McCloskey's book - don't recall the name, but some good stuff in there, including an anecdote - Larry Bird n Zeke signing balls for people at some joint event - Isiah was still in championship acquisition mode and asked Bird some question - Bird looked at him, then ignored him. McCloskey made it sound like Isiah was getting too close to the championship secret bone and Bird was not about to give him anything to help him along. I've always thought to myself - if I ever run into Zeke - I just wanna ask him what it was he asked Bird. ;)
February 9th, 2023 at 1:58 PM ^
That was a beautiful stretch of basketball, from the Celtics/Lakers battles, through the brief Pistons's dynasty, to the Bulls's incredible run. You really had to earn it!
One funny aside: before the Bulls finally won, there were like 1000 articles on how Jordan wasn't a winner. Just another #media-narratives moment.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
have not read those books, but did live through those pistons years - living in LA and losing to the lakers 4-3 in the '87-88 championship, after being up 3-2, was brutal. but sweet revenge the next year and of course beating portland the year after.
February 9th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
it was a great time. And the Piston’s would’ve won in ‘88-phantom foul. the ironic thing about the Lebron vs MJ debate is that because of all of Jordan’s complaining about how bad the Piston’s brand of ball was, that paved the way for defenseless ball in the Association. Thus allowing Lebron to score more.
February 9th, 2023 at 5:26 PM ^
Jordan’s complaining? The whole league hated the Pistons and that style of ball.
If you’re not a Pistons fan, you recognize that it slowed games down and was borderline dirty and could injure players.
I don’t begrudge the Pistons for playing the way they needed to in order to win championships, but just body slamming a guy out of the air is not “physical defense.” I could only imagine the hand wringing and butthurt here if Sparty basketball played that way against UM. It’s fun when your team is the bully and winning, otherwise it sucks - specifically when it’s dirty.
The Knicks tried to replicate that model to beat the Bulls but ultimately fell short. In the end, it’s not a brand of basketball that most purists, even those that would like to see a lot more defense and toughness in today’s game, want to see replicated.
February 9th, 2023 at 8:13 PM ^
you realize the 2004 Pistons surrendered 84.26 ppg, 43.5% shooting and it was glorious.
That ‘89 team could lock down the best offenses in the NBA, if you think all they did was hit people then you weren’t paying attention. They had multiple guys that could match up at all 5 positions. Rodman could defend the 2, 3 & 4. Laimbeer actually won the rebounding title in ‘86 and from 1982 to 1990 no player in the league totaled more defensive rebounds. Salley was a better than average shot blocker and James Edwards was a strong reserve C. Isiah had 1,861 career steals, 17th all time. Joe D was one of the best defensive guards I’ve seen. Mahorn was tough on the block. Daly had them playing perfect defense within that system. and when they needed to play tough they did.
They were masters of the psychological and physical game. That was a product of how sports, not just basketball, was played through the 70s and 80s. Hockey and Football were brutal. I’m not advocating for that style of play to return to basketball but I don’t care for the 3point shooting contest that these games turn into. when guys shooting 30% are jacking it up because they’re open it becomes hard to watch.
To say all they did was body slam guys out of the air is ignorant and disingenuous. and yeah Jordan was very vocal about his criticism of the Piston’s and the league listened to their Golden child.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
Cameron Stauth? Yes...I read and reread that book at far too young an age to.
Did help growing up in Bulls country tho.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
Learning how to win.
My brother and I were at the Silverdome with some other friends when the Pistons finally vanquished the Celtics in 1988. What a time it was! We even got on TV at halftime. We knew where the cameras were and walked in front of the crowd between the bleachers and the floor and waved up at the cameras. If you remember a hard foul on Isiah at the beginning of the 2nd half where he ended up OOB underneath the hoop, I was actually prepared to catch him if he fell off the end of the raised floor.
I doubt you could get away with wandering like that today.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
and my entry today under 'old man yells at clouds' is: the NBA back then was so much fun to watch, the rivalries and personalities, the toughness, just classic. today's NBA has phenomenal athletes, i get it, but it just seems like its still pre-packaged (like carl grapentine would say, 'electronic discooo'), very nice cheese. it's really good but it's still 'meh'.
February 9th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Speaking of the Pistons, there is a good example of an actual guarantee. A guaranSheed to be exact, Game 2 Indy 04. I guarantee is when you actually say the words. Not mention it while throwing shirts at a hoops game.
February 9th, 2023 at 3:11 PM ^
The Microwave!!!
February 9th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
laying it up with jordan, pippen and cartwright breathing down his neck.
and these:
February 9th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
Completely agree XM. I haven’t cared about the NBA since the mid 90s
February 9th, 2023 at 5:25 PM ^
I think us old guys might want to admit, though, that it was also about the intensity that WE brought to the viewing. When I saw the turnout in Milwaukee after they won, the excitement of the massive, massive crowd, or listen to the enthusiasm with which some friends follow, I have to recognize that a lot of people still get very excited by the game. Part of the problem for me is that feats that only a few amazing players could perform in my day are now, often, routine.
OTOH that gif is amazing. :)
February 9th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
I'm good with it. Let's roll!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
While I understand the OP being a bit uncomfortable about players making guarantees (although he didn't really guarantee anything), this isn't a big deal. Players make these types of statements all the time. As a player, this is a high upside, low downside type of thing.
If we win out and win the NC, people talk about how he guaranteed it before the season (like Harbaugh guaranteeing a win over OSU as a player). If we don't win the national championship, comments like this are forgotten in about 10 seconds without a second thought.
I, for one, like the confidence coming out of our locker room.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
To me the best part of the Harbaugh guarenteeing victory over OSU in 86 is seldom talked about.
After he said it needless to say the Detroit and Columbus media picked up on it and ran it as a story for several days. Finally someone asked Bo what he thought about his QB "guarenteeing" a win on Saturday over the hated Bucks. His response?
"Well I feel a hell of lot better than if he'd guarenteed we lose."
February 9th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
I'd never heard that, but that is awesome!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:26 PM ^
Meh. Young man on the mic at a home basketball game, giving the crowds some good feels. Not much to see here, IMO.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
I hear that, Speed. This pep rally type environment before a hoops game I think is a little less serious than Chase putting himself out there in '18 (Tho it felt good to me at the time, I won't lie) and JJ about 6 weeks ago. I love JJ, he's the Meechigan QB I've been waiting for my whole life. But, I'm hoping his "Smash-fest vs the 3-3-5" comments fire him up and maybe in his meditative state that furnace builds a fire in him like it did with Isiah in the '87 NBA Conf. Finals series.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^
LET'S GET IT!
Corum for Heisman.
February 9th, 2023 at 5:27 PM ^
I don't think there's any way they run him as hard or as far next year as they did last year. It would not be smart.
February 9th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
Or The Don.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
Corum guaranteed they'd return to the playoffs after losing to Georgia two years ago and he backed that up.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
Expectations were going to be high then we got back: Corum, Zinter, Keegan, CornJO and now they will be Natty or bust. Takes some luck to win whole shooting match but with our portal additions and what we return I like our shot!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:37 PM ^
welp.. i guess there's only one thing left to do...
February 9th, 2023 at 10:07 PM ^
Win the whole fucking thing
February 9th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
It's college football. Basically every season is "betting everything on the next hand" with a generous banker that periodically tops up your stack. If Michigan wins the CFP, it becomes an iconic statement. Otherwise, it's forgotten once he goes to the NFL.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
Fuck it - it is early and he is just fired up. Good for him. Love the energy and terrific having him back for another year!
Already can't wait for next Fall!
Go Blue!!!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:42 PM ^
I don't get why people are so bothered by a player saying "I feel like we're going to win a title next year". Every team in America save one is going to fall short of winning a title and that's okay. Guys should be confident and if any opponent needs "guy said he wants to win a title which means he thinks UM can beat us" to get motivated that's on the other team and not on Corum.
Anyway, glad he got people psyched and is excited about next year.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
I have no issues with him saying whatever he wants to say on that front. It’s his team, it’s his butt on the line, not mine. And he has a lot of reasons to be confident. It’s largely the same team coming back next year.
At the end of the day, I’ll just be happy if they have a strong showing in the postseason, regardless of the result. I don’t know what it is about Michigan, but they have historically been atrocious in the postseason. Harbaugh is 1-6, and I’m fairly certain we’ve only won, what, four postseason games in the last 15 years? Some teams have eclipsed that win total in the last three to four years alone.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
Pretty sure that the conference tournament game counts as "post-season". I would add in those two wins and say JH is 3 - 6. Not great, but better.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:52 PM ^
Beat Ohio!
February 9th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
I want confident players.
February 9th, 2023 at 1:58 PM ^
I LOVE IT!
They can do it.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
Hey, speednspace....where exactly in the twit is the word "guarantee"?...stoopid, want clicks, "if I make it sound like Joe Namath, everyone will like me" fool.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:03 PM ^
This is a giant nothingburger. First off, there was no guarantee. Secondly, it's a team leader amping up the crowd during a basketball game. What else was he supposed to say? "We're excited to lose 2-3 games next season, who's with me?!" I would want him to say nothing other than that he's excited to go out and win a national championship.
Goodness.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
Players say stuff like this all the time. It's far from "guaranteeing" a national championship. He's just hyping up the crowd. I think it's funny how players say stuff like this all the time, but when a Michigan player says it at a Michigan basketball game it becomes national news and somehow is a bad look
February 9th, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
Title of this is wrong. Not a guarantee
George Zimmer would be ashamed
February 9th, 2023 at 2:23 PM ^
I'm glad Corum is confident. I believe that -- barring injuries -- Michigan has as good a shot at winning the national championship next year as almost anybody.
But the TCU loss leaves with me lingering concerns -- I'd feel a lot better about their chances if Harbaugh and the offensive coaching staff demonstrated more willingness to take what opposing defenses give them and was less focused on imposing their will.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
How is this a "guarantee"? I saw clickbait articles saying guarantee as well. He said, "we are going to win the National Championship." To me, that's not the same as a guarantee. He's stating a belief and confidence that it will happen, but he's not promising anyone anything.
February 9th, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
This isn't guaranteeing a championship. It's normal hype up talk for an athlete at an event of only friendly fans.