DetroitBlue

March 13th, 2021 at 10:36 AM ^

Terrible news. Get well soon, Isaiah. 
 

Michigan fandom in a nutshell - great season, expectations through the roof, then dong punch right before the big dance. We just can’t have nice things 

FrankMurphy

March 13th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^

This program has been punching above its weight for the past decade. Look at all the banners that Beilein won without a hint of scandal and without ever having signed a McDonald's All-American. Even if we can't overcome Livers' absence, this season should still be considered a smashing success. Remember that we started the season unranked and were picked to finish sixth in the B1G. This team is not particularly heavy on elite talent, and yet Juwan somehow managed to win the B1G (in a great year for the conference) and lock down a number one seed. I would call those nice things.

Oh, and the icing on the cake? Juwan has the best recruiting class in the country arriving next season, featuring three (!) Mcdonald's All-Americans.

Relax. We're talking about basketball, not football. This program has a very bright future that will be full of nice things.

LabattBlue

March 13th, 2021 at 10:37 AM ^

Bad luck, most stress fractures don't don't heal up easily. (Assuming that is the injury)

Trying to play on it will make it worse, likely we've seen the last of Isaiah.

Next man up Mr Brown.

mGrowOld

March 13th, 2021 at 10:37 AM ^

Sad day for Michigan fans.

WAY sadder day for Livers.  Dude lived and breathed M basketball.  

Fellow old-timers this feels a lot like 1977 when Rickey Green busted his hand in the tournament.  He tried to play through it but was a shell of himself.  That team was, before Ricky's injury, as unstoppable as this one was.

jdraman

March 13th, 2021 at 11:53 AM ^

The injury is even more miserable since Livers was 13 points away from 1,000 career points. What it would have meant to him to score those buckets against OSU. 

I really hope he's able to come back at some point in the next few weeks. It would be such a letdown for him to miss two NCAA tournaments in a row. 

San Diego Mick

March 13th, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^

Is that what happened? Dammit, I don't remember that, no wonder we lost to UNC Charlotte and Cornbread Maxwell in the elite 8.

That game made me sick to my stomach, we were the best team in the country that year.

My brother, a senior at Michigan at the time, took me, 14 year old, to the Marquette game where we came back from an 11 pt deficit with about 10 minutes to go in an era before the 3pt shot, a lot harder to do back then.

JamesBondHerpesMeds

March 13th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^

Remember when Mitch McGary stepped up and became the best player in the tourney in 2013?

May a trench coat filled with Chaundee Brown and Brandon Johns be our 2021 Mitch.

meanwhile, give Livers every accolade in the book. A true Michigan Man.

Code-7

March 13th, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^

This is a great take. I think one of those two will step up. If not for the B1G Tourney, definitely in time for the Big Dance!

Reminds of when Eric Mayes was named a co-captain in 1997. He was injured, out for the season, but became a crucial motivational piece for the National Championship run. Livers has this same drive and leadership.

Heal quickly, Isaiah. Go Blue.  

bronxblue

March 13th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^

That sucks.  I'll admit I was wrong; felt like a lot of speculation.

Wish him a healthy recovery.  This team will just have to figure out how to compensate as best as possible.

Perkis-Size Me

March 13th, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^

Well, they’ve got to get there first.

They should be able to handle a 16 seed without livers in the lineup anyway, but whoever they draw from that 8 to 9 seed in the second game could make things really dicey. As much as it is a cliché, it’s true: it’s all about matchups.

NeverPunt

March 13th, 2021 at 10:41 AM ^

Super sucks for Livers. Hope he’s able to suit up again before the seasons out. That said, not ready to give up on this team by a long shot. Let’s see what Juwan has up his sleeve and how some of these guys answer the call. This season has already been a huge success, nothing to lose now - just win baby! 

JamieH

March 13th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^

I had a stress fracture in my foot in college.  I was on crutches for 3-weeks.  Everyone is different but I would guess the odds of Livers playing before the Final Four is close to zero.

Fishbulb

March 13th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^

Ok. Let’s talk ourselves into 20+ minutes of Brandon Johns. 
 

The Good: He’s athletic, quicker off the dribble than Livers, can rebound and block shots, can do some things in the post, can hit open 3’s. 
 

The Bad: Pencil him in for a couple facepalming moments every game, can hit open 3’s but has a longer, slower release, so they have to be open. You can double Dickinson off of him and not worry about a quick 3. 

UMfan21

March 13th, 2021 at 12:20 PM ^

Other "bads":

 

He is wildly inconsistent, and doubly so compared to Livers who was a calming force.

We lost a huge FT shooter in Livers which will be huge in a close game like today.

Playing John's at the 4 significantly reduces our depth at the 5 if Lidell starts getting Dickinson and/or Davis in foul trouble.