Michigan basketball 2015-16 snowflakes

Final thoughts for the day yesterday were despite the loss, yesterday's string of games was unlike anything I've seen before. So many close games, big upsets, big finishes. The two games that ended say we're fantastic finishes. Put a smile back on my face after the loss. Great end to the season. Proud of the guys for stepping up and making things fun to watch again.

I would like an explanation on why Dakich plays. Not against LeMoyne or Rutgers. In the B1G Tournament. In the NCAA Tournament. I don't care if he plays 100% beyond his ability and slaps a lot of butts or has a high basketball IQ. he's still a d-3 player who everyone knows isn't driving or shooting and that hurts us. Is Beilein really so weak willed that he's influenced by who this guys dad is? Is this little league baseball? Are walk ons with similar ability getting minutes? Nope. Yeah Spike is out. Go with a different set. It's actually really disturbing that this is tolerated.

When is the Spring Game?

My snowflake for the year was being at the Indiana game for the BTT. We got about 10 free pitchers of beer, met some awesome Michigan fans, wife got to interview on tv for a local Indiana television station, and got to see the best finish of the year for UM basketball in person. Regardless of how this year went that's what I'll always remember about this season.

I hate the Beilein-hate on this site. Look, this team lost a potential lottery pick and a assist-to-turnover ratio wizard. They didn't lose a single game in which they were favored (unlike last year), and stole a handful in which they were an underdog. The personnel losses made this a rebuilding year, and the development of Donnal and Wagner, notwithstanding unevenness, has been outstanding. Certainly under-appreciated. I think Duncan Robinson will come back stronger and better under pressure. Irvin and Walton emerged as real leaders, and nailed plenty of big shots. The lack of production from Chatman, Wilson, and Dawkins is a little puzzling, but the book isn't closed on any of those guys. Throw in X and the big fellah, and Coach B'a biggest problem is distributing minutes, not conjuring up talent.

I was under the honest impression that bitching about injuries was just making excuses, i mean, dont people here give izzo shit for that all the time? Why is this all of a sudden a double standard? IDK, you win or ya dont, this team didnt.

...and not just another Beilein bash session...

- yes, recruiting the past couple years has been underwhelming

- yes, injuries again hurt this team's upside for this year

- but that makes for an experienced roster going forward

With the exception of Doyle maybe from last year, everyone improved. A 16-16 squad added a healthy Walton and a very raw Wagner and increased the win total by 7, made the tournament and was a bad 8-minute stretch from the second round.

Walton - played better than last year; still has some improvement on decision-making

MAAR - continues to improve his outside shot; defense will take steps

Robinson - need the jump from JAS to NJAS; or at least ability to free up off screens a lot more often next season

Donnal - everyone loves to complain about Mark; kid has made great strides and will be very good next year; his senior year could be Costello-like; his defense has gotten better; can he get tough enough?

Doyle - clearly he will never do anything good...until he does; a solid depth guy

Wagner - so much potential; will channel the excitement and the game will slow down

Irvin - a gunslinger; no conscience (a good thing); can he find senior consistency? leader

Wilson - who knows what he will do; athletic but behind on his development

Dawkins - until he learns defense, he's a guy with occasional flashes

Chatman - I expect him to make the jump next year; he's clearly starting to get it and seems to be one of the better defenders in terms of positioning

That's a lot of returning guys, a lot with warts and needs of improving. MSU was led by a disappointing 4-star (Costello) who finally had a solid season in his last year, a surprising 4-star (Valentine) who went from inconsistent to incredible as a senior, and a transfer (Forbes) who wasn't highly recruited in high school and went to Cleveland State first. 

A heavily upperclassman squad plus some great new ball-handling and bigs being added in Watson, Simpson, Davis, Teske, makes 2016-17 look pretty solid.

I agree that defense must be an emphasis next year or it won't matter, but I expect excellent offensive efficiency next season, especially because two key cogs of the season's planning weren't part of it this year...making for a lot of adjustments on offense throughout the season.

We should hire Stan Formafuckinwall ... he would right this ship in about 8 minutes

If Beilein isn't going to win the Big Ten regular season, Big Ten tournament or make the 2nd weekend of the NCAA tournament (not that great of an accomplishment but at least extends the season for a week) then what's the point?  Does anyone really think Beilein can win anything the way he's been recruiting?  I don't want to hear that he isn't going for the one and dones because he wants a team full of juniors and seniors.  There were only 13 one and dones last year which means a lot of good players came back.  When we were winning it was with young players.