January 31st, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
BUT BUT BUT BUT....Michigan is "ducking" Staeeeeeeeee
January 31st, 2022 at 2:20 PM ^
I honestly expected msu to find a way to say they couldn't make it work.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:22 PM ^
why? what about our team makes you think they should be afraid of us? If anything, I'd think they'd love to beat their rival again, and on our home floor. Plus an extra W in the conference race standings.
Though we played a bit better against a couple teams, we have not played the top group of teams in the conference, and other than a few spurts, the team has depth, talent, scoring, defense, athleticism problems. That's not a criticism - but just watch how our players move and play together.
Anyway - i hope we win, but i dont see why theyd duck anything this year
EDIT: Instead of just negging (nbd), why not have a non-pissy conversation about it? Does anyone see the trajectory of this team changing dramatically at this point? Are we close to turning a corner? If we get blown out by Purdue will that be what it takes to see it? I don't mind the bad season, but what I don't see a good future (RIGHT NOW) with dickenson, eli, and others leaving next year. I think Moussa takes a big leap, but why arent bufkin and franklie playing more?
January 31st, 2022 at 2:36 PM ^
Michigan is going to beat State at Crisler. A very inexperienced team (only 2 players had played at Breslin with fans in the stadium) went into one of the most difficult places to play in the country and took one on the chin. It happens. Part of what was so awesome about the Indiana game the week before is that almost never happens. Winning on the road in college basketball in any fashion is really, really hard, not to mention winning convincingly. Particularly against Top 25 teams.
MSU got Michigan at Breslin. Michigan will get MSU at Crisler.
Saturday was stupid. That's all it was, though.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
That game was stupid because it clearly showed we are overmatched against a team like Sparty. A team who can lose to NW, but kick out ass.
We've a lot of things to fix on defense before we can beat Sparty. Any like always, we'll have to find a way to get and make good 3pt looks. But that doesn't seem all that likely to happen consistently.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:54 PM ^
Did you watch the game? We were only down four at the half. After the refs reviewed a double hold and grab by Msu they deemed it necessary to uphold the foul on us. Some things cannot be overcome by a young inexperienced team. However on March 1, we will have Dickinson at his best along with Houston’s three’s and the Professor’s best game at Michigan. Game over! Go Blue! Great Win Michigan
January 31st, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
I appreciate your optimism. I don't see a ton of player development. Maybe the ship has sailed on Eli and Johns - fair enough. maybe Dickenson is what he is.. a very good player with some limitations and terrible with fouls. Okay. But what about all the rest? Jones said the game has slowed down for him. Has it? Houstan did look a bit better shooting, but still struggles with quickness and on D, and he's erratic. Moussa is very athletic, but still raw and unsure of his plan of attack. I think if Johns played like he did last tourney, maybe this team is different. Maybe a couple guys take the sophomore leap. But.. if not.. then what? The incoming class is good, but I don't recall any game changers as freshman. So.. will everyone take a step forward? I wonder, but I hope.
If we didn't make a few miraculous shots at the end of the NW game, I wonder if you'd feel the same way. NW isnt trash, but... they arent good either. Transitive property in basketball does NOT apply.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
I really am not sure what the psychology is on the word,”IF” but some of the responses in here are unimaginable. Some Michigan fans after winning a game and coming back after a hard fought win. Still, have reservations about how we won and we were sooooo lucky. It’s ashamed that the game shouldn’t even be played if they don’t stand a chance. I’m glad they don’t read this (&$!
January 31st, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
I didn't suppose that the IF statement was reality. I just said, that NW game was very close to an L ... could have gone either way. So, if that was an L, I wonder if people would feel differently about the team. Because, you know.. you, and I, and they, are not ON the team. The players should feel confident about what they do and give their all. This blog is to talk about it - even the stuff that makes you sad, mad, or not rad.
January 31st, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
I respect your opinion. But like I said earlier this year when lots and I do mean lots of posters labeled Houstan a BUST! I said there’s no way he’s a bust. Most people could not have played one game of Varsity, college, or YBA, in order to come up with those baseless claims. Lastly, if and yes I said it. Houstan the bust, didn’t show up that game we lose. So I’ll lend you a little optimism most highly skilled basketball players get better with experience against players either better than then, or at least their equal. We will be better soon! GO BLUE!
January 31st, 2022 at 4:34 PM ^
Okay. I'm cool with opinions and we can disagree on some things. But, labelling someone a bust is relative to what is expected, now how good the fan's jump shot is at their local gym. So, yes, he's obviously better than likely everyone on this blog has ever been or ever will be (im sure there are a couple exceptions), but that doesn't make him not a bust.
I dont think its fair yet to judge. However, there are warning signs that some folks see that indicate that while he will likely improve, he may never rise to that top 10 recruit billing. And, thats not HIS fault either (if that is true).
We thought he was Stauskas part 2... maybe Robinson with more athleticism.
I don't know if its because he has a coach that isn't quite the teacher Beilein was OR if its because of how we use him, or because of 1000 other things. But I would love to see him improve.
This team though, has many other issues, and if there was less pressure on Houstan, he'd probably play and shoot better. Also, his name being Houstan makes me think of Allan Houstan, a great shooter for the knicks.. haha which is also not fair.
January 31st, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
I respect your patience.
February 1st, 2022 at 1:46 AM ^
He should actually still be in high school this year, but chose to come to college a year early. Next year would actually be his 'Freshman' year, technically. I think he's doing great considering that
January 31st, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
Interesting how much grief Houstan gets. This board has hit Twitter levels of vitriol towards these freshman.
He and Diabate will be round 1 pix on potential alone, which is huge in the NBA draft. They both remain R1 in almost every mock.
If they declare, they'll be gone and getting paid to develop.
That leaves Howard with a world of hurt via line-up issues for the next season.
Part of me wants these two to pick up their games, and get into the tournament.
Then part of me wants them to continue freshman struggles and return to develop next year.
January 31st, 2022 at 6:08 PM ^
Again, I never mentioned houstan. Just in response to the comment. I agree that after a great 10 years as a program, the expectations that everyone who walks in the door will take us deep in the tourney is unfair.
I don't know about the anger and hate but I'd say that's just yelling on the Internet, just like on any other topic
January 31st, 2022 at 3:19 PM ^
A month more time to come together as a team, oh hell yeah...
January 31st, 2022 at 2:42 PM ^
Reality can be a bummer.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
I’m with you in having concerns not just about this years team, but also next year. It’s obviously a long ways off but other than Jett the incoming class doesn’t really address any of our issues. We will need a TON of improvement from this years freshen to have a chance of being better next year without Hunter and Eli.
January 31st, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^
Wasn't going to neg you, then I read the whiney intro to your edit.
January 31st, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
The delay in scheduling this was most likely TV-related, not MSU-related.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:22 PM ^
That's good - I think we will be plenty motivated after the crapshow of a 2nd half.
Strangely, we are playing like MSU did last year (highly ranked to barely 500) and they are playing like we did last year (unranked to top 10).
Home cooking should be plenty for us to get a late season critical win and shut up Snarty and their NIT chants.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:49 PM ^
Homecooking? That doesn't exist within the walls of Crisler.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:22 PM ^
Hopefully by then we'll have figured out a way to defend a ball-screen.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
18 games in and we haven't figured out how to defend ball screens or even straight line drives to the rim.
January 31st, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
Hopefully it’s a must win game to get us into the tourney as opposed to a must win game for NIT eligibility.
January 31st, 2022 at 3:32 PM ^
Let’s flip the script
January 31st, 2022 at 4:30 PM ^
Interestingly we were actually favored to win by Vegas leading up to the first game being cancelled. Not saying we will be favored again but home court is huge between 2 inexperienced teams.
January 31st, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
The Revenge Tour ?
January 31st, 2022 at 5:17 PM ^
Well, the snow should definitely be mostly off the roads by then, assuming we don't get much more after Thursday...
January 31st, 2022 at 7:08 PM ^
Could be another money maker depending on the line. Glad it is rescheduled.