OT: Final (who cares) Four open thread
Currently the fighting Art Briles’ are beating the fighting Clyde Drexlers
later the Fighting John Stockton’s take on the some team from LA
Good call not to call the TO. UCLA's defense wasn't even kind of set.
I was rooting for the Zags but I don’t think UCLA deserved losing like that. That will haunt you for about 20 years.
They won three toss up games on their way to the final four... they are lucky they even made it out of the play in game against Sparty.
It's funny when you think about it, they were a miracle half court buzzer beater from the national championship game, and yet they could have just as easy missed the entire tournament and just have been an asterisk in the final tournament summary.
That's why we watch. Interesting shit happens.
First time this week I've thought "I'm glad it isn't us."
Gutted not to be here.
But what a game and what a moment.
All right. Who you got on Monday night?
I'm rooting for Gonzaga, but I think Baylor is going to win it comfortably.
Baylor
If both teams play like they did today, then Baylor wins. If both teams play to their peak, Gonzaga wins.
Bet Baylor at +600 before the tourney. Love their chances to win Monday
Gonzaga. I just feel like they didn’t come this far just to go home empty handed. It’s their time.
Gonzaga in a walk.
Bullshit. It will be a good game
Baylor is crazy athletic and Gonzaga has a lot of fundamentally sound guys. It will be interesting.
What a game. I honestly thought the officiating down the stretch was solid. The charge and the block were the correct calls imo
You know what they say about big time players...
Legend.
They make bullshit lucky shots at the end of the game?
I guess if a team is gonna be in the conversation for the best of all time I'd rather it be Gonzaga than somebody like Kentucky or Duke. Also Baylor doesn't deserve to win a championship for a hundred years so I guess go Zags.
Credit where credit is due. UCLA showed up and they played a hell of a game. Wasn’t a damn thing they could’ve done about that final shot. Was just meant to be for Gonzaga. No shame in that.
Pains me because it makes me think Michigan could’ve beaten those guys, but they didn’t deserve to be in this game so it is what it is. I hope we get another classic on Monday.
Agree, it's heartbreaking. We all know we could have beaten UCLA on Tuesday. And based on Gonzaga's performance tonight, we could have beaten them. Heartbreaking.
But by the same token, I can’t say I’m upset Michigan wasn’t on the receiving end of that buzzer beater. That’s not something you just move past, especially if you’re one of the players. That shit sits with you for a long, long time.
I’d still take it just go to the Final Four, but Michigan has had more than its fair share of being in the losing end of buzzer beaters or final play miracles from its opponent. They’re usually on the receiving end as opposed to the giving.
I don't know. I've never been an athlete, so I don't know what sticks with them, but there's nothing UCLA could have done to stop the game winner. I'm sure it hurts to come all that way as underdogs and just miss, but that would probably be the case no matter how they lost.
That’s why I am rooting for Baylor on Monday. Too many Michigan games have ended on bullshit buzzer beaters made by teams I despise(Wisconsin and Ohio St.) like that for me to ever feel good about a team advancing because they made of those.
Yup... I’m rooting for Baylor as well!
Without Livers, I'm not sure we had the firepower to keep pace with Gonzaga. UCLA is just a weird amoeba team that plays everyone close.
But if Livers had been healthy, we not only would have been playing tonight but I think we could well have won.
Juzang scored 29 on 12-18 (3-6 3pt) shooting. We didn't have ANYONE that could light it up quite like that. He's one of those guys that is somewhat defense independent and really tough to stop if he goes off.
Gonazga almost shot 59% from the floor. Normally they would blow people out with those numbers but UCLA shot 58% and 47% from 3.
Would our defense have held down Gonzaga better? Sure. Would our offense have been as good as UCLA's? I don't really see it. Every UCLA starter shot at least 50% from the floor, and the only shot taken by a bench guy was a made 3-pointer That is an incredible shooting performance. Gonzaga was only able to win because they had Timme going 11-15 and Ayayi going 9-12.
Basically what I'm saying is, regardless of the fact that we should have beaten them, UCLA played an AMAZING game tonight and I don't think we can assume we would have been able to play Gonzaga that well. I don't think this was a case of Gonzaga playing bad--UCLA was just on fire.
UCLA seems to be an example of a team that gelled (or is it jelled?) at just the right time. Kind of like the Beilein teams. That, or they debuted some new looks in the tourney that they hadn't used all season. Either way, a begrudging hats off to Mick Cronin for a great job coaching his team during the tournament.
That's why I watch the Final Four, even without Michigan playing...sure there are some dogs, like the early game, but every once in a while you get a game like that.
Looking forward to the game...don't really have a preference, but Few is a guy I really respect for doing things the right way and staying with the same program for decades, even with numerous chances to 'trade up'
It's ironic that UCLA's loss took the shine off ours!
It shows that it really was a coin flip's difference between Gonzaga or UCLA or Michigan or Alabama being in the National Championship game. Luck plays a part.
If we had to lose, this is probably the best outcome. We don't look silly for losing to UCLA because they played a heck of a game tonight. But we also don't have to watch them win a National Title after beating us.
Exactly what I was thinking!
I just can’t remember a game other than the Duke game. Wow... amazing finish. Just heartbreaking for UCLA who I was pulling for.
March Madness at it’s best. The entire tournament!
I have to say that the way UCLA competed with Gonzaga really validated Michigan. We did not lose to a scrub team. I honestly thought Gonzaga would clean UCLA's clocks but UCLA hung tough and damn near pulled off yet another upset.
And we could have beaten UCLA by 10 with just average FT shooting. *sigh*
But doing it when it counts . . . is what counts.
I do think it’s games like tonight, where you see what we are missing. We need guards/forwards (ball handlers/shot creators) who can step up when we need it. Suggs/Juzang are high level. Who is the last guy we have had? Gotta go back a few years. It has been issue probably since Burke or Staukas. Who is that guy for next year? That’s why a part of me wants to find a guy in portal. Carr or Miller perhaps? Not sure 100% who the guy is, just know we need one lol.
Okay, so we're missing that guy. Got it. I'd say that with a nobody named Isaiah Livers, Michigan was playing that game with Gonzaga, and maybe that's a nail-biter, too. But--hey--variations on the theme of 'we suck' and this is my bad reason why are evergreen here.
Alabama . . . Michigan . . . UCLA . . . a lot of heartbreak in our region.
Team of Destiny
I am very happy that Mitch Cronin is feeling pain:....he is a garbage coach that got very lucky to be in the final four
What a game. UCLA put up a great fight. Hope Monday's game is as good as this one was. Instant classic.
All those racist fucks on RCMB can suck a fat one. UCLA is obviously legit. Oh and Sister Jean has more Sweet 16 appearances than Tiny Tim Izzo in the last five tournaments.
lol, I mean, ok? Tom Izzo has 2 final fours and like 4-5 big championships since 2015. So, suck it, Izzo? Cool.
The whole “Mr. March” thing that the media and MSU itself pushes is about making runs in the tournament, not Big Ten titles. But of course everyone wants to change the narrative since Michigan has been the better tournament team lately. Look at the last five tournaments: (2016-2019, 2021)
Two times MSU has failed to win a game
Four times MSU has failed to advance out of the first weekend
Yes, the other year was a Final Four appearance but overall Michigan has way more total victories than MSU.
Total wins:
Michigan: 13
Rocket Mortgage Spartans: 6
What a game. I really came to believe no team could stay with Gonzaga but this is the reason you play the game. Suggs buzzer beater will be remembered for a long time! Ill take that in place of no strutting by Timme.
Exactly. I just can't get very interested after Michigan bowed out, even with the great game 2 last night.