We survived MSU’s best team for the foreseeable future…
… and we didn’t just survive, we had the better season!!!
Now that they are out, let’s be honest with ourselves. MSU had a VERY talented team this year. Appling, Harris, Dawson, and Payne are all great players. Do they have flaws? Yes. But they were very good.
Yes, MSU did have injury problems this year. Lots of them. But so did we. Maybe not as many, but stuff happens, man. Injuries happen the same as players leaving early for the draft happens (Morris, Burke, Hardaway).
Instead of focusing on MSU’s misfortunes. Let’s look at what this says about our program. We just successfully took MSU’s best shot, and beat them. We won the regular season by 3 whole games. We beat them head to head 2 to 1. We made it just as far, if not further (#BeatKentucky), than them in the tournament. What a fantastic job by Beilein, the rest of the coaching staff, and of course all of the players to take this program where it is today. The tide in this rivalry has officially shifted. No longer are the days when we were terrified of playing at Breslin. No longer are the days where we hoped, PRAYED, for a season split in the series. No longer are the days when we watch Izzo lead his team deep in to March, while we either exited in the first round or didn’t make it at all. Those days are over.
Sparked by Stu’s three pointer on the right wing as the shot clock was winding down, sparked by Draymond missing a floater in the lane as time expired, sparked by Darius Morris shouting, “Get the F%$@ off my court”, sparked by Trey picking Appling’s pocket, and sparked by DEATH FROM ABOVE, a new era has begun.
Time to enjoy it.
EDIT: Mods feel free to delete and replace with a more generic one if you want.
when we won at their place, they felt like they played their best and still lost and they didn't know what to do. John Beilein is such a fantastic coach, can't wait to see what he comes up with today.
I'm not gonna lie. Now that Sparty lost, all I want is 1 more game so M can hang a banner. Anything beyond that is playing with house money as far as I'm concerned. It's super weird because I feel like they've overacheived for this year already but I think they could very well win the whole damn thing.
concur 100%
Well, they took out UVA, the team I really did not want to see come out of that side of the bracket. Not really afraid of Florida or UConn.
So, thanks.
I just haven't been that impressed watching them play. I don't think there's anything they can do to us that poses a huge problem. Looks like the same team that left our wingers wide open in the Elite 8 last year to me. I realize it's a bit different now that it's not Trey Burke and Mitch McGary together inside, but even against Dayton they didn't provide a whole ton of defensive pressure.
Presumably they would bother to guard Stauskas this year so they're a little more frightening, yes.
Wisconsin is the best team left. That big goofball center they have can flat out play basketball well, and they are loaded across the board. Wish they didn't know Beilein's offense from two meetings. But let's get there. If we lose today, I'm rooting for the Badgers. Would be good for the BiG to finally have a school other than UM/OSU/MSU win a national championship in one of the two main sports in the last 40 years.
"The Angry Inch"
Yo, can we win first before we talk shit?
Izzo actually sounds kind of relaxed. Must be different from he loses to someone other than us.
I'm waiting for us to win then I'll talk shit like crazy.
i think this is deserving of a LOL after all of the sparty butthurt of Michigan's sweet 16 victory over tennesee.
Clearly they suffered from jet lag.
We need to go out and win this game. It's all that is important for Michigan and so we don't have to listen to shit about the SEC.
Edit: Misunderstood. Carry on
Solace, bitches...
We just saw how sloppy play can sabbotage your year. MSU lost to UConn because they were careless with the ball way to often. Need to make sure this doesn't happen in the Michigan-Kentucky game. It is clear the refs will be swallowing the whistle, be ready!
First group of Izzo's seniors to not see a final four.
For anyone celebrating the loss of Payne and Appling, wait and see if we lose Stauskas, GRIII and McGary. That's a lot of talent to lose.
The team I worry about more than staee is Wisconsin, if all their kids come back.
Can someone lay out the likelihood of harris leaving? He and payne are the key pieces.
Here is what will happen.... Izzo announces he'll have a meeting with Harris to "discuss his options".... Harris will exit that meeting with green stars coming out of his ears & forming a green-sparkly-star-halo around his head.... His eyes will look like dollar signs ($ $), BUT without the hash marks (S S). He'll have a serene grin on his face for 3 days, as he repeatedly mumbles "I need to attain more maturity before I play in the NBA"...... It's the same thing EVERY FREAKING TIME! Izzo WILL NOT allow his players to leave early. Unless he doesn't like their attitude. And Izzo loves Harris' attitude.
Izzo could still get the whole team tickets to Jerry Stadium and keep his record of "taking" his team to final fours intact.
That is funny!
March 30th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
Did anybody else wonder if there might be a subtext for that that doesn't have anything to do with basketball?
I can imagine why there might be some off-court tension between the two.
Anyone else love Coach Ollie!!
UConn's win was a fluke...
If you look at Florida's scores on the season it is less than stellar. Look at how many close wins against Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State etc.
I know this place loves threads dissing on MSU, but UM is playing for a shot at another Final Four. I could not give less shits about MSU and their season right now.
Hearing Harris and Payne at the postgame press conference really makes me feel for them. Adreian is a great example of a program player. Came in as a high recruit but just wasn't prepared for big time college basketball. Put in work and really improved his game in every way possible. Kind wish there were more players like him (Napier is a good example of one). I've had my majority of encounters with douche sparty fans, still in saying that I know how they must all feel after this game, and I can't take joy in someone else feeling the way they probably feel. Just can't do it.
March 30th, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^
...all of them.
Dirk Nowitzki nods. "Ja."
not to sound racist but....
im not homophobic but....
I loved Izzo's post game interview. Starts rattling off excuses followed by "Not to take anything away from them." The guy can't open his mouth after a loss without a stream of extenuations pouring out.
Is anyone ever going to call him out on it? Ever? Just one single person in the media who is not affiliated with Michigan. One. Just once. Please. Just one time.
Me and my wife were playing 'everytime someone said injuries' during the interview...do a shot.
No shots were needed.