What win would be most important for Michigan Saturday?
- Hockey getting a banner.
- Women's hoops avoiding a major upset and keeping up their chances for a deep run.
- Men's hoops getting to Sweet 16.
If we could only have one, my personal preference would be for the men to get to the Sweet 16. From an objective standpoint, it probably is the least important.
[edit: Thread title tweaked to read "Saturday" rather than "today". -rob f]
Women's hoops for sure, IMO. Having that program continue to ascend to new heights, both for the long term and because Naz deserves to leave this place with another new high in the tournament.
I'll add that there were several years recently where Michigan had a decent season but didn't get the invite partly due to not having national respect. That is changing but a first round loss as a #3 seed would be a significant set back.
March 18th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
I echo this comment. It would be great for them to make a run.
I'll take all 3 thanks
I hate making decisions. All of them. I want all of them. Also, moar cow bell!
#3. Hockey getting a "conference tourney" banner cant be the ceiling for the team. a loss sucks but its not the end of the season. might even inspire them for the hockey tourney.
women have been scuttling a bit since a few big wins. theyve lost a lot recently and it wouldnt be shocking. that said, if they do lose, then it shows they havent fully taken that step forward to be in the 2nd tier of elite women's teams...
Sweet 16 for Michigan means that in a season where we looked like dogshit, the team still made it to the top 16 and would build immense confidence for next year.
Also.. Kentucky!. hahahahahahahahahahahahahaah
I refuse your premise. I want all three.
What would be the combined payout if you took all three to win/cover at the sportsbook?
March 18th, 2022 at 10:04 AM ^
All sports being equal it’s Women’s bball because losing would cost them their chance to do something significant. Hockey Big Ten Tournament is second because it’s a banner but it’s barely ahead of Men’s bball because that actually ends their season, but their run is destined to be short.
However, the sports aren’t equal, so it’s Football 1, Men’s Basketball 2 for everything ever.
March 18th, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
Michigan mens bball may be frustrating, but if they find a way to win on saturday - i think unlikely - its hard for me to say that we dont have a chance to make more noise. I'm not afraid of Nova. Illinois and Zona beat the crap out of us, but htat would be for a trip to the FF. Tenn is the hardest game until the elite 8.
Interestng that the top half of the bracket has 3 teams that beat us. And also interesting that i dont really want a crack at any of them again - except SH!
March 18th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
I’m going to WBB because it’s local and I’ve been following the team since KBA was hired and the progress is exciting but I think I’m most passionate about ice hockey and want to see us take out the upside down W’s.
As a college hockey fan, beating Minnesota at their place for the Big Ten championship would be great. A Big Ten title for the women’s gymnastics team also would be great. BUT conference championships won’t help Michigan where it counts most for NATIONAL recognition.
The most important thing for the Michigan Athletics Department’s overall standings is gaining points in NATIONAL championships for the Learfield Directors Cup. As of now, Michigan ranks third in those standings with 354 points, behind surprise leader Brigham Young University (368 points) and Notre Dame (360 points) and ahead of Wisconsin (339.50 points) and Penn State (298 points). LINK
Women’s gymnastics, hockey and wrestling have the best chances now to add to Michigan’s Learfield Directors Cup standing. In wrestling, Penn State had the lead in points last night and Michigan was in fourth, but Michigan had seven wrestlers to Penn State’s four still competing in the main bracket. Michigan wrestlers into the semifinals are Myles Amine (184), Logan Massa (174), Cam Amine (165), Will Lewan (157) and Nick Suriano (125). Seventh-seed Mason Parris (285) lost in the quarterfinals to Arizona State's second-seed Cohlton Schultz and sixth-seed Dylan Ragusin lost 8-7 to Arizona State’s third seed Michael McGee.
Considering how the men’s basketball team is on a win-one, lose-one streak, as much as upsetting a strong Tennessee team would be great, after watching Tennessee, while I may hope for the upset, I don’t see that as being very likely. I’ll be most interested in seeing how the women’s basketball team, losers of four of their past six games, responds. They need a major confidence booster.
I think it comes down to what sport you probably like the most. For me would want to see hockey win