Will UM BB Surpass The 16-0 Record?
After a slow start the basketball team destroyed iowa. Will this team eclipse the 16-0 start established by the '85-'86 squad? In order to do so, they will have to beat tsio on the road. To extend the record they then have to beat Minny on the road; daunting work, but I think these kids can pull it off; your thoughts?
Next 3 games:
| Wed., Jan. 9 |
vs. Nebraska *  |
Crisler Center | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Sun., Jan. 13 |
at Ohio State * |
Columbus, Ohio | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| Thu., Jan. 17 |
at Minnesota * |
Minneapolis, Minn. | 6:00 p.m. CT |
January 6th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 8:03 PM ^
Not to be the (hopefully unnecessary) buzzkill, but I think the pertinent question is will the team get to 16-0. Last year's Nebraska team beat Indiana. Granted we're playing at home and are better than last year's Indiana team, this conference is very good and very deep - even Nebraska has some athletes that can steal a game. Purdue just beat Illinois, who absolutely crushed OSU. We got bounced by a terrible Iowa team last year unexpectedly.
I'm hoping that Trey's and the rest of the upperclassmen's (thus far phenomenal) leadership makes sure that everyone's expectations stay in check and the team takes one game at a time. Every team has us circled on the schedule right now, especially the Nebraska's and Penn State's who really will push it to try to prove they're not bottomfeeders. One game lost and the entire conference championship could be out of reach. I would hate to see them take it to OSU next Sunday only to have it resonate as a makeup win for an ugly home loss. Again, the team has seemed humble enough to know this. Just a reiteration.
That being said, once we beat Nebraska, I'm more worried about Minnesota than OSU. I have them as being better than Indiana at this point (caveat being they're only up 17-14 home against Northwestern right now).
January 6th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 8:37 PM ^
I totally agree. I just hope Stauskas, GRIII, McGary, Levert, and Spike don't see this enormously talented team and insane expectations and take it for granted. They're 14-0 because they've worked their tails off.
Minnesota woke up. Hollins just hit 5 threes in a row and they're up 20+. And Mbakwe is scary.
January 6th, 2013 at 8:07 PM ^
While dribbling out the clock Burke will make a 3 at the buzzer to rub it in. When asked 'why did you shoot the 3 at the end of the game?" He will reply "I couldn't go for 4."
January 6th, 2013 at 8:13 PM ^
Some of Ohio's faithful don't give them much of a shot. It's nice to be on this side of that feeling for a change.
Unfortunately, the Buckeyes are probably going to get throttled next Sunday.
— Miles 11W (@Miles11W) January 6, 2013
January 6th, 2013 at 8:15 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 8:30 PM ^
One thing that intrigued me, when I was looking at the Massey Ratings site earlier, is that the prediction for a win against Nebraska is 98% and a road win against Ohio State is currently 55%. If these are in the ballpark at all, that makes the probability of both games being wins, by this model, about 54%. Not being out of any game you play potentially is an excellent problem to have and I definitely think we have a shot at this. We're just that good, in my opinion.
January 6th, 2013 at 8:42 PM ^
I, too, found myself just chuckling in the second half today at the game. Once Stauskas dunked it got silly.
January 6th, 2013 at 8:44 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 8:50 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
I need this board to work better! What if Green commits or something!
January 6th, 2013 at 9:30 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
Everyone has a few back-to-backs (and at least one back-to-back-to-back) against really tough teams, with one or more of them on the road. Our toughest is @IU, OSU, @UW, @MSU. Splitting those four games would go a long way to playing IU at Crisler for the B10 title.
As others have noted, hold home court, and win more games on the road than you lose. That leaves you 14-4 in conference. That makes Minnesota a more important game than OSU (who we get later at Crisler). I also think that they are the better team right now. That said, beat the Bucks and try to get two tough ones early on. I think that this team will improve more than most in the B10 over the course of the year. Although it's hard to keep in mind while watching them, the freshman should continue to get better. Stausakas and GRIII have shown that already, and today might have been McGary's coming out party.
January 6th, 2013 at 10:23 PM ^
Hopefully the rest of the BIG "bottom feeders" give a lot of trouble to OSU, Ill, Sparty, Minny, and IU which I foresee. Purdue and Wisco will be tough matchups on the road for teams IMO
January 6th, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
January 6th, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
I believe Michigan will win their next two, and have the record for the best start ever. Nebraska we can look beyond.
Both Michigan and Ohio will be well rested, with games on Tuesday and Wednesday. But I think Burke especially, will be highly, highly motivated to win in Columbus. I'm sure LeVert feels the same way.
After Ohio, who knows? I do agree with those who think we could go into Assembly Hall undefeated. It isn't that I want Michigan to ever lose, but I hope the Hoosiers put up a good fight. However, that's irrelevant to the question at hand: this team will improve on the 16 - 0 record.
January 7th, 2013 at 12:19 AM ^
This team hasn't come close to reaching it's potential. Every game so far has had elements wherein there is vast room for improvement. Too many missed layups by Morgan..correctable. Defense, vast room for improvement. They probably run into a better defensive team and then the light comes on concerning defense. If they becoma a great defensive team, they win the national championship.
January 7th, 2013 at 12:32 AM ^
Yes, they surpass the 16 game mark. This team is one of the rare teams that is the only team capable of beating it(self). Michigan has the potential to beat anyone in college basketball if they are mentally in attack mode. If they get out of sync mentally (allow a team to get in their heads), they can be beat.
January 7th, 2013 at 1:26 AM ^
they end the season with at least a 6 game winning streak.
January 7th, 2013 at 2:29 AM ^
I've been so impressed with this team, I really don't see them losing to anyone anywhere besides maybe Indiana at Assembly Hall. I love this undefeated streak, but I also love that if we do lose it can immediately be spun as a positive in that the team doesn't have that pressure of maintaining the unbeaten record.
January 7th, 2013 at 2:32 AM ^
January 7th, 2013 at 2:40 AM ^
Don't ever underestimate the power of college basketball home cookin officiating. There is no sport in all of sports where officials take more poetic license than in college baskeball. A charge on the road is a blocking foul at home. A blocking foul on the road is a non-foul nudge at home.
I usually spot home teams about 10-15 points based on officiating alone.
That said, can M win at Columbus and Minny? Yes, but the refs will not be there to help.
I expect losses and will be very excited if we win.
January 8th, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^
I have more doubts about a win over Minnesota than over OSU right now.