A Final Word On OHIO
FIGHT!
We've previewed the Bobcats, talked with people who've seen a lot of them, and revisited OHIO with some keys and questions. Meanwhile, the rest of the Michigan blogosphere has done the same. Maize and Brew already assembled the linkdump, so here it is:
Ohio has been covered well across the Michigan blogosphere, from here (Impressions From Ohio vs. Akron, Quick Ohio Profile, Breaking Down Ohio with MAC Report Online, Breaking Down Ohio with the Hustle Belt) UMHoops (Film Room: Scouting Ohio, Film Room: Ohio's Defense, Opposition Q&A, Presser Transcript) and MGoBlog (Death From Above, Another Q&A with the Hustle Belt, Scouting OHIO) in particular. The content during this past week has been fantastic, and there's been no shortage of information on a relatively unknown opponent.
If you don't know about the Bobcats by now, you will never ever know the Bobcats.
The assumption of most of the mainstream guys is that the game hinges on the one-on-one matchup between Trey Burke and DJ Cooper. That seems overblown to me since it's Stu Douglass who is likely to get the Cooper assignment and Michigan switches constantly on screens anyway. Also, a zone is a strong possibility at some point.
To me, Michigan needs to rotate well enough to prevent Cooper from getting too many easy looks or creating them for his teammates. I assume Michigan has a plan; we'll see how it works. On offense, either Hardaway has to continue his late-season resurgence or Beilein ball shreds an aggressive, risk-taking defense.
Predictions are stupid. Hope to be back with muppets around 10.
Would winning this game warrant muppets? I'm not taking a win for granted by any means, but Michigan is the favorite and has been to the Round of 32 in two of the last three years. A Sweet Sixteen birth would certainly call for muppets, but I'm not sure if muppets tonight would belittle or embiggen Michigan and its fans.
I completely agree. I only opened the comments to say the same thing.
Beating a 13 seed is not Muppet worthy. Should we storm the court too if we win?
+1 - IMO, save the Muppets for truly momentous accomplishments, lest we cheapen their meaning, or the joy of bringing them to life. I say, if we advance to the sweet 16, which we haven't done in way too long, that's definitely Muppets-worthy. But, I think we should be able to expect first*-round victories at this point.
*first = NCAA's second.
Since they are the real Ohio shouldn't it be Ohio (YTO). In Hoke's mind they probably are Ohio (NTO) . This stuff gets confusing.
Seems like a good place for this.
Hoke calls them "Bobcats" for the record. Also, Muppets are warranted. A tournament win is a tournament win is a tournament win. It is something we should celebrate. Look at all the teams that don't get a tournament win and how devastated the kids look. It's not something that works out for everyone. I say celebrate with muppets.
See above.
You denegrate the Muppets repeatedly.
Please stop.
Singed,
Jim Henson from the grave............
Why is Jim "singed"? Was there a fire?
He was cremated and his ashes were scattered around Santa Fe, NM.
Maybe we should save the muppets for when they cover and make their fanbase some money?
Pretty clear Brian's belief and expectations for this team are nil.
March 16th, 2012 at 10:19 PM ^
Well don't you feel like the fucking asshole?
Is lower than Michigan's doesn't mean they aren't worthy of feeling accomplished for beating them. Mizzou would love to have Muppets after plaing Norfolk St. I understand where you guys are coming from, but a Tourney win is a Tourney win: Awesome! Michigan isn't Duke yet, where wins are automatic. This has nothing to do with belief/confidence in our team; these boys are amazing so no one is doubting them (I don't think). Again, a Tourney win will feel good tonight for many. Bring on whatever celebration comes!
March 17th, 2012 at 12:31 AM ^
Kentucky...
Making the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1994 would be Muppet-worthy. Making the round of 32 for the first time since . . . . last year? Nah.
... to withdraw my objection? :-(
Congratulations to Ohio. In a weird way, it's nice to be this upset about a loss in the NCAAs again. Duke hurt last year, but only because we were so close when my expectations were so low.
March 16th, 2012 at 10:12 PM ^
I'm kinda wondering what happened around the time of the Purdue loss at home that threw this team off their game. Never looked the same on defense or offense after that.
March 16th, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^
I think the grind of playing heavy minutes finally wore the starters down. We played good D most of the year without having any shotblockers or guys who were great at jumping the passing lanes. It was just old-school hustle. But at the end of the year we seemed a step slower than before.
March 16th, 2012 at 11:44 PM ^
March 17th, 2012 at 12:23 AM ^
The home loss to Purdon't was ugly. Beilein teams have been somewhat ugly on offense but at least DECENT on defense. Starting with that home finale loss, we really struggled holding teams on D. The OT win vs. Minny was a bad omen.
Plain old sucks tonight - but with a self-medicated combination of Guinness and Merlot (I'm drinking whatever is in our cupboard, so sorry for the weird mix of beverages!) and a YouTube replay of that 40-34 win over the REAL Ohio, I'll be happy when I finally run out of alcohol that's not part of NyQuil and crash for the evening.
March 17th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
March 17th, 2012 at 12:21 AM ^
Ohio made a name for itself.
They would never had been so motivatied without Hoke & Beeline blowing 12 months of "Ohio" smoke.
The Ohio University College of Knowledge- Columbus will treat the Ann Arbor Kollege of Knowledge Fooseball team in the same manner as the Bobcats drained your BBall posers.
Hoke's "ohio" drivel is offically checkmated!!!!!!!
March 17th, 2012 at 12:25 AM ^
Or maybe they just won a close basketball game and it had nothing to do with the butthurt experienced by Buckeye fans.
March 17th, 2012 at 12:35 AM ^
You need a visit to your nearest proctologist.
The butthurt is localized in and around Ann Arbor.
But you are either unfortunate enough to be from Ohio or just stupid enough to be a fan of Ohio, and that is something you are stuck with for life.
kthnxbye
Tough loss, sad to see Novak and Stu leave, those guys have a lot of heart and soul. Best of luck to them with their next venture.
Great season though, share of that title, huge recruits coming in, we are set nicely. Just need to take that next step to becoming an elite program and I have all the confidence in the world that will happen.
Love this team
All In!
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