Unverified Voracity Goes Meep Meep
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Great googly moogly. When track goes viral this is the way it goes viral:
MUST WATCH FROM OVER THE WEEKEND:
— Michigan Athletics 〽️ (@UMichAthletics) January 18, 2021
Down by four seconds heading into the 4x400 relay anchor leg, @UMichTrack's Ziyah Holman blasts a 51.79 split to bring the Wolverines all the way back for the win.#GoBlue 〽️ pic.twitter.com/hMYo5C76bH
That was Holman's first meet. She did not go viral for winning the 600-meter race by over four seconds. The Olympics are a strong possibility.
[After THE JUMP: one line one line one line]
Bracketology items. The state of various bracket projections:
- Joe Lunardi has both Michigan and Iowa on the 1-line. Other Big Ten teams: 3-seed Wisconsin, 4 OSU, 5 Illinois, 6 Minnesota, 8 Purdue, 10 Indiana, 11 MSU. This was last updated the 19th so it doesn't have Purdue's win over OSU.
- Jerry Palm also has Michigan on the one line, with Iowa on the 2 line.
- SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean has Michigan on the one line.
Michigan and Iowa on the one line is also the Bracket Matrix consensus. Bart Torvik's T-Ranketology, which projects final records, has Michigan on the one line as well; it deviates from the consensus by putting Houston up there as well. T-Ranketology is interesting because it's an algorithm that doesn't have things like "Duke and MSU should be good"* baked into its head like humans do. Therefore Duke—a first four out team to the Matrix—is the 14th team out and MSU—an 11 on BM—the 12th team out. Those are amongst the biggest deviances in the T-Rank bracket.
On the women's side, ESPN's Charlie Creme continues to slide Michigan upward. They've made the 3 line on his latest.
*[Or at least not much. They're getting some bump from their historical performance in T-Rank itself, though that is steadily dropping as more games come in.]
Indiana's issue. Eamonn Brennan in the Athletic about why Indiana can't get any traction in the Big Ten:
Indiana's second-half shot chart is pic.twitter.com/A7UJ3pReKU
— Eamonn Brennan (@eamonnbrennan) January 15, 2021
That was posted with like 30 seconds left in the game; Indiana took six 3s in the second half. It missed all of them. More pressingly, though, only one of those six 3s came before garbage time — a short-armed, totally confidence-free hoist by freshman wing Trey Galloway. That was it: 18-minutes plus of basketball, one 3-point attempt.
Before that lone shot went up four minutes into the second half, Galloway caught the ball on the right wing, a step or two behind the line, as totally wide-open as any player could ever ask to be. He didn’t even look at the rim. Instead, he held the ball for a moment, waited for Jackson-Davis to flash and then passed it to him; Jackson-Davis turned, got to his left hand, ran into three defenders and forced up a miss off the glass. By design or not, whether because of that cold first half or not, that possession defined the make-or-break portions of IU’s night. Not only did the Hoosiers refuse to take perimeter shots, but they also barely shot outside a couple of feet.
A team with Trayce Jackson-Davis should be able to manufacture good perimeter looks but the Hoosiers are 11th in the Big Ten at hitting 3s and 12th at getting them up.
Another world. Also from Brennan, his latest power rankings discuss what Nate Oats has done at Alabama:
— No Context College Basketball (@ContextFreeCBB) January 20, 2021
As much praise as Oats is getting lately, and rightfully so, it doesn’t take a basketball genius to diagnose what’s going on here. Oats’ preferred style of play was evident last season, though in his first year in Tuscaloosa, he was willing to compromise slightly to make it work. This season the pieces are in place, so Alabama is ramping things up to the extreme edges of analytic maximization. This is full-on Mike D’Antoni/James Harden Rockets style offense: playing fast, strictly outlawing midrange jumpers and making sure every shot happens at the rim or behind the 3-point line. Just 9.9 percent of Alabama’s attempts are classified as 2-point jumpers, per Hoop-Math.com, a number out on the far statistical extremes. It’s a shot Alabama simply does not take.
Oats is a Michigan native who probably would have been under consideration for the job if he hadn't already taken the 'Bama job when Beilein went to the Cavs. (Despite Oats's move there were rumors to the effect that he might still be interested.)
I've caught bits and pieces of Alabama games and kind of thought they were bad because they feel like a bad team: go super fast, try to stay out of half-court, and jack up a ton of threes. But they're 11th on Kenpom! They're treating the SEC approximately like Michigan is treating the Big Ten.
A fascinating guy. Longtime OC Tony Franklin had been at Middle Tennessee for a few years, but this season broke him:
“I USED TO FIGHT FOR WHATS RIGHT AND STAND UP,” he wrote March 19 in his personal notes, which he shared with The Washington Post, along with emails, text messages and other documentation of his efforts to raise concerns to superiors. “BUT THIS IS AN EASY JOB AND I JUST NEED A FEW MORE YEARS AT THIS INCOME.” …
“We are wrong bringing these kids back,” Franklin wrote. “I will personally tell each player on offense to only come back if this is a place they feel safer and that they need shelter.”
Massaro reminded Franklin that the school’s policies were changing by the day and encouraged him not to do anything rash. He also cautioned Franklin “to not be insubordinate” and that the athletic department “will not tolerate opposite messaging.”
Franklin's done coaching.
Brandon Johns attempts to hit the on-ramp again. Jared Greenspan in the Daily on Michigan's most mercurial player:
Each game, Johns’s breakout performances prompted the same question: Has he turned the corner? And each time, the ensuing games revealed that he had not.
In Tuesday’s win over Maryland, Johns again showcased his potential. He tallied a season-high 11 points and four rebounds across 13 minutes, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. Mental lapses — so often the defining characteristic of Johns’s play — were absent.
“Brandon’s thing early on was that he wasn’t locked in,” senior forward Isaiah Livers said. “His name was called, he just wasn’t ready. Now, he’s anticipating his name called and coming to get me as my first sub. You can see it in his eyes. I just love it. That’s the thing I’ve seen from his freshman year. He’s locked in and ready to go.”
Everyone's infected at MSU. A rather staggering number from Brendan Quinn:
To date, 12 players on Michigan State’s 15-man roster have tested positive at one point or another. Some were back in the preseason. Sophomore forward Malik Hall is known to have faced a bout back in August. There have been others along the way. Izzo tested positive in early November.
At least once the get up and going against they won't go back on pause? In the article Izzo asserts that they're going to have 14 games in a 32- or 33-day span, which means the Big Ten is hellbent on getting those games in. More one-day turnarounds are in the offing.
NFL draft items. Kwity Paye checks in 11th on PFF's board:
Paye has everything you could want physically to be an every-down problem in the NFL. While he never put it altogether at Michigan, he’s shown he can take to coaching and has made strides every single year.
Jalen Mayfield is 65th; Cam McGrone is 86th.
Etc.: How basketball is handling COVID. Empty ball screens explained. Hammer and Rails previews the Purdue-M game from the Boiler perspective.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:16 PM ^
Just want to point out that Ziyah Holman is/was (no clue if it’s still a thing) Hunter Dickinson’s girlfriend from high school, for those who remember her commitment to Michigan being noted as a plus in getting Hunter to Ann Arbor.
Quite an incredible couple for athleticism.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:33 PM ^
I was wondering why her name sounded vaguely familiar...
January 21st, 2021 at 4:09 PM ^
Ms. Holman is an amazing athlete. Such a long, powerful, yet effortless stride. I can see why she is a potential Olympic runner.
Go Ziyah and Go Blue!!!!
January 21st, 2021 at 9:04 PM ^
Watching her run that track and the time she made up and blew away the leaders was quite incredible.
January 21st, 2021 at 5:07 PM ^
Go Hoppers and Go Blue!
January 21st, 2021 at 8:09 PM ^
Hunter is very tall and very skilled but I would venture to say she is a much better athlete.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:33 PM ^
Tony Franklin’s documentation = Jerry Maguire’s mission statement
January 21st, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
I think he even went to a coaches convention & yelled "Who's with me?!"
Crickets...?
January 21st, 2021 at 3:35 PM ^
I watch quite a bit of IU basketball. They don't have anyone who can hit threes at better than 30%, and they haven't had such a player since probably Yogi Farrell.
What IU needs more than anything is a new coach. Their team offense is just as inept as it was under Crean but the recruiting has been worse. Archie Miller seems to sign raw one-and-dones and high 3 stars, a terrible combination of discontinuity and mediocre talent (Jackson-Davis is the exception to this).
Also, Kristian Lander is a really young freshman, but he's completely out of his league at the moment. He makes Zeb Jackson look like a seasoned veteran. He'll get better but it's hard to see him getting so much better that he will justify his recruiting ranking.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:03 PM ^
I don't know enough about Archie Miller to say, but wasn't this supposed to be a solid hire? He had a pretty great record at Dayton. What changed between then and now, other than IU apparently being where up-and-coming coaches now go to die?
January 21st, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^
Yes. Crean was also considered a good hire. I don't know what exactly has happened but imo there are a lot of similarities between IU basketball and Michigan football.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:16 PM ^
Yes, lots of similarities. Probably the closest comparable program in either football or bball.
And Crean was their Harbaugh.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:54 PM ^
IU offense inept under Crean?
KenPom Offensive rankings:
2017: 27
2016: 6
2015: 8
2014: 126
2013: 2
2012: 4
2011: 61
2010: 190
2009: 231
2008: 29
Tom Crean generally had elite offense at Indiana. He took over a mediocre program and had a good 1st year but cratered in the next 3 years before finally getting his full roster of his guys. I'm not sure why you thought Indiana offense was not good under Crean
January 21st, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
Inept is too strong of a word. But there was often a lack of a coherent system and poor execution in end-of-game situations.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:12 PM ^
The right high 3-stars would be fine if they could shoot, but they can't. Beilein made a living with high 3-star / low 4-stars.
January 21st, 2021 at 9:03 PM ^
it's amazing to me that IU and PU can't find bunches of shooters, given all the talent in that state. been that way for years. other than the purdue run a couple years ago.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:35 PM ^
Purdue has had shooters, though. Stefanovic is one of the best pure shooters in the conference right now and Ryan Cline was even better. They're both Indiana guys. Carsen Edwards was their Yogi Farrell/Trey Burke. Painter is just a better coach. Also important to understand that IU is THE program in the state, so he has a harder job.
January 22nd, 2021 at 6:25 AM ^
Dude you anti-jinxed them as they hit 47% of their 3's last night to beat Iowa by 12 on the road. Nice work!
January 21st, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
I mean, think about that track video. You're a B1G level track athlete. Running as the anchor in a compeditive meet. This girls BLOWS by you, making up half the track (or more?). in a 400m leg - not a miler.
Just tells you how much better Olympic level athletes are; the top 1% of the top 1% of the top 1%.
January 21st, 2021 at 5:12 PM ^
For reference, the slowest qualifying time for the US 2016 400m team was 50.17s. Olympic trials are definitely a possibility here.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:19 PM ^
It's possible the opponents didn't have their fastest runners anchoring. Not uncommon to try to get a huge lead when you're going up against such a blazing anchor like that.
But yeah, she fast.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
Does Charlie pronounce his name CREEM or CREM?
January 21st, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^
cre-MAY
Actually, I have no idea. I'd guess CREM. But then, I also pronounce "niche" as "neesh"
January 21st, 2021 at 3:42 PM ^
On Nate Oats, I have doubts he would fit in very well at UM.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:11 PM ^
Yeah this was discussed during the search. Not a good fit. I think Sam Webb said as much
January 21st, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^
Not sure what those reasons would be, and I was skeptical of him out of Buffalo, but that shot chart is a thing of absolute beauty. To have Bama knocking on the door of the top 10 in year two is crazy impressive.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
I would say it’s less about basketball, more about personal beliefs.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:43 PM ^
Izzo has to be SO excited to have a built in excuse for if they don't make the tournament. Just keep dropping the "14 games in 32 days" line and everyone will forget that they already aren't any good....
January 21st, 2021 at 7:32 PM ^
Their tourney streak either continues or it doesn’t. The only excuse that could have any meaning is if they don’t play the minimum 13 games (they’re one away).
January 21st, 2021 at 3:56 PM ^
I can't wait for the B1G's totally unpublished criteria for rescheduling postponed games resulting in MSU only having to play bottom half B1G teams to make sure their tourney streak doesn't end.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:59 PM ^
Oats is more of a Wisconsin native (he grew up and went to college there) but he did coach Romulus HS for a decade.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:01 PM ^
I've caught a couple of Alabama games as well and they look like that shot chart conveys, though it should be noted that the SEC isn't particularly good this year so that probably helps the optics a bit. I do think his style would work at UM pretty well, though I still prefer Howard over basically anyone at this point.
I assume MSU will make the tournament but they really are bad this year.
January 21st, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
Spoiler alert: Sparty isn't going to make the tournament. They are about as good as Maryland.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:23 PM ^
I just can't see a world where Duke and MSU don't make the NCAA tournament. Yet here we are.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:28 PM ^
Don't jinx it
January 21st, 2021 at 4:14 PM ^
Michigan's 3rd runner looks SO slow compared to Ziyah
January 21st, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
I feel like this is third or so time that article has been written about Johns. I have respect for him being honest about his confidence issues, but they seem to recur year after year.
He's certainly physically talented, so I hope it clicks & sticks, but it goes to show how important the mental aspect of the game is.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^
Pretty good Hammer and Rails article. Interesting to read their perspective.
Go Blue!
January 21st, 2021 at 4:53 PM ^
The fan comments are interesting. They seem to think Beilein recruited four-year guys. I don’t know if they realize how many early departures we had in his tenure.
I like that Livers is a “How does he still have eligibility?” guy for opposing fans.
January 21st, 2021 at 5:28 PM ^
Beilein's recruiting usually looked like guys that would be four-year guys or at least multi-year but the staff was good at development and Beilein's scouting was bonkers good.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:32 PM ^
Beilein did recruit four year guys. He just turned a lot of them into two or three year guys though. None of them even had freshman seasons suggesting they'd be early departures except Burke and Brazdeikis.
Most didn't even play (Wilson, Wagner, Levert, etc) as freshmen.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:34 PM ^
Thanks for the track videos.
Veritable wowness... Such a strong, lovely, fluid grace in her movement...
Ziyah Holman... slaying 'em.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:42 PM ^
Grateful for the track post. It went pretty viral amongst us UM fans.
It was an amazing finish to the race.
There were several track and field specular performances that meet.
Wings on Feet.
Go Blue.
January 21st, 2021 at 4:59 PM ^
86th That sounds right on McGrone. A bunch of palookas here been saying he goes in 5th round. No chance. He's a second rounder.
January 21st, 2021 at 6:30 PM ^
There are 32 teams in the NFL.
Just saying
January 21st, 2021 at 5:27 PM ^
Love the Holman video. As I noted when it came up in a Board posting, I especially love that for nearly 15 seconds, she so far behind that no other runner is in the picture.
January 21st, 2021 at 7:27 PM ^
I read the Hammer and Rails preview. Zero mention of M defense. Me thinks they don't understand basketball, or sports in general, for that matter.
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