Michigan a 6 seed in latest Joe Lunardi Bracketology
Michigan has jumped to a 6 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology. If they keep playing like they have been, they'll be a dangerous out.
Purdue is now a 1, MSU is a 3 and OSU is a 6.
To think that we could very easily be undefeated in the B1G right now. Should have beat both OSU and Purdue. Huge games that we "should have" won.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^
I hope they can work up to a 3 or a 4 and get a good bracket setup
January 15th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
Is it a board custom to down vote all new accounts?
January 15th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
Oh, you don't know about MGoBlog's fine hazing tradition? Let me break down some of the highlights for you:
Post a thread about something that's already been posted? That's a paddlin'.
Approve of WD's wardrobe and clothes hangers? That's a paddlin'.
Bring up anymore MSU 3-9 jokes? That's a paddlin'.
Bring up politics and/or religion? Ohh you'd better believe that's a paddlin'.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:34 PM ^
And paddlin' the school canoe?
January 15th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
Is Trump considered a politician, or a reality show personality here?
January 15th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
that's a paddlin'
January 15th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^
that's about a good as we could get from a 3-seed. They're not that good. They beat us at home on the nat'l title banner raising day on a bounce-back from the MSU loss (you're big on the bounce-back games) in our annual road game in which we don't put in a good effort on the road.
They've since lost to Wofford and FSU. With Livers playing the majority of minutes on Maye (as opposed to what we had on him the first time around), on a neutral court, I would welcome this matchup.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 12:51 PM ^
Both teams were on fire early in that game. Michigan couldn't keep up that pace and UNC couldn't miss, which is when they pulled away before the half. It was even in the second half. UNC came into that game after getting curb-stomped by sparty, and were at home. At that time we were still trying to figure out what Michigan was as a team.
January 15th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^
...Michigan was 7 of 14 from 3 and made 7 of 12 of their 2s, missed both of their only free throw attempts. Conversely, NC was 5 of 9 from 3 and 13 of 18 inside the arc and made 5 of 6 free throws. Based on that, Michigan should have been down by more than 20, heck of a shooting half by NC.
It was only their 8th game and their first true road game. I'm thinking that things might look a little different, a second time around, on a neutral court.
January 15th, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
I love it when people take the time to get the facts before replying. Thank you for your service.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
I want to believe MSU is falling apart after the last week, and I would love that. But why do I have a feeling Izzo will have them playing like world beaters come tourney. I am not saying I think they'll win it all - I don't think that at all - but I could see them as a 1 or 2-seed and a "darkhorse" pick for winning the whole thing.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
Because Izzo will have them tournament-ready by March. But Beilein should have this team cranking on all cylinders by March too. 538 did an analysis of the top NCAA Tourney overperformers a few years back, and both Beilein and Izzo were right at the top of the list.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:11 PM ^
because that will bring down his stats by a significant margin
January 15th, 2018 at 2:29 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
the original nate silver piece was published in 2010. that was apex izzo, his 6th final four in 15 seasons. if you can stomach it, 538 used the same "wins above expected" regression to declare in 2015: "Tom Izzo Is The Best Coach In Modern NCAA Tournament History — By Far." at that time, beilein was 8th on the list.
i didn't see any update for 2016, but izzo going down to MTSU is gonna hurt his WAE. not sure on beilein winning the play-in game, but his WAE didn't get worse. last year beilein picks up some more points while izzo breaks even at best.
it's an interesting way to evaluate and izzo deserves his reputation as a great. but 7 final fours and only 1 title is a fair knock against him and in this metric coach k's 4 titles appear basically meaningless because they're always a top seed and have faced some early exits. pretty big stretch to use this particular analysis to call him "the best."
January 15th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
+1 Informative
January 15th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
Michigan beat them already. That helps the resume. If Michigan faces them in the B1G Tournament, it will be late, so Michigan's seed will likely already be pretty locked in. If Michigan beats them twice, it can only help.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
And even if they do, so what?
If MSU starts setting the world on fire, Michigan has already beaten them and has a GREAT resume-builder for the tournament. And if they fall apart, we get to revel in their misery. Much like they do with watching our football team for the better part of the last decade.
No matter what MSU does from here on out, it's win-freakin'-win for Michigan.
January 15th, 2018 at 5:20 PM ^
MSU usually ends up in the easiest or second easiest region, while it seems like we get draw the region of doom.
They will end up in a region with the most beatable #1 seed and a bunch of mid-majors.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:27 AM ^
WE WANT BAMA
January 15th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
Just creates hype and revenue. Whether we are seeded as a No. 2 seed or No. 11 seed, it shouldn't affect how well the team plays. Just win the damn games.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:37 AM ^
Well, it does kind of matter if you're playing a really good opponent or not.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^
We won't be a 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 seed, so we won't have to worry about playing a juggernaut in the first round. Teams from the 6 to 11 seed range are all pretty equal in talent. Last year three No. 6 seeds lost to an 11 seed in the first round.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
It's not the first round most of us are thinking about.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
huge benefit to not being an 8 or a 9 seed, and a little bit to not being a 4 or a 5 as well. Better to be an 11 than an 8 or a 6 instead of a 5.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:52 AM ^
Whether we are a 6 seed or an 11 seed, we will still have to play a 3 seed in the second round.
Whether we are a 7 seed or a 10 seed, we will still have to play a 2 seed in the second round.
Whether we are an 8 seed or a 9 seed, we will still have to play a 1 seed in the second round.
The seeding doesn't affect the difficulty of the tournament schedule, unless you are a 1-4 seed. Which we will not be.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:06 PM ^
a 6 seed would play a 3 seed in the 2nd round, where an 8 or 9 seed would play a 1 seed. Therefore, a 6 seed has a better chance of making the sweet 16 than an 8 or 9 seed, right? We should be pleased with moving up the seed line, correct?
January 15th, 2018 at 12:15 PM ^
But, a 6 seed would play a 2 seed in the third round, while an 8 or 9 seed would play a 4 or 5 in the third round. It evens out.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
Here's the thing. The objective is to get as easy a draw in the opening weekend as possible. From the Sweet 16 onward is a crapshoot. It's harder to project that far, and you're probably going to play a good team by then, regardless.
Also, this year we have a chance to play the first two rounds in Detroit if we're a high enough seed.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:32 PM ^
A 6 seed might play a 2 in the second weekend, or they might play a 7. Or a 10.
But 8/9 seeds are guaranteed one of the top four teams in the country in the second game. Getting to the second weekend is really tough. Occasionally Michigan mugs Louisville; occasionally they run into Kyrie Irving.
January 15th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
Neck yourself? Is that some new young person slang?
January 15th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
How bout.....no, Scott?
January 15th, 2018 at 12:27 PM ^
8 seed sees a 1 seed in second round of first weekend.
6 seed gets a 3 seed at same point and doesn't see a 1 seed until Elite 8.
But yeah, seeding makes no difference.
January 15th, 2018 at 12:39 PM ^
It's also possible that the 3 seed will be upset by the 14 in the first round (happens once in a while) whereas the 1 seed has literally never lost to the 16.
So besides getting an easier first-round game, being the 6 seed could potentially bring you a favorable second-round matchup whereas the 8 seed is virtually guaranteed a brutal one.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
He's not in that position anymore. 2017 was his last year.
January 15th, 2018 at 5:24 PM ^
im sure msu will get an overrated higher-seeded virginia in their bracket again like they always do. a team that just slogs it out and plays into sparties hands.
January 15th, 2018 at 5:33 PM ^
I don't know if this team can handle a UVA style of play. I think they're better off playing teams that think defense is options (aka Kansas).
January 15th, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^
I also like how we were able to withstand some of the bigs getting into early foul trouble. That was one thing I was worried about going into Saturday's game.
There were 3 fouls on Teske and 1 on Wagner before the first TV timeout (I was surprised that Beilein left Teske in after 2)...hell MSU was in the bonus by the 15 minute mark after Davis got his first.