Performances of past play-in teams
- Lost to 5 West Virginia, 84-76
- Beat 6 Georgetown, 74-56
- Beat 3 Purdue, 94-76
- Beat 10 Florida State, 72-71
- Beat 1 Kansas, 71-61
- Lost to 8 Butler, 70-62 (Final Four)
- Lost to 3 Marquette, 88-68
- Beat 5 Temple, 58-44
- Lost to 13 Ohio, 62-56
- Beat 4 Kansas State, 63-61
- Beat 6 Arizona, 76-74
- Lost to 9 Wichita State, 72-58 (Sweet 16)
- Lost to 6 Memphis, 54-52
- Beat 6 UMass, 86-67
- Beat 14 Mercer, 83-63
- Lost to 2 Michigan, 73-71 (Sweet 16)
- Lost to 5 St. Louis, 83-80
- Beat 6 Providence, 66-53
- Lost to 3 Oklahoma, 72-66
- Lost to 6 Xavier, 76-57
is not indicative of future results."
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March 14th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
Just watched this last night. After so many years, it is still just plain awesome. You pumpkin pie hair cutted freak!
That's why we play the games. Anything can happen.
Moreso than 'Havoc' they did so by getting hot from three all tourney long, here's to hoping we have a similar run.
Let's go weird guys!
I'm simply glad we got in. Also, barring any injury - I am actually glad we get an extra game in before we potentially play the domers. Can't hurt to get more practice against tournament competiton.
I really dont think fatigue plays as must of an issue in the NCAA tournament - moreso in the BTT as the games are on consecutive days.
Will be fun to watch for sure!
March 14th, 2016 at 10:15 AM ^
will be no picnic. They got mopped by Memphis, but beat UConn and SMU this year. We decidedly DID NOT beat UConn and SMU this year.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
Tulsa also lost to 14-17 Oral Roberts, as well as also losing to SMU and UConn. While I don't disagree that it won't be easy, but Tulsa isn't the worst matchup for us.
Oral Roberts treat the game as their Super Bowl because of the rivalry factor while Tulsa just treated it like any other game. Oral Roberts see themselves as a rivals for Tulsa and Tulsa doesn't see the same way.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^
Based on their "first look" article, it would seem Tulsa is in fact a very good matchup for Michigan based on style of play, size, and defense.
http://www.umhoops.com/2016/03/14/first-look-tulsa-golden-hurricane/
March 14th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^
We would play Wed - Fri - Sun to get to the Sweet Sixteen, with a Dayton - Ann Arbor - NYC hop between Wed - Fri. Everything is in the same time zone and the flights are 60-90 mins.
Very manageable schedule.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^
I doubt they'll go back to AA, they'll probaby head straight to Brooklyn.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:02 PM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 10:23 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
are just a bunch of fun.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
bracket is going to look weird this year, as I am going to have "Mich/Tuls" beating ND, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. "Mich/Tuls" is going to be a tough out this year.
will get you a cup of coffee
Nope. There's never been a play-in game with 15 seeds.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
Which is pretty great. I know Caris and Spike aren't playing, but those guys having Final Four experience is pretty invaluable as well.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
Lol. How exactly is Levert's and Spike's Final Four experience invaluable?
I don't mean to pick on you, but I find it funny to think that an injured Caris and Spike playing in a Final Four four years ago makes a difference.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:01 AM ^
It was three years ago which makes all the difference!
Lol good call.
It's better if they're on the court playing, but I always hear athletes talk about how a teammate's word of encouragement has settled them down in the middle of a game. Sometimes, players respond better to the words of a fellow teammate than a coach.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
The play-in, I believe, helps in some ways. You've played a game already, thus, some of the nerves are out. You have experience shooting in a stadium that is a bit different than most college stadiums. You don't have the rust because you've been playing. In these ways, the team that has already played has some advantages. And with a day off in between, you get a chance to rest your legs a bit, an advantage not afforded in the conference tournaments.
While the team that plays the play-in winner has the advantage of scouting a little bit, that's likely only at the coach level and doesn't give a huge advantage, because they don't know which team they are playing until the play-in game is completed (while the play-in team already knows, but most of the scouting will be focused on the play-in competition).
Now, by the Round of 32 game, you may be a bit more tired, and many of the advantages are gone. But you also likely have quite a bit of confidence by then. By being the play-in team in that position, you really have nothing to lose. The other team has the worry of losing to "only a play-in team".
These just seem like some built in advantages of this current set-up. Certainly, the teams that are seeded higher are typically better teams, so the odds of winning may still be in their favor. But I think some of these other impacts even out the odds quite a bit, as past results have shown.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^
it looks like pretty much DOOM after the Sweet 16 matchup, but there is nobody really that we are in line to play until then if we keep winning that poses very much of threat to our biggest weaknesses. I like the West Virginia game in particular as a potential matchup. If you press Michigan you better be damn sure it works because if it fails it will fail in spectacular fashion. i think we could actually open up a can on WVU if we make it that far.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
It'll come down to how they're shooting. They aren't good enough this year (you note turnovers being up as one reason, which I agree with) to overcome poor shooting. If they shoot poorly, they could lose to Tulsa. But when they're on, they have enough shooters to beat anyone.
If it comes together and it starts to click for multiple guys (Robinson has a good game, Irvin is his former self, Walton is enough to keep defenses honest from 3, and then bench players can at least keep the pace with shooting), there are very, very few teams that can handle Michigan offensively, and a run isn't just possible, it's probable. But if they can't get consistent production out of multiple guys, this year's Michigan team isn't good enough to overcome it.
Shoot well = Sweet 16 run.
Shoot poorly = Early exit.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
I guess it's just a "feel" thing. Maybe it's bad turnovers or something that seems like it's making it stick out, because it feels like they are turning the ball over a bit more this year. But stats don't back that up I guess. Maybe it's because the rest of the offense isn't clicking the the level it has before. Interesting though.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
the other teams either won or lost close games, which bodes well for us. It's worth mentioning the Ole Miss (BYU) and BYU (Iona) played fast paced teams in their opening round game, which may have impacted their energy level in the first round matchup. Not sure how fast paced of a team Tulsa is.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
Also with them, of the teams listed above they probably easily had the longest distance to travel to get to Dayton. Not sure how far they had to travel to get to their next game.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
I have always thought there was something to be said about 1) playing a game and getting some of the tourny jitters out and 2) constantly hearing you didn't deserve in the tourny and playing with a chip on your shoulder
March 14th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
we will have a really good chance - but with our limited bench I think fatigue is going to be a factor. I think our guys did really did give it their all agianst purdue but had no legs.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
I thought we had tired legs even against IU and fought thru it as well as against Purdue. You can see it when the outside shots start falling short over and over. That said I was pleased we got a Wed rather than a Tues game.
March 14th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
March 14th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
is what is crazy about the tournament. Michigan State was very, very good this year, but it takes one hot game from Dayton or Syracuse to turn their season into an immense failure. Same applies to us. A week ago most were calling for Beilein's job. Now imagine if we actually make a run. Not only will his "seat not be hot" but his job will be even more safe than it was.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:01 AM ^
and next game 6 seed in 1st and 2nd rounds. Is it 4 then 5? Looking at LaSalle in 2013.