Michigan Tuesday: Had the #1 TV Game of the Weekend

The Michigan vs. Duke game was the most watched game of the the NCAA Tournament.  Brand names and the Fab 5 hype this past week I am sure helped draw some viewers.   This is another example that the Michigan program is heading in the right direction.

• Here is a local article on Cincinnati LB Joe Bolden.  Joe is planning on visiting Ann Arbor on Thursday.

• This week and weekend will have a number of big time prospect on campus including highly rated QB Zeke Pike and Toledo DE Chris Wormley.   TomVH has a big list of guys expected on campus and at practice.  

I Love This Basketball Team

Ever since the Fab 5 penalty and punishment, I wondered when I would be excited to watch Michigan Basketball again.  The program teased us two years ago with a win in the first round and a blow out loss to Blake Griffin and Oklahoma.    Today, the team lost to #1 seed by two points with an open jumper from the lane that just was a touch too long.  If you think about it Michigan last 3 losses are on a banked 3 pointer to Wisconsin, a tournament loss to the #1 team in the nation and #1 seed Duke.  That's not too bad!

Michigan gave Duke everything they wanted and more today.  I would of preferred a TH2 or Zack 3 point shot for the win but I can't complain about the open look that Morris took.   That was a good look and a shot that he has hit a 100 times.   This team fought hard all game and worked it's way back from being down 15 points and in foul trouble most of the game.  My only complaint was the consistent involvement of the referees.  It seemed they couldn't stop blowing their whistle at some points.  Let the kids play and let the "nickel dimers" go. 

Even though today was a loss, I feel this program if finally back on solid ground and heading in the right direction.  Recruits, I hope you notice that something special is happening in Ann Arbor and the future is really bright for these young Wolverines.   This team is no longer a group of misfit toys, this is a well balanced team that is lacking a back up point guard and a big man away from challenging for Big Ten Championships. 

Well done guys and congratulations on a great year!  I have a feeling people won't be projecting you in the basement of the Big 10 next year.

That Tastes Nice!

A 30 point win over Tennessee.  Raise your hand if you saw that coming? Me either! 

I will take it!  Loved the bench scoring today. 

Bring on Duke. 

Didn't you just have a feeling that with all the Jalen Rose - Grant Hill talk this week that these two teams would meet in the second third round!

Michigan Friday: Recruiting Visit Blitz and Tressel Gate Gets Longer

I don't know how your NCAA Bracket looks but mine took a huge hit yesterday.   I guess I should of worn more green.  That's how March Madness works.

Did anyone notice that Jim Tressel has expanded his suspension from 2 games to 5 games and that the NCAA denied the appeal on the 5 game suspension for the players? Ohio State sure is acting fast instead of acting smart when it comes to this situation.  A Yahoo Internet report is out for less then 24 hours and they jump to a press conference and suspend Jim for basically OSU's MAC season and then the NCAA says "are you kidding me?" regarding the players suspension and Jim extends his suspension 3 more games.  

What will be interesting from here is if the NCAA will make his suspension even longer and will they have OSU vacate their wins from 2010?  Either way it's clear OSU doesn't want to fire Tressel and it's getting even clearer they might not have a choice.  Jim signing that NCAA document that he didn't have any knowledge of the situation will be his downfall.    If you include the Youngstown State stuff this looks pretty bad for the Ohio State coach.  If Tennessee's head coach lies to the NCAA about a player being at his home for a BBQ and now looks like will be fired.  If he is let go, Jim doesn't have a chance since his crime is much worse.
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Saturday is the start of Spring Practice for the Wolverines and of course the start of the Brady Hoke era.  It will be interesting to hear "rumors" from practice on how things are different and who is having a great spring.

Not only are the players interested in how Coach Hoke runs a practice so are a number of recruits.  Here is a list of 2012 visitors courtesy of TomVH from Mgoblog:


Ohio OL Kyle Dodson (6'6", 315 lbs)
Mass LB Camren Williams (6'2", 215 lbs)
Mass ATH Armani Reeves (5'11", 185 lbs)
Michigan LB Royce Jenkins-Stone (6'2", 215 lbs)
Michigan LB James Ross (6'0", 210 lbs)
Michigan DB Terry Richardson (5'9", 160 lbs)
Michigan OL/DL Kelby Latta (6'4", 295 lbs)
Michigan OL Ben Braden (6'7", 285 lbs)

•  Cincinnati offensive lineman Caleb Stacey (6'4", 275 lbs) was in Ann Arbor yesterday for a visit and came away impressed with U of M, Ann Arbor, and took home a new Michigan offer.

Michigan has a lot of catch up to do with the 2012 class and the Michigan staff is working hard to gain some ground with these kids.  The Michigan kids that will be at practice are very important, Michigan needs to keep these kids at home and in Ann Arbor.  It would also be nice if they could get one of these kids to commit in short order.  If a James Biggs or RJS would commit (neither is expected to make an early choice) it would set the class on the right track and I think we would see a number more commits soon after. 
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Let's not forget about today's basketball game at 12:40.  No matter what happens today, I am very happy with what this team has accomplished this year.  With Bruce Pearl hanging in the wind, I hope the Tennessee players will be distracted and decide not to show up to play.   I hope Michigan can work the inside - outside game that they have been working the last 11 games or so.  I look for Zack and Stu to hit some big 3's.    

Go Blue, Beat The Volunteers! 

 

Michigan Monday: Happy To Be Invited

There is nothing worse when your a kid not to be invited to a "cool" party.   The Michigan Basketball Program pretty much since the late 90's was that kid in high school.  The only party they got an invite to was the NIT.  Michigan's last invite to the Cool Party was 2009, which was the first time since 1998. 

Not this Year!  The upside for this years team was clearly the NIT.  Michigan took basically the same team they had in 2009 and finished with a losing record in 2010 season.   The combination of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims got Michigan back to the tournament but could not repeat that feat the next year and both players headed for the NBA.   So Michigan would have one of the youngest teams in the nation with no seniors and a bunch of true and redshirt freshman getting a ton of playing time.  The projected finish in a tough Big Ten was anywhere from 8th to 11th place.  Michigan finished 4th and lost to the #1 team in the nation in the Big Ten Tournament. 

John Beilein clearly has done his best coaching job of his Michigan career this year with this over achieving team.  It has been a fun ride most of the year (minus the 6 game losing streak).   Michigan is now an 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament taking on much aligned Tennessee Volunteers whose coach Bruce Pearl lied to the NCAA and the SEC suspended him basically half of the SEC season. 

I hope Michigan beats Tennessee and plays Duke in Round 3 because I know the Wolverines wouldn't be afraid after playing OSU 3 times, Kansas, and Syracuse.  Even if they lose on Friday, this year has been more "cake then frosting".  Starting on Friday, it's nothing but frosting and I hope the young Wolverines enjoy it and come back next year and play championship basketball. 

Fab 5 30 for 30 Last Night

I thought was real and entertaining.  I appreciated the openness that each player had during the piece.  It was a special time and the documentary showed the highs and lows of those 2 years.   The Fab 5 put Michigan Basketball on the map.   The 1989 National Championship run was special but the Fab 5 took the Michigan program to another level, it also destroyed the program for 10+ years. 

Ed Martin Scandal:  I would like it proven how Ed Martin was a Michigan Booster.  Like Jalen said, ED gave money to many Detroit high school players.  Yes, he paid some Wolverines.  But what about players that went to other schools?  Did he pay Spartans?  Did he pay Golden Gophers?  The answer is yes.  If he did, how could he be a Michigan booster?  Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with him paying players and yes, Michigan should have been punished for it's players taking money but Ed wasn't paying players to come to Michigan.  He was paying players for a return when they made it to the NBA.

Chris Webber:  Yes, I wish the entire situation with him and Ed Martin never happended but whats in the past is in the past.  He was a young kid and the LeBron of his time.   He picked Michigan because he wanted to be part of something special.  He was right it was a special time, he was wrong to take money from Ed Martin but I have to agree to what Mitch Albom said, if he took $300K from Ed Martin, I don't know what he did with it?   Around A2 at this time, it was pretty well known that Chris struggled with money for CD's, food, etc.   So my point is, not whether he took the money or not, my point is there is more to this story then we know.  If Chris wants to tell it, it's up to him.  If he doesn't he should be remember as a special part of the Fab 5 and we all should just move on.

Anything sound familiar?

• A team that wasn't supposed to do anything ends up a high seed in the NCAA Tournament
• One of the youngest teams in the nation
• Potential Duke Match Up
• Wins over Michigan State
• Close game during the season over the top team in the nation 
• OSU being the top seed in the tournament and Big Ten Champion

This team clearly was not the top recruited class in the country but there are some interesting parallels to that FAB 5 team.  Either way, this time of the year is much more exciting when Michigan is participating. 

Friday's game is at 12:40 and will be on Tru TV.