I keep vacillating between "This team is good" and reminding myself that the Big Ten kinda sucks this year.

Well, Michigan typically plays good defense and can switch every screen + limits turnovers so Id say they have as good a shot as any team to win games in the tournament provided they shoot well from 3.

Plus, theres going to be some teams that just have no answer for Mo and what he can do. We saw what he did to Penn States bigs last night, Nick Ward, Mo Bamba(before he got hurt) and Haas.


I still feel pretty good about Michigan pulling a Belein and making a run.

Obviously less high on this team even if they get up to the 4-5 line than I was on last year's team as a 7 seed.

It's just been an interesting season for individuals on our team. Maybe more ups and downs than I've seen in an individual season ever.

Duncan Robinson has adapted very well to his 6th man role. He's actually turned into an above average defender after 2 years of being a massive minus.

Livers started out looking like he would be a reliable starter, and he's fallen off the table in the last 5-6 games. He's basically been a total zero offensively and not sure if he's going to get minutes in the BTT and NCAAT.

In place of Livers, Poole has really picked up his play big time.

MAAR has also improved a lot and picked up a bigger role on offense, but Matthews has looked lost the 2nd half of the conference schedule as well.

As much as we're getting by in a relatively down Big Ten, I just feel like this team is still struggling to find its identity with one game left in the regular season. Usually when a team makes a run, they've got that figured out by now.

Really high on Poole going forward. Charles Matthews on the other hand... Woof

Eh, some of Matthews’ issues can be addressed and he’s a useful piece because he can defend 2,3 or 4. More than anything else he needs to get his head right on offense.

Livers play recently seems to be 100% that bum ankle of his. That full week+ off all the B1G teams get from having conf tournament a week early should help there youd think.

Maryland doesn’t seem to be too interested is playing defense but damn that was a solid first half.

54 points in 33 possessions not too bad.

ffs big mo better be okay, bc this team...meh, don’t wanna jinx it.

Yep was holding my breath for the minute or so Wagner was down. Glad he came back in the game and seemed fine. 2 weeks off between BTT and NCAAT (Thanks Delaney!) should assuage those fears.

I might be revising my predictions on this team. I still think S16 is the likely ceiling, but this is definitely a team that could make a surprise run. I still think last year's team was playing better at the end of the year because we had a lottery pick realizing his potential and a legit PG.

This team's three main adjustments of giving Poole more minutes, having the offense run mainly through MAAR who is our most complete and polished offensive player, and properly utilizing Duncan Robinson on defense are huge for this team.

I know the B10 is down this year, but the body of work is there. Dominant road win @Sparty, two insanely close games against Purdue, and closing out the season with a home win that was never particularly close over OSU, and two convincing road wins over teams that are bubble caliber... Team is trending in the right direction. My only fear for the BTT is that Nebraska isn't a great matchup for us, but if we can get past that I have high hopes.

Double bye would have been nice. Oh well, think this team has as good of a shot vs the rest of the B1G on a neutral court

Excited for the tournament, but man this feels weird playing so early.

and I hate that extra week off. I mean, what do I know, but it seems like it’d be easy to come out the first day, have an iffy shooting day and be home that night...

Poole won't be at Michigan after next season. He's going to be another early entrant to the NBA casualty of Beleins elite development.

I don't know if you're a regular reader of mgoblog but there was a bit in a basketball mailbag about finding comparisons for Poole's freshman season ... the comparables are INTERESTING. There is a good change you're right, but I wouldn't completely rule out a junior season return a la Wagner if he's still got things to work on or if there is a sufficient glut of guards in the draft after next year.

Also: Vaguely annoyed that we drew the 2:30 time slot for today's game. Would have been nice to watch.

I work midnight shift so I get to watch and its been a great game so far. Iowas actually played really well.

Michigan keeps getting to the rim at will though so I expect theyll eventually pull away. Mathews has missed a couple point blank shots at the rim.

Just watched it. Duncan Robinson had a good ****ing game.

Also: lol B1G refs. Just embarassingly bad.

any word on the line tomorrow? was free money today.

Nick Ward Funeral 2.0 is going to be grate

if there’s a god, this pls.

Cash Winston flat out cant guard Zavier Simpson.

Blatantly cheats and freely promotes sexual assault and they still can't win. So sad.

So is this long break going to bone the B1G? Seems like it can't be a positive.

There's still time for a few ankle sprains.