NCAA Hoops 2013

[Valmy]

They're getting it done tonight.  WVU's year is about over.

Yeah this is not what I expected.  WVU must still be tired from their game against OSU.

[grumbler]

Berkut, I think you are seeing with Michigan what I talked about earlier:  play a tough OOC schedule, take some losses, but learn to deal with adversity.  Michigan is ranked #25, but has knocked off the #3 team on the road, and the #10 team at home, and is undefeated in Big Ten play.  The showdown this Saturday at #3 MSU is playing with house money; even a loss there will not hurt Michigan much, and the post-McGary Michigan lineup will get exactly the test it needs.  The Big Ten is about defending home court and winning a couple big road games.  Michigan has one of the two big road wins it needs, and nobody else in the conference has done so.

[Berkut]

Berkut, I think you are seeing with Michigan what I talked about earlier:  play a tough OOC schedule, take some losses, but learn to deal with adversity.  Michigan is ranked #25, but has knocked off the #3 team on the road, and the #10 team at home, and is undefeated in Big Ten play.  The showdown this Saturday at #3 MSU is playing with house money; even a loss there will not hurt Michigan much, and the post-McGary Michigan lineup will get exactly the test it needs.  The Big Ten is about defending home court and winning a couple big road games.  Michigan has one of the two big road wins it needs, and nobody else in the conference has done so.

Yep, I cannot agree more - this is the model that Olson preached at Arizona, and I am very glad Miller has embraced it.

Play some touch games OOC, because if you are good, you will win some as well, and a decent record against excellent opponents does not hurt you at all come tourney selection time. And more importantly, it gets you ready for conference play, which is what really matters. Win at home, split on the road+1 is typically a conference winning formula.

Of course, Arizona this year is simplifying things a bit by just winning every game.

[MadBurgerMaker]

26 seconds left. Meat chicken is making their free throws, but Sparty keeps dropping 3s. Fun game.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Nice win for Michigan.

[grumbler]

26 seconds left. Meat chicken is making their free throws, but Sparty keeps dropping 3s. Fun game.

Meat chicken?   

Yeah, it is a great game, but MSU doesn't have two stars, while Michigan is only down one star. 

[grumbler]

Nice win for Michigan.

Absolutely huge for the conference title.  That's the two road wins M needed against the major competitors, so they aren't screwed if they drop an unexpected loss, like last year.

[Ed Anger]

Butler's struggles in the Big East gives me the giggles.

Fuck Butler.

[Eddie Teach]

Meat chicken?   

Much tastier than the vegetarian kind.

[grumbler]

Here's a stat I like: Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, & Michigan State have a combined 39-5 record at home this year. Michigan is responsible for 4 of those losses.

[MadBurgerMaker]

[derspiess]

WVU beat a decent team!

[katmai]

Sorry Berk, was hoping for Cats to keep streak going.

[Berkut]

I would have been surprised if they didn't drop one in Cali. They are a very good team, but they have vulnerabilities, and at some point it was going to catch up with them. You just aren't going to go undefeated in the Pac-12, not anymore. And when you are #1 and undefeated, every team you face comes out playing their very best. Cal was just ridiculous in the that game. Everything they threw up went in. Shrug.

Nick Johnson just had a terrible night as well.

[PDH]

Wyoming beats number 5 San Diego State in Laramie.  This team has scrapped all year, and lost a few by very close margins, so it is good to see they pulled this one out.