The question tonight is which Michigan team will show up? The one that beat UConn and and nearly stole a game from Wisconsin in Madison. Or the scatterbrained defensive outfit from Saturday that couldnt stop a single Purdue possession when it mattered, hopelessly playing without leading scorer Manny Harris, suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct in practice. Let’s hope its the first version.
Michigan State is town, so Good Michigan had better show up. It’s All or Nothing this evening against the Spartans. The team’s flat-lined postseason hopes need the juice that upsetting a top-10 team can provide. It would be the second resume win over an 11-day span. With a more than manageable February slate, the door to a bid becomes ever so sligfhty more ajar. I felt they needed to get one win out of difficult three-game stretch that ends tonight in order to maintain the momentum from the UConn win. Tonight represents their third and final chance to complete the first step of the three-step plan to get them back into tournament consideration.
Good Michigan needs to show up for the sake of the program. Its a fragile team. A beatdown at the hands off the Spartans might send this ship reeling to the rocks of no return. But, if Good Michigan can show up with the efficient offense and killer defense they had exhibited during the Big 10 season prior to Saturday, they could spring the upset and set a positive tone for the final 10 games.
Good Michigan needs to show up for Manny Harris. Check that, Manny Harris needs to lead the charge up the hill on behalf of Good Michigan. He’s become a maligned star this season in Ann Arbor. We’ve questioned his leadership, shot selection, defense and overall state of mind throughout the season. Now, we’re questioning his relationship with his teammates in the wake of whatever incident occurred on the practice floor last Friday that earned him a one-game benching. He has gone from beloved to beleaguered in the span of one year. How will Manny play tonight? That’s another open question heading into the event. If Good Manny shows up, Good Michigan will surely follow.
Head Coach John Beilein needs Good Michigan. Year Three of his regime has been as rocky. The goodwill from last year’s suprise and long-awaited tournament appearance is evaporating. There is segment of the fanbase who believes this isnt the man for the job. And, as incorrect as they are, a poor showing to the upstate Spartans will only fuel the fire of their discontent. Maybe Beilein doesnt need Good Michigan tonight. His job is more than safe. Maybe I need Good Michigan to show up so I dont get lulled into battling Internet Idiots crying Unacceptable and Shameful.
Good Michigan also needs to show up in advance of future recruiting battles. Michigan, at some point, has to prove it can compete with MSU. Beilein is 0-2 against Izzo as head man in Ann Arbor. Local recruits might be keeping tabs on that. Notably, slick shooting guard Trey Zeigler, who is being wooed by both schools along with other high end suitors. Ziegler wont be comitting anywhere until April and one game wont sway his opinions. But, a Michigan win could erase whatever lingering doubts he and other possible recruits may have about being able to thrive and beat bigtime foes in the Beilein system.
So, come one Good Michigan. What are you waiting for? Come out on fire tonight, please?
During this season, I have been way less angry and pessimistic than the average Michigan fan. I’ve seen a lot more Good Michigan than my brethern in the fanbase. I see a team that is playing a lot better now than they were five weeks ago. For proof, I offer their 7-2 record against the spread in their last nine games. They’re exceeding somebody’s expectations, thats for sure. For more proof, I offer the fact the Michigan has been in the upper half of the league in Big 10 games when it comes of efficient basketball. These numbers do include the debacle in West Lafayette, but it doesnt included the team’s good performance over UConn 10 days ago. The team is progressing and if Beilein’s own history is any indication, then the improvement will continue the rest of the way. In his first year in Ann Arbor, Michigan won and covered the spread in as many games from February on as they did during the first three months of the season. Last year, after a 4-6 SU, 3-7 ATS start to the Big 10 season in January, the Wolverines went 5-4 SU, 7-2 ATS to close out the regular season beginning in February. I dont think those trends change. Michigan will play its best ball during the final month of play. A win tonight might actually put some stack on the table for the Wolverines during that stretch.
I think the short term future is bright based on how Beilein teams have trended in the past. But, I also think the program’s long term forecasts are pretty good too. This puts me in the minorty of the fanbase, who expects this team to be lucky to finish anywhere other than last place after Harris and Sims depart. The roster will be more talented and experienced than the day of Beilein’s first practice. If, and this is a big if, he can ink Zeigler and Jon Horford to LOI’s, I think you can make a case that the roster from top-to-bottom will be more talented than it is right now. I dont think next year will be any different than the last two–a total fight to make it into the postseason with a maddening slim margin of error along the way. The 2011-12 season, when Novak, Douglass and LLP are seniors could be very good. They might be able to live up to the inflated expectations we all had this year.
Here’s the deal. After the 2006 and Amaker was fired, the program also bid adieu to a core of players who were the team for 2-3 seasons. The cupboard was bare, save for 4-star Sophomore Sims and 4-star incoming freshman Harris. Now, Harris and Sims will both be gone after being the central figures for 2-3 years. Michigan is bucking to have a total a four 4-star players on its roster next season if it nabs the Zeigler commit. A fifth is on the way the following season with Carlton Brundridge. There will be high ceiling 3-stars like Hardaway Jr, McLimas, Morgan and, hopefully, Horford all over the place. The roster is in much better shape than it was in the fall of 2007 to overcome the loss of its best players. This program is going nowhere but up. I am enjoying the ride, even if we’re not winning as much as we’d like too right now. In reality, the biggest game going right now for the Beilein era is the chase for Ziegler and Horford. Both are in-state players who certainly have a eye trained on this game tonight to see just what kind of outfit may be in store for them should they comitt to the Maize and Blue.
But nothing will happen on that front today. The only thing Michigan can do now is win the game in front of them. And, that happens to be tonight against the bitter rival MSU. The program, the coach, the players and the fanbase sure could use a big win to instill some good tidings and confidence. Maybe its the Kool Aid, but I think they sneak out an ugly 62-58 win, with Zach Novak grabbing a late defensive rebound and swishing the game clinching free throws. Manny plays with a vengence tonight. Without Travis Walton hounding him like he did last year, Manny drops a big game. Book It!
Zack. Either Novak or Gibson. With a 'k.'
Zack. Either Novak or Gibson. With a ‘k.’