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SCum "serious threat" to win Big Ten in 2012

  • spartans17 said...

    They SHOULD be a serious threat to win it based on what we've seen this season; very young core, good comeback games, took good teams down to the wire. But I question how they will do with the expectations so high. Last time a Beilein team was ranked highly, Manny and Sims tanked and the season ended with no tournament. We've seen it at MSU quite a bit as well; following the loss to UNC in the second round of Neitzel's junior year, MSU was supposed to be a top 5 team with Neitzel, Suton, Morgan and Walton being supported with the superstar class of Summers, Lucas and Allen. The season was a disappointment with the Sweet 16 exit to Memphis and no Big Ten Title. Obviously we saw it at MSU this year as well.

    I think that all of UM, OSU, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin and MSU could contend for the Big Ten Title next year (based on who returns of course). I also think that UM's ceiling is more limited than most other teams due to their type of players. With limited athletes running the wing spots for UM, there's not all that much room for improvement for some of the players; what can players like Novak and Douglass realistically improve upon? They can't really get that much faster, stronger or tougher to make a significant difference in their games. OTOH, at MSU, players like Appling and Payne have far greater potential; both are super athletes and high flyers, when they adjust to the speed of the game they have unlimited room for upwards mobility. Basically my point is that while some of their players will likely improve (Morgan, Hardaway, Smotrycyz), they will still never be an elite team in America because of their athletic and size-related (down low) deficiencies.

    I like what you stated here. Who has the most upside evaluation makes sense. Now we will have to wait for the preparation and then the test.

    CoachL

  • CoachL said...

    They beat us twice and once while we were ranked IIRC.

    Referring to final rankings. They had a number of impressive losses and lots of moral victories. But they didn't actually beat any good teams this year.

    Andy_H ●

  • CoachL said...

    They beat us twice

    so? since when did state become the team that determines a teams relevancy or not? No one outside of the state of Michigan thinks Michigan is even relevant at all. Barely anyone outside the Big Ten knows they beat State twice this year. Duke is probably kicking themselves for having such a close game.

    Dikembe Mutombo

  • Ol' Drippy said...

    Aren't they?

    They were the 4th best team in the Big Ten this year and they lose not a single player. Meanwhile, every other Big Ten team that was decent is losing top contributors. I hate uofm too but I'm not blind to the fact that they should be one of the conference favorites next year. They probably won't be the odds on favorite to win it but I would be surprised if they don't get voted top 3 in the pre season.

    If Buford, Sullinger, and Jordan Taylor should declare after this season you could argue that uofm has the Big Ten's two best returning players in Morris and Hardaway. According to the PORPAG stat, the 5 players I just named are the top 5 underclassman in the big ten.

    it's not reasonable, because all the B1G dogs reload with much superior talent than the weasels.

    see Dwaun Anderson dunk video for example.

    "This game is an important game... I'm telling them: it's not over... it will never be over here; it's just starting." -Coach Dantonio

    samiam32

  • Of course they are a threat. They return everyone and every other team of consequence is losing major pieces. Big deal.

    PortlandSpartan

  • They should be picked to win the Big Ten and ranked in the top 5 nationally to start next season. Then, let's see how they handle lofty expectations and a target on their backs.

    "It's a great day for a ballgame - let's play two" Ernie Banks

    vikingtom

  • Andy_H said...

    Referring to final rankings. They had a number of impressive losses and lots of moral victories. But they didn't actually beat any good teams this year.

    Of their twenty-one wins, how many teams did UM beat that finished the regular season with a better than .500 conference record?

    The answer is: THREE (Harvard, Oakland & Clemson), including ZERO against B10 teams.

    They'll be a contender, for sure; however, they need more than moral victories to hang a banner.

    signature image

    Gus Chiggins

  • This year, a 1-6 team that had a been a joke for years mad a nice run to finish the season, led by a player no one was afraid of or knew about.

    Next year, everyone will know morris only goes right and has 1 hand and can't shoot outside the lane. Everyone will also know smolzfwew is a 3-point threat who isn't a threat when you crowd him. And everyone will know to take um seriously.

    um will not sneak up on anyone, and people will scout their inferior talent much harder. and next year, morris's decision to run his mouth after our last game will bite him in the ass, ala bike hart.

    mentalstate

  • They're the only Big11 team to lose next to no one and despite their W/L record this year, they played many times incredibly tough and had a lot of close losses (like the 7-5 MSU 2007 football team that could've gone 9-3). Seeing UM in the top 2 of the Big Ten next year would not surprise me.

    tGhostofCAllen

  • mdm2005 said...

    Because Darius Morris is leaning towards entering the 2011 NBA Draft.

    I don't think this is the case, based on the publications I have read.

    MarylandSpartan

  • Kram Oinotnad said...

    While I appreciate your vigilant enthusiasm in bashing Michigan in multiple threads, I fail to see how the premise of them being a Big Ten threat is so laughable. They return THE ENTIRE TEAM, and this time, the players are Belein recruits who actually buy into his system. Manny Harris tried to be a one man show last year, and that is what doomed them. While I'm not ready to anoint them as champs of anything yet, I find it hard to believe that they won't be at least somewhat improved next year, in a Big Ten which should be relatively wide open.

    Wait, you're telling me 1 man team's usually don't work out? Kalin me shocked!

    blanch32

  • mentalstate said...

    This year, a 1-6 team that had a been a joke for years mad a nice run to finish the season, led by a player no one was afraid of or knew about.

    Next year, everyone will know morris only goes right and has 1 hand and can't shoot outside the lane. Everyone will also know smolzfwew is a 3-point threat who isn't a threat when you crowd him. And everyone will know to take um seriously.

    um will not sneak up on anyone, and people will scout their inferior talent much harder. and next year, morris's decision to run his mouth after our last game will bite him in the ass, ala bike hart.

    Right. Who are you trying to convince?

    MarylandSpartan

  • They'll be better than sparty that's for sure.

    signature image

    The buck stops here.

    Mr Rosewater321

  • Kram Oinotnad said...

    While I appreciate your vigilant enthusiasm in bashing Michigan in multiple threads, I fail to see how the premise of them being a Big Ten threat is so laughable. They return THE ENTIRE TEAM, and this time, the players are Belein recruits who actually buy into his system. Manny Harris tried to be a one man show last year, and that is what doomed them. While I'm not ready to anoint them as champs of anything yet, I find it hard to believe that they won't be at least somewhat improved next year, in a Big Ten which should be relatively wide open.

    I share your realism.

    MarylandSpartan

  • foshIZZO said...

    Per Andy Katz

    http://espn.go.com/blog/CollegeBasketballNation/post/_/id/27641/rapid-reaction-duke-73-michigan-71

    roflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmaoroflmao

    As they should be. They return everyone from a team that finished 4th and all of the teams in front of them are losing a LOT of talent.

    It's kind of a no brainer that they should be one of the favorites.

    This post was edited by JackTa1kThai on 3/20/2011 at 8:32 PM

    JackTa1kThai

  • Dikembe Mutombo said...

    so? since when did state become the team that determines a teams relevancy or not? No one outside of the state of Michigan thinks Michigan is even relevant at all. Barely anyone outside the Big Ten knows they beat State twice this year.

    I live in Maryland and work in DC. Balt/DC area is flooded w UM grads while I'm the only lone Spartan. I'm gonna hear about how they practically beat Duke all week.

    MarylandSpartan

  • vikingtom said...

    They should be picked to win the Big Ten and ranked in the top 5 nationally to start next season. Then, let's see how they handle lofty expectations and a target on their backs.

    No way they're ranked Top 5. I'd be surprised if they're ranked in the Top 20.

    Burn The Boats

  • mdm2005 said...

    Because Darius Morris is leaning towards entering the 2011 NBA Draft.

    He said he was staying after the game tonight.

    http://annarbor.com/sports/um-basketball/michigan-sings-the-victors-darius-morris-says-hes-staying-and-more-notes/

    Burn The Boats

  • Burn The Boats said...

    He said he was staying after the game tonight.

    http://annarbor.com/sports/um-basketball/michigan-sings-the-victors-darius-morris-says-hes-staying-and-more-notes/

    They always say that when someone shoves a mic in their face after the last game. I can give you twenty examples of guys who changed their mind.

    Wait a month, or until the University releases a statement.

    Anyone. Anyplace. Anytime.

    rookmsu

  • MarylandSpartan said...

    I live in Maryland and work in DC. Balt/DC area is flooded w UM grads while I'm the only lone Spartan. I'm gonna hear about how they practically beat Duke all week.

    They are into moral victories

    spartanMF

  • They are a threat to win the big ten next year, but so are:
    Wisconsin
    Michigan State
    Ohio State
    Purdue (got to be the favorite)
    And Indiana will surprise some people.

    Batesianmimicry

  • Coming right off of the discussion and articles mentioning how "down" the Big Ten will be next year... LOL. That's what it took for them to get hyped as contenders. A decent year with young talent and a "down" year for the rest of the conference.

    signature image

    TheBlitzIsOn

  • Batesianmimicry said...

    They are a threat to win the big ten next year, but so are: Wisconsin Michigan State Ohio State Purdue (got to be the favorite) And Indiana will surprise some people.

    Purdue the favorite?! The only thing they have to hang their hat on is the questionable return of Hummel. I think there's a better chance of Purdue missing the tournament than there is of them winning the conference.

    This post was edited by Kram Oinotnad on 3/20/2011 at 11:42 PM

    Kram Oinotnad

  • JackTa1kThai said...

    Of course they are. They return everyone from a team that finished 4th and all of the teams in front of them are losing a LOT of talent.

    You should read this from another poster in this thread:

    Of their twenty-one wins, how many teams did UM beat that finished the regular season with a better than .500 conference record?

    The answer is: THREE (Harvard, Oakland & Clemson), including ZERO against B10 teams.

    tVargMan Prime

  • Kram Oinotnad said...

    Purdue the favorite?! The only thing they have to hang their hat on is the questionable return of Hummel. I think there's a better chance of Purdue missing the tournament then there is of them winning the conference.

    what's questionable about his return?

    He tore his ACL in October. He'll be 100% by the time he gets back. The time off will also mean that he'll be healthier next season than the previous 3 (remember those back injuries?). Also, the supporting cast will fill in around him. It's not great, but right now, I think they have to be the favorite.

    Who else would be? A Taylor-less Wisconsin? A Sullinger-less tOSU?

    Batesianmimicry

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