2018-2019 B1G Basketball Thread

[MichiFan87]

Poole finally had a good game, which was the difference, along with a great defensive effort. Hopefully that'll continue.....

[medinabuckeye1]

This weekend (Fri-Sun) all 14 teams play.  There are some big games:

The biggest, of course, is MSU at Michigan.  We project a Michigan win.  Right now the two Michigan schools and Purdue are all tied in the loss column with three losses each.  Michigan has the toughest remaining schedule so they really can't afford a loss.  If the Spartans pull the upset, we would project them to tie PU for the league title.  

Purdue is at Nebraska in a game the Boilermakers should win.  

Wisconsin is at Northwestern in a game the Badgers should win.  With a win, I would consider the Badgers a lock.  

Maryland hosts Ohio State in a game the Terps should win.  A win for Ohio State would REALLY help their status but I just can't see it.  The Buckeyes haven't looked very good lately and they lost at home to Maryland by 14 so I just can't see them walking into Maryland's arena and winning.  

Iowa hosts Indiana in a game the Hawkeyes should win.  We are getting close to IU's last chance for an at-large bid.  

Illinois hosts Penn State in a game the Illini should win.  

Minnesota is at Rutgers in a game that the Gophers really need.  I could see this one going either way and it is probably the most important game of the weekend in terms of NCAA status.  

[ELA]

I've said on here before, but never had anyone else say it as directly as I have, until now.  This win saved Michigan's basketball program.  Beilein was gone, 100%.

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/mens-basketball/2019/02/22/michigan-state-basketball-how-2011-game-reshaped-rivalry/2941103002/

[MaximumSam]

I've said on here before, but never had anyone else say it as directly as I have, until now.  This win saved Michigan's basketball program.  Beilein was gone, 100%.

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/mens-basketball/2019/02/22/michigan-state-basketball-how-2011-game-reshaped-rivalry/2941103002/

I would love to go back in time and tell Michigan fans his offense will regress, do you want to keep him?

[Anonymous Coward]

That one is near the top in terms of Michigan BB lore. Not because it was key to any big national accomplishment that year but because it's rare for any coach or team to ever experience such a clear watershed moment.

• Before it: 11-9 overall record, 1-6 in Big Ten play. John Beilein was 57-62 as Michigan's coach, 23-39(!!!!) in the conference. And M itself had only visited the tourney once since 1998.
• After it: Beilein is 213-83 overall, 100-50 in conference, 17-7 in the NCAA Tournament, has won two Big Ten titles, two Big Ten Tournament titles, reached the Sweet 16 four times, and the national championship game twice.  

Also, I was impressed the author knew that game's popular moniker within the fan base: The "Aneurysm of Leadership" game. A super cool name IM(biased)O.

[ELA]

Ahrens still not practicing, questionable for Sunday.

This one could (should?) get ugly

[HailHailMSP]

I splurged last night and got tix just off to the side and behind the Michigan bench at the Barn. The involvement from Yaklich is fascinating to watch. One of the most vocal and active assistant coaches I have seen. And definitely most trusted too. Beilein is looking back constantly throughout the game for advice on substitutions and matchups. Yak is even more involved in the the offense than I thought. He determined the spots to get Castleton his minutes. He also gets really animated way ahead of a play, when he sees someone not following the scouting report. Kind of akin the O Coordinator in offense seeing the touchdown before it happens. He sees his defensive breakdows 3-4 seconds before the other team scores, and shows it. 

If Michigan has 2 of Matthews, Poole, and Iggy clicking the offensive output is fine. Last night worked with a hot Poole and lukewarm Iggy and Matthews. When only 1 of the 3 can create, that is where they hit the droughts. 

First Michigan sports experience for the kid and he loved it. Right next to the tunnel where the team came in and out. 

[medinabuckeye1]

Lunardi's bracketology forecast has been updated.  The big news in the B1G is that Minnesota has moved down to "last four in" and is now projected to play Alabama in Dayton for the #12 seed.  That makes for a really tough week.  To make the sweet sixteen they would have to:

• Beat a comparable Alabama team in Dayton on Tuesday or Wednesday, then
• Beat a significantly superior Nevada team in San Jose on Thursday or Friday, then
• Beat either Iowa State or Liberty on Saturday or Sunday.  

Minnesota is the only B1G team listed on the bubble, there are eight teams included in the projection:

• #2 seeds Michigan and Michigan State (both in Des Moines)
• #3 seed Purdue in Hartford
• #4 seed Wisconsin in San Jose
• #5 seed Maryland in Jacksonville
• #7 seed Iowa in Jacksonville
• #9 seed Ohio State in Salt Lake City
• #12 (if they win the play-in) seed Minnesota in San Jose

[847badgerfan]

I splurged last night and got tix just off to the side and behind the Michigan bench at the Barn. The involvement from Yaklich is fascinating to watch. One of the most vocal and active assistant coaches I have seen. And definitely most trusted too. Beilein is looking back constantly throughout the game for advice on substitutions and matchups. Yak is even more involved in the the offense than I thought. He determined the spots to get Castleton his minutes. He also gets really animated way ahead of a play, when he sees someone not following the scouting report. Kind of akin the O Coordinator in offense seeing the touchdown before it happens. He sees his defensive breakdows 3-4 seconds before the other team scores, and shows it.

If Michigan has 2 of Matthews, Poole, and Iggy clicking the offensive output is fine. Last night worked with a hot Poole and lukewarm Iggy and Matthews. When only 1 of the 3 can create, that is where they hit the droughts.

First Michigan sports experience for the kid and he loved it. Right next to the tunnel where the team came in and out.

Kudos to you for doing that. These are the little things that stick forever with kids. I'll never forget (nor will he) the first time I took my oldest (now 30) to his first football game in Madison. I think he was 7 at the time.

[bayareabadger]

That Iowa game was just wild. 

[ELA]

If Iowa isn't #1 in KenPoms luck rating, back to the drawing board

[Anonymous Coward]

Parsing advantages in tomorrow's 3:45 game leads to a lot of interesting questions:

Winston versus Simpson?
Teske versus Tillman? 
(and can Tillman stay productive if his usage soars without Ward)
MSU's transition v M's transition defense?
The refs: ticky-tacky or loose? 
(especially in terms of reffing on verticality)

Obviously there are countless other questions, but these are the ones that probably go furthest to deciding the game.

[ELA]

I think just how productive whoever out of Matthews/Poole McQuaid doesn't guard is, particularly with Ahrens now out too.  That eliminates two of MSUs too 3 wings, and most teams don't have two as good as UM does.  Whoever isn't guarded by McQuaid has no excuse not to have a monster game.  They should see Gabe freaking Brown on them for large chunks of the game.

Although to be honest, it really doesn't matter.  UM probably would have won this game with MSU at full strength.  As is, I'm fully expecting a blowout.

[Anonymous Coward]

Given the venue and injury asymmetry, betting on Michigan is pragmatic, but no bet is ever a sure thing.