Bubble On, Bubble Off....Repeat

I’d like to say that I’ve calmed down from last night’s aberration. 

I’d “like” to say that.

I’d be lying, so I won’t say it. 

A feeling of dread overwhelmed me when I heard we had Valentine and his crew officiating this game.  Valentine’s crew should not be allowed to referee any game where anything is at stake.  Meaning never…. 

I will say something that I’ve said in the past and TO THIS DAY do not understand how (and I use this term loosely) Mr. Valentine is still a B1G referee and how any of his crew can still be at it as well. 

I cannot STAND Teddy Valentine.  I hate everything about him.  When he dies, a small part of me will be very glad.  (Kind of like when Drew Sharp died.)  Yes, I’ll feel sorry for their families and relatives, but the world I live in will be a much, MUCH Better place as a result.

I’ve always felt that blaming referees for the outcome of a game is stupid.  And all the pundits are correct:  Michigan had plenty of chances to win the game.  Only going a very non-characteristic 9-18 from the charity stripe is an easy one to point to.  Michigan was also called for a record number of fouls this season, 27 to be exact.  27 Fouls  from a team that AVERAGES less than 10 a game…Which brings me back to Valentine.

I’ve searched the airwaves for the sequence of events that has me as pissed off as John Beilein appeared to be after the phantom foul was called on (I think) Wagner and then Michigan Assistant coach Saddi Washington apparently “Hopped Up” on the raised floor at the Williams center (which I guess is two coaches on the floor?) to better address the team.  And Valentine dished out the Technical.

For an assistant standing up when play was stopped. 

Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot.  ARE YOU F@$#%ING KIDDING ME????

I know, I know.  Michigan led after that point and the atrocity had been overcome.  The Gophers stormed ahead to what appeared to be an insurmountable 8 point lead with 1:30 left in regulation, but then they became very “Gopherish”.  Turning the ball over twice resulting in easy scores for Michigan brought it down to a 4 point game.  A Three, a Gopher score and then Wilson’s game tier made if fell as if the Wolverines had momentum heading into the extra session.

But alas, the Gophers and the home crowd were simply too much in the end.  Walton’s 3-pointer to tie was off by that much and the result was the same as it’s been all season for the Wolverines on the road…..

But I go back to that foul and subsequent Technical.  Take those out of the equation and Michigan might win in regulation. 

Hell, take 1/3 of the fouls on Michigan (which, by my count, that’s an underestimate of what fouls really occurred) and Michigan wins by a bunch. 

The B1G seriously needs to review refereeing for integrity, accuracy of calls, and most importantly, letting the game play out on its own merit and the officiating not being “part of the game.”

Teddy isn’t happy unless were talking about him the next day. 

And he we are, making Teddy Happy.

As giddy as I’m sure the Gopher fans are reading about my laments….Minnesota is NOT a basketball rivalry.  Michigan has owned that team.  Pitino had not beat Michigan in his entire tenure as the Gophers head coach. 

Michigan’s biggest Rival:  Right here

 

 

The Michigan Resume

Record:        17-10

BPI:              23  24

Kenpom:      28   27

RPI:              52   52

Opponent     Location       Date   Day and Time          Result

Indiana          Home             1-26    Thursday, 9:15        90-60 Blow-Out

Sparty             Away              1-29    Sunday, 1:00            70-62 Loss

Suckeyes     Home             2-4      Saturday, 6:00         70-66 Loss

Sparty            Home             2-7      Tuesday, 9:00         86-57 BLOW-OUT

Indiana          Away              2-12    Sunday, 1:00             75-63 SWEEP OF IU!!!!

Wiscy             Home             2-16    Thursday, 7:00        64-58 Win

Minnesota     Away              2-19    Sunday, 7:00               83-78  LOSE

Rutgers          Away              2-22    Wednesday, 6:30    

Purdue          Home             2-25    Saturday, 4:00

Northwestern Away             3-1      Wednesday, 7:00

Nebraska       Away              3-5      Sunday, 8:00

 Lunardi updated this AM and here’s the bracket with Michigan in solidly as a 9-Seed.

 

Michigan is still 7^th overall in the B1G Standings with what should be a winnable road game against Rutgers on Wednesday, even though Rutgers gave Northwestern everything they could handle in Evanston on Saturday.  I wish Rutgers hoops would be more like their football team and just lay down, for pete’s sake....

Then Michigan gets the Purdue Juggernaut at home.  I’m nervous about that game.  Purdue truly looked, to me anyway, like a Final Four team with the trouncing of Sparty on Saturday.  I know, Sparty didn’t look good, but Purdue took advantage of that and looked freaking awesome.  Beating Purdue Saturday will definitely help Michigan’s overall chances.

Sparty lost so much more than a game on Saturday.   Eron Harris, senior, went up for a lay-up and came down on his right foot awkwardly.  If you watched the game, you heard him scream through the announcers microphones.  Even Dakich knew it was bad…It’s sad to see anyone’s season end like that and hopefully, that wasn’t career ending.

However, I will say this:  Sparty Fans, I wouldn’t normally take such delight in your failures, but the memories of 2008 and 2009, not to mention all the other years of your recent “State Domination” in the big sports, football and basketball.  (Michigan’s Final Four and NCAA Championship Appearance in 2013 notwithstanding)

I remembered having to endure comments and statements along the lines of “Michigan athletics is dead.  Michigan will never be good again. Michigan will be rivals to Northwestern and Illinois as the balance of power has shifted.”

Yeah…’Bout that.  KARMA’S A BITCH!!!

4-8 football record.  Hoops team hanging onto to NCAA hopes by a thread and will more than likely need to win out to have any shot of making the tourney. 

Yep, what comes around goes around.  Sparty, that light you see coming around is on the front of a Michigan Freight Train.  And if history holds, the athletic dip you’re about to go into should last somewhere between 30-40 years. 

So there’s that, which is nice!