There Was Hoops Last Night and the Mailbag

There’s Hoops Tonight and The Mail Bag!

Meant to Post Yesterday but got a little busy….

Just a friendly PSA:  Michigan plays PSU tonight at Crisler Arena tonight at 7:00 PM!!!  Should be a good one as Penn State has been playing better basketball recently and Michigan struggled over the break with Air Force and Binghamton.  I watched both the Air Force and Binghamton games.  Air Force should have been a lot easier and Michigan stumbled early and often.  Binghamton appeared to be a much better team than advertised and was playing really well through the middle of the 2^nd half.  Then Michigan simply took over and went on their what’s coming to be known as “Shooting back to the stat line” stretch of scoring that they seem to get into.  So, defense keeps them in until they reach that point in the game where the other team is simply doomed. 

Let’s hope they keep it up with PSU.

UPDATE:  Michigan keeps its record perfect by beating PSU handily in the 2^nd half, 68-55 after going into halftime at 25-20 and a shaky 5-point lead. 

The Mail Bag

No comment from the Peach Bowl about the end of the 1^st half clock management debacle?

Look, at this point, I think we can all agree that Michigan doesn’t seem to want to score when there’s little time remaining on the clock.  And when you don’t ever play with a sense of urgency “EVER!”, you can’t expect a team to come out in the Hurry-Hurry or 2-minute drill and be effective.  Michigan finished #124 in tempo for 2018.  That’s very sickening and concerning.  Expecting anything more moving forward isn’t going to happen unless JIM HARBAUGH CHANGES HIS STRIPES.

I was trying to and will present the “Case Against Jim Harbaugh” at a later time, because Jimmy can’t keep doing what he’s currently doing and expect different results.  You have to compare yourself to the best at some point and the best are playing with better tempo right now.  And when you

That being said, when was the last time Michigan ran a good 2-minute drive that resulted in a TD?  I couldn’t and still can’t recall one.  So, no, no comment as it’s what I’ve come to expect at this point in time.  And it’s a nice segue into the next e-mail feedback:

Can Harbaugh change?  I know you’ve been saying he has to adapt, but I haven’t seen any evidence that he can change with the game.  I’m concerned he’s still too much Bo.

If Harbaugh DOESN’T change, Michigan is doomed.  I feel like the Michigan fan base has had to suffer two extremes with two different coaches post Lloyd Carr:  The Rich Rod “No Defense” Debacle and the Harbaugh “No Conventional Offense Anomally”.  The problem with the former was that we could all see it and see it pretty clearly when Michigan regularly gave up 500+ yards per game under the Rod.  With Harbaugh, his offense can be DECEPTIONALLY GOOD against overmatched teams.  But when the talent is equal, well, that’s when this offense gets exposed.  And it might not entirely be on the offense but some of it is on the personnel.  I will give in to SuperFan at this point and concede that Patterson hasn’t been the Godsend that I thought he would be, even though he’s been the best passer we’ve had since Chad Henne.  Which also tells me the Harbaugh offense is too complicated and pro-style.  Still, Patterson’s capable enough and there should be a way to get him more involved in the offense via the passing game.  Saban finally went the way of the pass.  Swinney opted for a younger, less experienced QB this season as he was the better passer.  And those teams are in the Big One. 

I have faith as Harbaugh did manage to make a Super Bowl, and that’s not easy, either. 

I’m not sure the Big Ten is that good.  MN (The Gophers) did well, but we played a lesser opponent in a lesser Bowl.

THE STU did well but almost puked it away.  Kind of have to give Urb his compliments…83-9 is pretty darn good. 

Blue kind of shit the bed, but Florida is good. 

Sconny (Wiscy) took care of business. 

Purdon’t took the gas pipe.  How would you like to be a boilermaker fan and missed your Uber to the stadium and came 5 minutes late.  Game is over.

PSU had a tough opponent.

Next year will be interesting.  I’m hoping we are growing roses soon in Minnesota. 

I share all your observations.  I think we’re seeing who the “hungry” teams are and with the exception of Purdue, the teams that wanted it figured out a way to win.   The Gophers, Wiscy, THE STU and Northwestern took care of business.  Everyone else more or less looked deflated or out-matched.  The LNU looked even more pathetic than Michigan, if that’s possible.  Franklin was out coached but then adjusted in the 2^nd half against Kentucky, but it wasn’t enough.  All Franklin did was add to his list of detractors on the last play of the game by not putting the ball in McSorely’s hands.   What was he thinking?

I’m really not sure how good the B1G is right at this very moment in time, but I hate to evaluate ANYTHING based on Bowl Performance.  I do think the B1G West is getting better.  The Flecker, Brohm (last game excluded), Frost and Chryst are hungry and know what it takes (maybe not so much Chryst).