Hoop Dreams Realized

Recorded in 2004 by Brent Petway (special thanks to TG!)

{Verse 1}
We play in Crisler Arena, where the hoopers at.
The post men, the high flyers,
And the three-point shooters at.
NIT 2004, other teams pursuing that.
Dunkin on these lame cats
(A.G., why you doin’ that?)
Man cuz that’s my job, 2-for-1.
I catch the lob,
the lob I catch.
make you say whoa like Black Rob.
But it ain’t ova yet cuz who handle the rock?
D. Horton, plain and simple, yeah he get off his shots.
But who call the shots, T.A.,
coach Ram, coach Moore, coach Swen.
Slam Jam thank you ma’am!
Next up, nyce man game high 28,
My first 28 field goals,
(How many were dunks?) 28!
Then L.A., Mr. consistency,
Sherrod Harrell, Graham Brown Tri-captaincy.
And why we play so hard?
Why we run when Plock say run?
It ain’t the name on the back,
It’s the name on the front!

{Chorus}
I Said, we gotta be one of the most underrated teams in basketball
By the end of this year, we’re gonna be called #1! #1!
Michigan..huh? #1! #1! (Yeah) (x2)

{Verse 2}
The NIT was just for starters,
Naw…we ain’t finished yet.
Courtney Sims keeps blockin’ shots,
I’m flyin through the air like lear jets.
Then in comes Big Game Hunter,
Known as a Big Game Hunter,
Shoot three-pointers like his name’s Lindsey Hunter.
Switch the subject, in comes J.C. Mathis,
He’s complaining ‘cuz Amadou keeps hackin’.
Keeps smackin’, he keeps foulin’,
meanwhile Ashtyn Bell still wildin’.
Dani, John and R.C., too,
Blue team combo like R2 D2.
Michigan State and Illinois, too,
Georgia Tech, yeah, they’ll all get ran through.
All get done too, Maize Rage, Blue Crew,
Cheer for who, who, dribble, dribble, shoot, shoot.
Basketball this year and football this year,
We all goin’ for the championship.

{Chorus}

Nothing But ‘Net – Week #14 – 01/28/2013 – Number One?

The (#2) University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games last week, and they won them both. At the same time, (#1) Duke got hammered on the road by (#25) Miami (FL), so it sure looks like Michigan is going to be ranked #1 in the AP Poll this week!

The two games that Michigan played last week were good, solid wins against middle-of-the-pack Big Ten teams. On Thursday (01/24/2013), they beat Purdue 68-53 in Crisler Arena, then on Sunday (01/27/2013), they beat Illinois 74-60 in Champaign. The two wins raise UM’s record to 19-1, 6-1 in Big Ten play. They are tied for 1st place in the Big Ten.

In both games, Michigan fell behind early, but didn’t panic. In fact, Purdue actually had a 1-point lead (33-32) at halftime, the only time UM has trailed at halftime at home this season. However, in both games, Michigan slowly but surely erased the deficit and built a lead, then protected it. In the Purdue game, Michigan was still behind (40-39) with 15 minutes left, then they went on a quick 10-0 run to get a lead that they never lost. In the Illinois game, Michigan led for most of the game, but it was close (2-4 points) for most of the 1st half. In the 2nd half, UM pushed the lead out to double digits, and mostly kept it there. They did let Illinois get within 4 points (41-37) with 16:41 left in the game, but that’s when Michigan pulled away.

The stats for the Purdue game are much nicer than the ones for the Illinois game. In the Purdue game, Michigan shot pretty well overall (27-for-55 = 49.1%), and pretty well from 3-point range (7-for-16 = 43.8%). They shot free throws pretty well (7-for-10 = 70.0%), and they won the rebounding battle (35-29) and the turnover battle (10-12). Michigan shot pretty well overall in the Illinois game (31-for-59 = 52.5%), but not so well from 3-point range (5-for-15 = 33.3%). They were mediocre from the free-throw line (7-for-13 = 53.8%), they lost the rebounding battle (35-36), but they won the turnover battle (12-15). Overall, they played well enough to win, but not up to the level they set in some of their more impressive victories. Still, a win is a win. Just ask Duke.

Individually, 3 players hit double figures in both games:

The 5th starter, Jordan Morgan had 6 points vs. Purdue, but 0 points vs. Illinois. He only played 91 seconds in the Illinois game before he injured his ankle. He didn’t return to the game. His status isn’t known at this time.

The bench players had mixed success scoring:

  • Spike Albrecht – 0 and 0 points.
  • Max Bielfeldt – DNP and 4 points. Max had to play a lot more minutes in the Illinois game, with Morgan out, and he did fine.
  • Jon Horford – 2 and 7 points. Jon also had to play a lot more minutes in the Illinois game, with Morgan out, and he also did fine.
  • Caris LeVert – 2 and 0 points.
  • Mitch McGary – 6 and 6 points.

Michigan only got 10 points from the bench in the Purdue game, but they got 17 points vs. Illinois, which is more like it.

This Week

After a couple games against lower-division teams, Michigan has one more relatively easy game, then they start a brutal 4-game stretch. This week, they play Northwestern on Wednesday (01/30/2013, 6:30 p.m., BTN) in Crisler Arena, then on Saturday (02/02/2013, 9:00 p.m. EST, ESPN) they play at (#7) Indiana. They should beat Northwestern fairly easily, but the game at IU will be Michigan’s toughest test yet. If they can win that one, they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten title.

Check back next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

Big Ten Report – Week #04 (01/28/2013)

Standings

Here are the current Big Ten standings, after Week #4:

 

Team (AP Rank)

Big Ten

Overall

Wins

Losses

Percent

Wins

Losses

Percent

Michigan (#2)

6

1

0.857

19

1

0.950

Indiana (#7)

6

1

0.857

18

2

0.900

Michigan State (#13)

6

2

0.750

17

4

0.810

Ohio State (#14)

5

2

0.714

15

4

0.789

Wisconsin

5

2

0.714

14

6

0.700

Purdue

4

3

0.571

11

9

0.550

Minnesota (#12)

3

4

0.429

15

5

0.750

Northwestern

3

5

0.375

12

9

0.571

Illinois

2

5

0.286

15

6

0.714

Iowa

2

5

0.286

13

7

0.650

Nebraska

2

6

0.250

11

10

0.524

Penn State

0

8

0.000

8

12

0.400

 

Results

Here are the results from last week’s games (Week #4):

 

Tuesday (01/22/2013)

Iowa lost at Ohio State, 72-63

Michigan State won at Wisconsin, 49-47

Illinois won at Nebraska, 71-51

 

Wednesday (01/23/2013)

Penn State lost at Indiana, 72-49

Minnesota lost at Northwestern, 55-48

 

Thursday (01/24/2013)

Purdue lost at Michigan, 68-53

 

Saturday (01/26/2013)

Ohio State won at Penn State, 65-51

Minnesota lost at Wisconsin, 45-44

Northwestern lost at Nebraska, 64-49

 

Sunday (01/27/2013)

Michigan State lost at Indiana, 75-70

Iowa lost at Purdue, 65-62 (OT)

Michigan won at Illinois, 74-60

 

The home teams did pretty well this week, going 8-4. There were just a couple surprises this week:

 

  • Minnesota lost at Northwestern on Wednesday. Minnesota is ranked, and Northwestern is struggling, but it’s tough to win on the road in the Big Ten.
  • Northwestern lost at Nebraska on Saturday. Northwestern just beat Minnesota, then they lose to Nebraska?

 

The Upcoming Week

Here are the games scheduled for the upcoming week (Week #5):

 

Tuesday (01/29/2013)

Wisconsin at Ohio State

Nebraska at Minnesota

 

Wednesday (01/30/2013)

Northwestern at Michigan

Indiana at Purdue

 

Thursday (01/31/2013)

Illinois at Michigan State

Penn State at Iowa

 

Saturday (02/02/2013)

Purdue at Northwestern

Ohio State at Nebraska

Michigan at Indiana

 

Sunday (02/03/2013)

Iowa at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Illinois

 

There are two big games this week:

 

  • Wisconsin at Ohio State on Tuesday. Somebody’s getting their 3rd loss.
  • Michigan at Indiana on Saturday. This one could be for 1st place.

 

Full Schedule

Here’s the entire Big Ten schedule, with the teams in alphabetical order. I’ll include this table every week, with the wins and losses filled in:

 

Team

Record

Wins Losses Remaining Games
Illinois

Total:

2-5

Ohio State (H)
Nebraska (A)
Purdue (A)
Minnesota (H)

Wisconsin (A)

Northwestern (H)

Michigan (H)

Michigan State (A)
Wisconsin (H)

Indiana (H)

Minnesota (A)

Purdue (H)

Northwestern (A)

Penn State (H)

Michigan (A)

Nebraska (H)

Iowa (A)

Ohio State (A)

Home:

1-3

Away:

1-2

Indiana

Total:

6-1

Iowa (A)
Penn State (A)

Minnesota (H)

Northwestern (A)

Penn State (H)

Michigan State (H)

Wisconsin (H)
Purdue (A)
Michigan (H)

Illinois (A)

Ohio State (A)

Nebraska (H)

Purdue (H)

Michigan State (A)

Minnesota (A)

Iowa (H)

Ohio State (H)

Michigan (A)

Home:

3-1

Away:

3-0

Iowa

Total:

2-5

Northwestern (A)
Wisconsin (H)
Indiana (H)
Michigan (A)

Michigan State (H)

Ohio State (A)

Purdue (A)

Penn State (H)
Minnesota (A)

Wisconsin (A)

Northwestern (H)

Penn State (A)

Minnesota (H)

Nebraska (A)

Purdue (H)

Indiana (A)

Illinois (H)

Nebraska (H)

Home:

1-2

Away:

1-3

Michigan

Total:

6-1

Northwestern (A)
Iowa (H)

Nebraska (H)

Minnesota (A)

Purdue (H)

Illinois (A)

Ohio State (A) Northwestern (H)
Indiana (A)

Ohio State (H)

Wisconsin (A)

Michigan State (A)

Penn State (H)

Illinois (H)

Penn State (A)

Michigan State (H)

Purdue (A)

Indiana (H)

Home:

3-0

Away:

3-1

Michigan State

Total:

6-2

Purdue (H)
Iowa (A)

Nebraska (H)

Penn State (A)

Ohio State (H)

Wisconsin (A)

Minnesota (A)
Indiana (A)
Illinois (H)
Minnesota (H)

Purdue (A)

Michigan (H)

Nebraska (A)

Indiana (H)

Ohio State (A)

Michigan (A)

Wisconsin (H)

Northwestern (H)

Home:

3-0

Away:

3-2

Minnesota

Total:

3-4

Michigan State (H)
Northwestern (H)

Illinois (A)

Indiana (A)
Michigan (H)

Northwestern (A)

Wisconsin (A)

Nebraska (H)
Iowa (H)

Michigan State (A)

Illinois (H)

Wisconsin (H)

Iowa (A)

Ohio State (A)

Indiana (H)

Penn State (H)

Nebraska (A)

Purdue (A)

Home:

2-1

Away:

1-3

Nebraska

Total:

2-6

Penn State (A)
Northwestern (H)
Ohio State (A)
Wisconsin (H)

Michigan (A)

Michigan State (A)

Purdue (H)

Illinois (H)

Minnesota (A)
Ohio State (H)

Penn State (H)

Indiana (A)

Michigan State (H)

Iowa (H)

Wisconsin (A)

Illinois (A)

Minnesota (H)

Iowa (A)

Home:

1-3

Away:

1-3

Northwestern

Total:

3-5

Penn State (A)
Illinois (A)

Minnesota (H)

Michigan (H)
Minnesota (A)

Iowa (H)

Indiana (H)

Nebraska (A)

Michigan (A)
Purdue (H)

Iowa (A)

Ohio State (A)

Illinois (H)

Wisconsin (H)

Purdue (A)

Ohio State (H)

Penn State (H)

Michigan State (A)

Home:

1-3

Away:

2-2

Ohio State

Total:

5-2

Nebraska (H)
Purdue (A)

Michigan (H)

Iowa (H)

Penn State (A)

Illinois (A)
Michigan State (A)
Wisconsin (H)
Nebraska (A)

Michigan (A)

Indiana (H)

Northwestern (H)

Wisconsin (A)

Minnesota (H)

Michigan State (H)

Northwestern (A)

Indiana (A)

Illinois (H)

Home:

3-0

Away:

2-2

Penn State

Total:

0-8

Wisconsin (A)
Indiana (H)

Northwestern (H)

Purdue (A)

Michigan State (H)

Nebraska (H)

Indiana (A)

Ohio State (H)

Iowa (A)
Purdue (H)

Nebraska (A)

Iowa (H)

Michigan (A)

Illinois (A)

Michigan (H)

Minnesota (A)

Northwestern (A)

Wisconsin (H)

Home:

0-5

Away:

0-3

Purdue

Total:

4-3

Illinois (H)
Penn State (H)

Nebraska (A)

Iowa (H)

Michigan State (A)
Ohio State (H)

Michigan (A)

Indiana (H)
Northwestern (A)

Penn State (A)

Michigan State (H)

Illinois (A)

Indiana (A)

Northwestern (H)

Iowa (A)

Wisconsin (A)

Michigan (H)

Minnesota (H)

Home:

3-1

Away:

1-2

Wisconsin

Total:

5-2

Penn State (H)
Nebraska (A)

Illinois (H)

Indiana (A)

Minnesota (H)

Iowa (A)
Michigan State (H)
Ohio State (A)
Illinois (A)

Iowa (H)

Michigan (H)

Minnesota (A)

Ohio State (H)

Northwestern (A)

Nebraska (H)

Purdue (H)

Michigan State (A)

Penn State (A)

Home:

3-1

Away:

2-1


Nothing But ‘Net – Week #13 – 01/21/2013 – A Big Road Win

The (#5) University of Michigan men’s basketball team won a big game on the road last week, after looking terrible in the beginning of their previous game, a 56-53 loss to Ohio State. On Thursday (01/17/2013), they beat (#9) Minnesota 83-75. The win raises UM’s record to 17-1, 4-1 in Big Ten play. They are tied for 2nd place in the Big Ten.

In their loss to OSU, Michigan started the game playing terribly, and they dug themselves into a hole that they spent the next 30 minutes digging out of. Not so in the Minnesota game. They came out playing hard from the opening tip, and never let Minnesota get very far ahead. Minnesota’s biggest lead was 6-2, in the opening minutes. They were still ahead, 13-10, with about 14 minutes left in the 1st half, when Michigan got it going. The Wolverines went on a nice 16-3 run, to open up a 10-point lead (26-16) with 8 minutes left in the 1st half, and they never trailed again. Minnesota managed to cut the deficit to 2 points a couple times, including 30-28 with about 4 minutes left in the half, but Michigan managed to counter every Minnesota run. Michigan led by 6 (36-30) at halftime, and pushed the lead right back to 10 points (42-32) in the first 1:20 after halftime. From there, they got the lead up as high as 19 points (58-39) with 12:30 left in the game, then they held off Minnesota down the stretch to win by 8.

It was an impressive win, and it showed that Michigan does have the ability to win a big game on the road against a Top-10 opponent in a (very) hostile environment. Minnesota really wanted this one, and they played hard, but Michigan had the weapons to beat them.

The stats are pretty impressive as well, especially for a Big Ten road game. Michigan shot very well overall (28-for-51 = 54.9%), and they shot well from 3-point range (10-for-20 = 50.0%). They shot free throws well enough to win (17-for-25 = 68.0%), but they lost the rebounding battle (25-33). They did win the turnover battle (12-15), but 12 turnovers is a lot for this season’s Michigan team.

Individually, 3 players hit double figures:

  • Trey Burke – 18 points (and 9 assists, just missing a double-double).
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. – 21 points (on only 8 shots!).
  • Nik Stauskas – 11 points. Back in the “double figures” club again, after missing it last game.

The other 2 starters almost hit double figures:

Coach Beilein played more bench players than usual for a close game. They had mixed success scoring:

Michigan got 15 points from the bench, which is a little better.

This Week

After only playing one game last week, Michigan has two games this week. On Thursday (01/24/2013, 7:00 p.m., ESPN), they play Purdue in Crisler Arena, then on Sunday (01/27/2013, 6:00 p.m. EST, BTN), they play at (#23) Illinois. These are both games that Michigan should win, but the Big Ten is very unpredictable this season, and a road game at Illinois is always tough.

Check back next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!