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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #01 – 10/29/2012 – Season Preview

Welcome back for another season of Nothing But ‘Net, your best source for a unique usher-based point-of-view of University of Michigan men’s basketball.  I know what you’re thinking: “why would I want to know what an usher thinks about the basketball team?”  Good question!  Easy answer: I’m more than just an usher, I’m a (2-time) alumnus (LSA 1978 and School of Information 2004), and I’ve been a UM basketball fan since 1974.  How’s that?  Still want more?  I’ve been writing this column weekly (during the season) since 1999, longer than any of the other Web-based writers.  Sure, there are other writers out there, and I read their stuff, but they don’t bring you the fan-based viewpoint that you get at UMGoBlue.com.  Check back every Monday morning from now until the end of the season (hopefully after the National Championship game) for a quick review of what happened last week, and what to expect during the upcoming week, all in one easy-to-read article.

 

You want easy-to-read?  OK, let’s get right to the big question:

 

How good is the 2012-2013 team going to be?  The easy answer: really good.

 

In general, preseason polls aren’t worth the electrons they’re made up of, but they do give a decent guess at what to expect, and most of the polls have UM in the Top 10, averaging around 6.  Michigan has a strong group of returning players, and an excellent group of incoming freshmen.  UM won a share of the Big Ten championship last season, and expectations are high.  Keep reading for more details.

 

Last Season

 

Michigan ended the season with a record of 24-10 (13-5 in the Big Ten).  This is on the upper end of what most of the experts predicted.  UM also won a share of the Big Ten regular season title, along with Michigan State and Ohio State.  That was definitely the highlight of the season.  The bad news was how poorly they played in the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.  They barely won their 1st game in the Big Ten Tournament vs. Minnesota, then they got blown out in their next game against Ohio State.  Still, they were awarded a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but that didn’t stop them from losing to a #13 seed, Ohio University.  It was a lousy end to a good season.

 

Even though the season ended with a whimper instead of a bang, things were looking very promising for next season, with most of the key players returning from last season’s team, and a very impressive recruiting class set to come in.  Then the bad news hit, all on the same day: first, three players (Carlton Brundidge, Colton Christian, and Evan Smotrycz) all decided to leave the team at the same time, then the best player on the team (Trey Burke) announced that he was examining his NBA draft options.  None of this was good news, but it might still work out OK.  Losing Smotrycz was a blow, but the incoming recruits should soften that blow somewhat.  The other two players (Brundidge and Christian) didn’t play much, and they won’t be missed.  The big question mark was Burke.  Fortunately, he decided to stay!

 

Players Lost

 

Michigan lost 6 players from last season’s team: 2 graduating seniors and 4 transfers:

 

 

After 4 very productive years, Stu Douglass and Zack Novak finally graduated.  They were true Michigan Men™, and they will be missed, not just for their on-court contributions, but also for their leadership.

 

The other 4 players won’t be missed, except for maybe Smotrycz.  Christian and Brundidge didn’t play much, and didn’t do much when they did play.  Tummala was a preferred walk-on who redshirted last year, and never played.

 

Players Returning

 

Michigan has a very talented group of players returning this season.  Here they are, by class year (eligibility):

 

Freshman Eligibility

 

Max Bielfeldt #44 (6’7”, 245 pounds, F) – Max was voluntarily redshirted last year, so he retains freshman eligibility.  He’s a big, strong player, but we’ve never seen him play in a college game.  I suspect he’ll be mostly a scout team player, and only get into the game for “garbage time”.

 

Sophomore Eligibility

 

Trey Burke #3 (6’0”, 190 pounds, G) – Trey was one of the best players on the team last season, and he’s a key component on this season’s team.  He is an elite point guard, with a nice shooting touch and great passing ability.  It was a big deal when he decided to skip the NBA draft after last season and return for his sophomore season.

 

Jon Horford #15 (6’10”, 250 pounds, F) – Jon started last season playing pretty well, certainly much-improved from his freshman season, then he broke a bone in his right foot after just 9 games, and missed  the rest of the season.  He was granted a medical redshirt season, so he has sophomore eligibility.  I’m expecting him to be a steady contributor, although he’s going to have to work hard to earn minutes in the crowded UM front court.

 

Junior Eligibility

 

Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 (6’6”, 205 pounds, G) – Tim was the other “best player on the team” last season, along with Trey Burke, and he’s going to be counted on to be another key component on this season’s team.  He had a fabulous freshman season, but his sophomore season was just a little “off”.  He had several great games, but he would often disappear for an entire first half, then play like a man possessed in the second half.  He’s quick, he’s tough, he can shoot from outside and drive to the basket, he’s got good vision, and he’s got great “basketball smarts”.

 

Blake McLimans #22 (6’10”, 240 pounds, F) – Blake is listed as a senior on the official UM web page, but he voluntarily redshirted during his freshman year, so he has junior eligibility.  He came to Michigan with a reputation as a good 3-point shooter, but he went 1-for-19 during his freshman season.  He did a little better last season, starting off hitting 3 of his first 4 attempts, but ended the season shooting 5-for-12.  He needs to improve on that to see much playing time this season.  For a player his size, he gets remarkably few rebounds (21 last season), and plays a lot shorter than his actual height.

 

Jordan Morgan #52 (6’8”, 250 pounds, F) – Jordan redshirted his freshman year, for various medical reasons, so he has junior eligibility.  He plays taller than his listed height, and he plays hard and tough underneath.  He was Michigan’s only true center last season, once Jon Horford went out with his foot injury, but he’ll have a lot more help this season.

 

Senior Eligibility

 

Eso Akunne #5 (6’2”, 225 pounds, G) – Eso played in 12 games last season, until he injured his foot.  He missed the last 13 games, but doesn’t qualify for a medical redshirt year.  Even when he did play, he didn’t do much.  He did shoot 3-pointers well: 4-for-5.

 

Josh Bartelstein #20 (6’3”, 210 pounds, G) – Josh played in 11 games last season.  He is primarily a practice squad player.  He also writes a very interesting and amusing blog during the season.

 

Corey Person #32 (6’3”, 210 pounds, G) – Corey is listed as a Grad Student, but he has senior eligibility.  He was honored during Senior Night at the end of last season, but he’s back again this season.  Go figure.  He is primarily a practice squad player.

 

Matt Vogrich #13 (6’4”, 200 pounds, G) – Matt is the only mainstream player in the senior class.  He’s a good 3-point shooter, but needs to work on his overall game a bit to get more playing time.

 

New Players

 

Here comes the fun part: a top 5 recruiting class.

 

Michael (“Spike”) Albrecht #2 (5’11”, 170 pounds, G) – When it looked like Trey Burke might leave for the NBA, Coach Beilein went right out and got the best point guard still available, as insurance.  That’s Spike.  He’s a pure “pass first” point guard, with lots of “basketball IQ”, but not a Big Ten body.  We’ll see how he does out there against the big boys.

 

Caris LeVert #23 (6’5”, 170 pounds, G) – Check it out: he’s 6 inches taller than Spike, but he weighs the same.  So, he’s a little on the thin side.  Caris is the “sleeper” of this recruiting class.  He didn’t come in with all the hype that the next 3 guys (Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, and Nik Stauskas) brought with them, but from everything I’ve been hearing from practice, he can flat-out play.  He’s fast and clever.  He just needs some time in the weight room.

 

Mitch McGary #4 (6’10”, 250 pounds, F) – Mitch is the most-heralded player in this recruiting class, ranked as high as #2 in the country at one point, and I’m hoping that he’ll be the center that Michigan has needed for the last 10 years.  He’s tall, he’s big, he’s strong, and he’s a pretty good all-around player.

 

Glenn Robinson III #1 (6’6”, 210 pounds, F) – If Mitch McGary is the most-heralded recruit in this class, Glenn is a close second.  He wasn’t very highly ranked when he committed to UM, but he climbed in the rankings during his last 2 seasons in high school, and now he’s considered to be a big-time recruit.  He’s quick, smooth, and very athletic, and he’s a great scorer.  I can’t wait to see him play.  Oh yeah, his nickname before he got to UM was “Tre” (or “Trey”), but since UM already has a prominent Trey (Burke), he’s trying to change it to “GIII” or “GRIII”.  You have been warned.

 

Nik Stauskas #11 (6’6”, 190 pounds, F) – Nik could be the elusive “great 3-point shooter” that the Beilein system needs.  He has rung up impressive numbers in practice with his 3-point shooting, but we’ll have to see if he can do it in a real college game.  Also, he needs to work on his all-around game, especially his defense, it he wants to be a mainstream player.

 

All in all, it’s a great recruiting class, with some height (finally), some power, some shooting, and some athleticism.  Now it’s up to Coach Beilein to figure out how to turn all this talent into a coherent team.

 

This Season

 

Let’s take a look at Michigan’s schedule for this season:

 

[styled_table]

DateOpponentLocationTime (ET)

11/01/2012 (Thu) Northern Michigan (exh) Ann Arbor, MI 7:00 p.m.
11/05/2012 (Mon) Saginaw Valley State (exh) Ann Arbor, MI 7:00 p.m.
11/09/2012 (Fri) Slippery Rock Ann Arbor, MI 8:30 p.m.
NIT Season Tip-Off
11/12/2012 (Mon) IUPUI Ann Arbor, MI 9:00 p.m.
11/13/2012 (Tue) Cleveland St./Bowling Green Ann Arbor, MI 8:00 p.m.
11/19/2012 (Mon) Consolation (if necessary) Ann Arbor, MI TBA
11/20/2012 (Tue) Consolation (if necessary) Ann Arbor, MI TBA
11/21/2012 (Wed) Semifinal New York, NY 7:00/9:00 p.m.
11/23/2012 (Fri) Championship New York, NY 2:30/4:30 p.m.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
11/27/2012 (Tue) North Carolina State Ann Arbor, MI 7:30 p.m.
12/01/2012 (Sat) Bradley Peoria, IL 4:00 p.m.
12/04/2012 (Tue) Western Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 8:30 p.m.
12/08/2012 (Sat) Arkansas Ann Arbor, MI 12:00 p.m.
12/11/2012 (Tue) Binghamton Ann Arbor, MI 7:00 p.m.
12/15/2012 (Sat) West Virginia Brooklyn, NY 8:00 p.m.
12/20/2012 (Thu) Eastern Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 8:30 p.m.
12/29/2012 (Sat) Central Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 7:00 p.m.
01/03/2013 (Thu) Northwestern Evanston, IL 7:00 p.m.
01/06/2013 (Sun) Iowa Ann Arbor, MI TBA
01/09/2013 (Thu) Nebraska Ann Arbor, MI 7:00 p.m.
01/13/2013 (Sun) Ohio State Columbus, OH 1:30/4:30 p.m.
01/17/2013 (Thu) Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 7:00 p.m.
01/24/2013 (Thu) Purdue Ann Arbor, MI 7:00 p.m.
01/27/2013 (Sun) Illinois Champaign, IL 6:00 p.m.
01/30/2013 (Wed) Northwestern Ann Arbor, MI 6:30 p.m.
02/02/2013 (Sat) Indiana Bloomington, IN 9:00 p.m.
02/05/2013 (Tue) Ohio State Ann Arbor, MI 9:00 p.m.
02/09/2013 (Sat) Wisconsin Madison, WI 12:00 p.m.
02/12/2013 (Tue) Michigan State East Lansing, MI 9:00 p.m.
02/17/2013 (Sun) Penn State Ann Arbor, MI 12:00 p.m.
02/24/2013 (Sun) Illinois Ann Arbor, MI 1/4/6 p.m.
02/27/2013 (Wed) Penn State State College, PA 6:30 p.m.
03/02/2013 (Sat)or03/03/2013 (Sun) Michigan State Ann Arbor, MI 5:15 p.m.or1:00/4:00 p.m.
03/06/2013 (Wed) Purdue West Lafayette, IN 7:00 p.m.
03/10/2013 (Sun) Indiana Ann Arbor, MI 1/4/6 p.m.
Big Ten Tournament
03/14/2013 (Thu) 1st Round Chicago, IL TBA
03/15/2013 (Fri) 2nd Round Chicago, IL TBA
03/16/2013 (Sat) Semifinals Chicago, IL 1:40/4:05
03/17/2013 (Sun) Championship Chicago, IL 3:30 p.m.

[/styled_table]
Some comments on the schedule:

 

  • Michigan has two exhibition games this season, instead of the typical single game.
  • Michigan is the only ranked team in the NIT Season Tip-Off, but it’s still a good field.  Besides UM, the other “name” teams are Virginia, Kansas State, and Pittsburgh.
  • Unlike all the other “destination” preseason tournaments, the NIT Season Tip-Off is the only one that doesn’t guarantee a spot in the championship rounds to the “host” (favored) teams.  That means that Michigan, Virginia, Kansas State, and Pittsburgh (the host teams) each have to win the 4-team “regionals” that they’re hosting to advance to the championship rounds in Madison Square Garden.  That’s why there are 2 “Consolation” games listed on the schedule, marked as “if necessary”.  If either IUPUI or the winner of the Cleveland State/Bowling Green game upsets Michigan, UM will stay home and play games on 11/19 and 11/20.  I don’t know who they would play.  However, if Michigan wins their “regional”, they will go to NYC for Thanksgiving.
  • Michigan usually plays all their December non-conference games at home, but not this season.  They’re going to Peoria to play Bradley, then to Brooklyn to play West Virginia.
  • There are 2 tough stretches in the schedule:
    • Starting on 02/02: @Indiana, home vs. Ohio State, @Wisconsin, @MSU.  If UM can even go 2-2 in that stretch, they’ll be in great shape.
    • Starting on 03/02: home vs. MSU, @Purdue, home vs. Indiana.  Those are the last 3 games of the regular season, and UM needs to finish strong.
  • Michigan only plays Iowa and Nebraska once (home) and Minnesota and Wisconsin once (away).  This is an unfavorable situation, since Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota are all lower-division teams, and playing at Wisconsin is a nightmare.

 

Expectations

 

I like to divide the games up into 3 categories (“Should Win”, “Should Lose”, and “Toss Up”):

 

  • Should Win (19) – Slippery Rock, IUPUI, Cleveland State/Bowling Green, Bradley, Western Michigan, Arkansas, Binghamton, West Virginia, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Northwestern (twice), Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue (home), Penn State (twice). Illinois (home).
  • Should Lose (4) – @Indiana, @OSU, @Wisconsin, @MSU.
  • Toss Up (8) – Both games in NYC, N.C. State, Purdue (away), Illinois (away), OSU (home), MSU (home), Indiana (home).

 

So, if UM can win all 19 of the “Should Win” games, and half of the 8 “Toss Up” games, that would give them a record of 23-8 (12-6 in the Big Ten).  That probably won’t be good enough to win the Big Ten, but it will get UM a good seed in the NCAA Tournament.

 

This Week

 

As you can see in the schedule above, Michigan’s first (exhibition) game is this Thursday (11/01, 7:00 p.m., No TV) vs. Northern Michigan.  Of course, UM will win handily, and get to try all kinds of combinations of players out there.  Come on down to the newly renovated Crisler Arena to check out this season’s edition of Michigan Basketball, and stop by sections 209/210 to say hi.

 

Go Blue!

 

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M FOOTBALL 2012-SEA OF RED NO TSUNAMI, BUT ENOUGH TO DROWN WOLVERINE WINNING STREAK-MICHIGAN 9, NEBRASKA 23

OFFENSE AGAIN STRUGGLES TO SCORE TOUCHDOWNS

Michigan’s football team visited the unfriendly confines of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium Saturday, carrying in a 3-0 Big Ten record, and intent on wresting control of the Big Ten’s Legends Division race from the grasping and capable hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  They had the same goal in mind.  The evening belonged to the Huskers as the Wolverines played their worst offensive game of the year, lost the services of Denard Robinson during the second quarter, got some goofy calls, perpetrated some foolish penalties, and could not manage a TD for six consecutive quarters, even with Denard at the helm. Additionally, they went without  TDs for two more quarters with a besieged redshirt Freshman Russell Bellomy at the helm.  Bellomy threw 27 times for 43-yards, and was intercepted 3 times.  He made a nice tackle after one of the interceptions which prevented a score.

TEAM COMPARABILITIES: The teams were comparable in many respects.  Both are storied football powers.  Both have hordes of dedicated and loyal fans. Both have won multiple National Championships the latest being shared in 1997 by both.  Both have had storied Coaches such as Tom Osborne and Bo Schembechler, with Nebraska sporting a Bo of its own in current Coach Bo Pelini.

They both play in major stadiums with Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium holding over 81,000.  They both had offenses directed by mobile quarterbacks, both with prolific offensive capabilities.  It was Denard Robinson at the helm of the Wolverines and Taylor Martinez leading the Huskers.  Denard’s accomplishments are well known and oft repeated to Wolverine fans, and Taylor Martinez has led the Nebraska offense to Big Ten leadership prior to this game, with a total offense of 512 -yards, a rushing offense of 279-yards, and a scoring offense 41.6 points.  And at that point some divergence is evident.

SOME TEAM DIFFERENCES:

Michigan has primarily been a running team this season, with Denard’s legs the main weapon.   Running back success has been scattered.  They have not had an overly effective red zone offense.  Their primary scoring device lately has been the field goal. Coach Borges stuck with a basic offense against Michigan State, one reason the Wolverine’s total offensive statistics were far less gaudy than the Huskers’.  Nebraska’s was in 3rd place in the Big Ten, passing for 293-yards a game.  Michigan’s 10th place in passing was far less spectacular, but sometime the passing game has been highly effective in winning.  As when needed in last Saturday’s MSU contest.   Nebraska had run back a punt for a TD, the Wolverines hadn’t.  Michigan was undefeated in the Big Ten owning 3 victories and Nebraska 2-1, having endured a 63-38 pasting by Ohio.  Now they are both 3-1 in the Big Ten, but Nebraska’s path to the Championship game now seems less foggy than that of the Wolverines.

WHAT WAS AT STAKE:

No less than the driver’s seat in the Legend’s Division.  The winner has the tiebreaker, and thus if similar Legend’s records happen, the winner has a leg up toward the title game.  All year Coach Hoke has preached that every game is a Championship game and this one was just that in all aspects.  A win was a big step toward controlling one’s own championship destiny.

That edge now belongs to Nebraska.  The road to the championship game now may include a must win in Columbus.  Since Ohio scored 63 points on Nebraska and we scored 9, how do you expect that to go now?  It seems its going to be tough, very tough, to sled through the rest of the schedule any way but downhill, but anything is possible, especially if Denard is soon serviceable again.  We are still 3 and 1 in the Big Ten.

GAME KEYS:

  • Would the Wolverines offense be able to take advantage of the defense of Nebraska to win in case this game turned into a shoot-out? Actuality:  This game did not turn into a shootout as I expected. Again whether Denard was in or out, the only Wolverine scoring consisted of field goals.  Russell Bellomy got a rough introduction to the big time.  3 interceptions and sacked twice. The offensive line did not help him by controlling the Husker blitz  the Huskers had been careful not to throw at Denard, and the backs didn’t pick it up effectively. The receivers helped precious little on a number of occasions, dropping critical passes, although they made some nice catches.  It was obvious that Russell and his teammates were not ready for a circumstance that was well anticipated to arrive sometime in a long, rough season, Denard’s injury.  Denard did not get the ball into the end zone, but had 46-yards rushing and 55 yards passing. The game was effectively over when Denard left the field of play.
  • The book on the Huskers was that they were vulnerable to pressure defensively. Acuality:  The defense did make a number of stops, sacked the Husker QB, but the offense was so inept a win kept moving just out of reach. ould the Wolverine defense create turn overs?  Actuality: they did create some turnovers but one was fumbled back, and M’s drives stalled. Wolverine Keith Heitzman recovered a fumble near the end of the second quarter to stop a Husker threat. Desmond Morgan deflected a Martinez pass into the hands of Mario Ojemudia on a great play by both.  But the Huskers balanced this, owning three interceptions.
  •  Nebraska had a great fleet of receivers, and Martinez owned an astounding completion percentage, really improving from last year.  Actuality: The Wolverines had one interception, but Taylor Martinez didn’t do anything to hurt his completion percentage Saturday night. Taylor was the most effective QB on the field throwing 24, and completing 14 for 166-yards, and an interception.  Jake Ryan sacked him once.
  • Which team would stop big plays?  Or produce them. Actuality: Both teams limited long scoring plays fairly effectively.
  • Would the offense be able to produce enough points to stay in the game, and adjust to a more open game without turnovers or penalties blunting the effort? Actuality:  No.  Denard’s injury did not help.
  • Could special teams contribute by effectively stopping punt returns and KOs, and produce some significant yardage of their own. Actuality: They did OK.  Jeremy Gallon let a 1st half punt, a low liner slip through his hands inside the M 10, but Denard and the offense recovered from it.  Could Norfleet contribute? Actuality:  He did not break one, but made respectable yardage returning.. Would Denard again hang out some on special teams?  Actuality: Injury probably prevented any of that. Could the FG kickers hit their attempts in front of a hostile crowd? Actuality:  Matt Wile missed one, but Brendan Gibbons hit three, with a long one of 52-yards among them.
  • Could M get ahead early and hold the lead against a team that had recently produced come-back victories against Wisconsin and Northwestern? Actuality:  M went up three, but they were held to another three late, before the half, and by that time the Husker had 7 points to the Wolverine’s 6.
  • The biggest question of all was whether M could finally produce a win over a good team on foreign territory, with the same kind of winning elan and effort they have produced under Hoke at home? Actuality: They played their worst offensive game of year in a very high stakes game, and that included the time that Denard was in the game as they scored no TDs.  That is the most obvious problem an offense can have. They have now gone 8 quarters without a TD. Four quarters against a great defense and four quarters against an ordinary Big Ten defense. The onus belongs to the Offensive Coordinator to fix this situation.  He has vast experience, so maybe he can. I have to wonder whether or not this hyper conservative offense is a function of the hurts Denard has piled up over the course of the season.  The hand has been an issue before.   Russell Bellomy was not ready, and one wonders why he did not get more                             seasoning against the likes of Massachusetts etc.  The whole world knows what the Wolverines are going to do on first down, and even if it has failed the last 15 times, here it comes again.  As a result they are often in the position of third and long, facing a blitz. The OL and backs can’t handle blitzers.  All that falls into the lap of Offensive Coordinator Borges.

BRIEF SCORING RECAP:

It is easy to recap the 1st quarter.  M received, punted, and then M and N traded punches with N held to around 34 yards, and a first down.  Not a fast start, but the defense looked solid.  The quarter was not without dramatics.  A Matt Wile FG was missed after a replay reversed a stunning 55-yard apparent catch by Roy Roundtree.

Nebraska’s offense showed life in the passing game to begin the second quarter producing a 6-play, 72-yard drive for six, and M was playing from behind.  M- 0, N-7.  Coach did not let the defense off the hook in his after game comments.

The Wolverines answered with two Bandon Gibbons FGs, one for 52-yards, and one for 24-yards, and the half ended 6-7.

 Nebraska received to open the third quarter. Mario Ojemudia spoiled the drive by intercepting a tipped pass at the Michigan 46.  But Russell Bellomy returned the favor tossing a pass intercepted at the Michigan 43, and returned 53-yards to the Michigan 4. The defense held, but N converted a 19-yard FG.  M-6, N 10.

The Wolverines offense was stagnant, and a 15-yard personal foul penalty enabled a 51-yard Big Red field goal.  Now hopes are descending faster than a hot air balloon with a hole in the top, and it seems over.  M-6, N-13.  Then came a 31-yarder and it was  M-6 ,N 16.

Finally the Wolverine offense showed a little life.  Bellomy drove them

58-yards on 8 plays.  With an assist from Husker penalties.  A 15-yard Nebraska personal foul and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike were the big plays. Naturally a field goal resulted, but Russell completed some passes.    One passing 1st down, 3 TO’s, and 0 for 4 third down attempts, tells the Wolverine story for the quarter.  M-9, N-16.

Nebraska put the game away early in the 4th quarter with a final drive for 6 over the tiring M defense.  3 plays and 47-yards capped a victory in a game with a strange feel to it.  M-9, N-23.

WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

The Wolverines are still in the Big Ten race, but Nebraska rightfully will be considered the front runner, having disposed of Michigan.  They are a decent, but not a great team, and I think that they will probably lose another game, as they play away form home.  It is notable that they lost their poise for thirty yards of penalties.  That could hurt in a competitive game.

The down side is that now the Wolverines might have to win out.  Perhaps they could beat emerging Minnesota without Denard, perhaps not, but from there on, if they do not have his full services, they certainly could lose to Iowa, Northwestern, and Ohio.

It will be interesting to see how they approach next week if Denard is in dry dock.  Bellomy or Gardner?  I think it will be Russell.  At a recent press conference I asked Coach Hoke how many snaps Gardner was getting, and he said some, and made it very clear that Russell, not Devin was the backup. I think Denard will probably play next Saturday, but who knows.

The Wolverines can suffer fisherman’s remorse for a little while as a big one got away, but it will soon be back to business for them.  They won’t quit, but they will have to deal with adversity, as it is at the door.  Hopefully, there will be some coaching innovation.

Whatever the situation next Saturday, they will be journeying up to Minnesota, to harass the pesky Gophers, while keeping an eye on that Little Brown Jug.

 

Go Blue!

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Game Day- Michigan Wolverines vs The Nebraska Cornhuskers

Michigan Helmet
#20 Michigan at Nebraska

Date: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012   |   Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.   |   Venue: Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN2   |   Webcast: Watch ESPN
Radio: Michigan Sports Network (Affiliates)

 Nebraska Helmet
Nebraska Game Preview (UMGoBlog)
Michigan
(5-2, 3-0 Big Ten)
MGoBlue.com
Roster | Schedule/Results
Releases/Features
Game Notes  | Depth Chart 		 All-Time Series
U-M leads, 4-2-1Last Meeting
Michigan 45, Nebraska 17
(11/19/11 – Ann Arbor, Mich.)		 Nebraska
(5-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
www.huskers.com
Roster
Schedule/Results
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M FOOTBALL 2012-WAS LAST SATURDAY’S SLUGFEST AT MICHIGAN STADIUM MSU’S BOWL GAME?-WOLVERINES 12, MSU 10

M’s 900th WIN, AND BRADY HOKE’S FIRST WIN OVER MSU IN TWO ATTEMPTS, WAS A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE RESULTING IN A SATISFYING, EVEN IF NAIL BITING, LAST SECONDS WIN. 

The Green and White played somewhat like this was their Bowl Game, and a year- end Bowl for them may now be beyond reach, even if, as Lansing newspapers said, it was their best game of the year. Their options are becoming more limited with every loss. 

After rolling into Michigan Stadium expecting to teach the Wolverine’s Football team another lesson in humility as they had the last four years, they got a loss. 

Humiliation of the Wolverines had become a Spartan expectation, with Coach D’Antonio tactlessly pointing out early this year that: “We’ve beat Michigan the last four years so what is the threat?”  

Spartan players recently ripped Denard for his lack of success against them using Twitter as their club.  Denard has breached 10,000-yards of total career offensive production, but he has had little success against the Spartans, with an average of 3.3-yards gained against them prior to Saturday.  Not much for Denard to crow about there, and he hasn’t.  In contrast, consistently, the Spartans do not need much ammunition to crow, and they have. 

Game Photos

The Wolverines were able to restore some of that concern Saturday in the friendly confines of an energized Michigan Stadium.  Seeking a spot representing the Legends Division in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis, this was a game with bigger meaning than just Michigan/Michigan State bragging rights.  It left Michigan’s title quest intact, and destroyed that of an arch competitor by giving the Spartans another Big Ten loss, bringing them to three Big Ten losses, while the Wolverines remain undefeated in the B1G. 

STILL A SPECIAL GAME 

The pregame hype out of East Lansing this year has been at an unexpected low in comparison to some prior years.  Possibly because early season hype regarding visiting the Rose Bowl etc., has evaporated along with MSU’s national ranking as unexpected losses were acquired-Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Iowa. This lack of yak is not the usual pregame stance for Michigan State as on many occasions they have had a tendency to laud their team (talk smack) as much before the game as afterward. When they were usually losing, the smack was always pregame. 

Rest assured hard feelings by fans remain on both sides of the ball, and they go back quite a ways and are sincere.   It goes back long before this happened, but MSU fans felt spurned and aggravated by Michigan who opposed their entry into the Big Ten in their Biggie Munn era.  Michigan fans hated MSU Athletic Director Smith who voted for Ohio State to go to the Rose Bowl after the M/OSU 10-10 tie in the Bo era.  Bo threw a magnificent rage that M fans considered righteous indignation. The Spartan’s 1990 tripping of Desmond Howard in the end zone as he attempted to score a late game winning TD facilitated a 27-28 victory over a highly ranked M team, thus igniting M fans in the Moeller era. The 2001 “clockgate” game at Spartan Stadium, enabled another late MSU victory (24-26) in the Carr era that was enabled by homer timer Spartan Bob, who displayed official timekeeper’s deceit.  

This competition has been a monument to hotly contested football as much as founded and unfounded billingsgate, but there has been as much bilge as attends some nasty political campaigns, and it is every year, not every four. 

Michigan State usually plays well and aggressively in this contest regardless of prior season performances, and they always play hard. Very hard.  Sometimes they are a little overly enthusiastic as harmful penalties hurt them.  Some consistently rough play results in suspensions.  An example was Sparty Gohlston’s week’s suspension last year for punching Wolverine Lewan.  His twisting of Denard’s helmet did not draw official wrath, but certainly was not unnoticed by the TV cameras. 

Once in a while a Michigan player has gone awry in this game, too.  I remember our DE Cecil Pryor kicking a State player who was on the ground at the end of a play many years ago. They correctly threw him out.  But the recent stuff has had more Spartan ownership than Wolverine. 

No Michigan player or Coach was critical of the style or intensity of Spartan play this year before the game.  They just said football was a rough game and said that is why they like to play it.  

It is amazing that both the Spartan defensive coach Narduzzi, who lauded the rough play after the game last year, and their head coach, recently publically challenged this year’s officials to stop the rough stuff.  Say what?  To a Michigan fan this is like Al Capone challenging the Chicago cops to enforce prohibition.  

In spite of all these things, or maybe because of them, this is always a special game.  Its not Ohio, but its close in intensity.  Players and fans often know each other.  Coaches are recruiting the same schools and players.  Everybody lives with the results for an entire year. 

PREGAME KEYS:

  • Would the Wolverines be physically over matched again this year? Actuality:  The Wolverines at least matched the Spartan intensity.
  • Could the Wolverines keep their cool, and not make jittery mistakes, especially early, as has happened from time to time in Denard’s career? Actuality:  For the most part the Wolverines were poised, and they never gave up.  In crunch time, they crunched.  Denard did toss up a late 2nd Quarter interception.
  • Taking an early lead would be of immense value to the Wolverines. Actuality:  While they did lead 6 zip at the half, they did not take a significant lead until the last 5 seconds of the game.  
  • Could they establish an other than Denard running game?  Would it be Toussaint or Rawls?  Fitz has not been as productive as he was last year. Actuality:  As usual, DRob was the leading ground gainer with 96 net yards on 10 carries, and a long of 44.  Vincent Smith had one carry.  Thomas Rawls did not carry.  Fitz Toussaint had 52 net yards on 10 lugs, with a long of 38.  M had 52 carries for a net yardage of 163-yards with a 5.1 average.
  • Could they stop the run and would the ground game belong to the winner? Actuality:  Yes, MSU gained only 112 net yards on 31 carries.  L. Bell had 26 for 68 net yards.
  • Would the Wolverines have a successful passing game?  Actuality: Drew Dileo was outstanding.  He made the tough catches when they were needed including the one that enabled the winning field goal.  He snagged 4 for 92-yards.  This was his most significant game as a Wolverine, and it made Wes Welker comparisons live on.  The rest of the receivers caught one or two, including a 22-yarder by Jeremy Gallon.  The receivers totaled 14 for 163-yards.
  • Most importantly of all, could the Wolverines possess the ball and avoid interceptions, and fumbles?  Are they now vaccinated against turn overs?  Actuality:  Probably not, but the most significant TO of the game was owned by the Spartans as Jordan Kovacs picked one off just as it appeared the Spartans were driving to seal a victory.
  • Would special teams contribute? Actuality:  When four field goals provide all the scoring in the game and the winning margin special teams have done something right.  Will Hagerup  hit punts for 218-yards averaging 43.6-yards.  Matt Wile had 2 for 77-yards.
  • Would the seemingly effective Michigan secondary be able to cover effectively?  Actuality: State caught 21 passes for 192-yards, and one TD.
  • Could they stop big plays and Sparty trickeration? Actuality:  They did not and it almost bit them.  Sparty significantly advanced its cause with a gem of fake punt run for 26-yards. At the time it seemed to seal the Wolverines fate, enabling a 90-yard drive. 
  • Would one of the least loved trophies, the Paul Bunyan, finally return to the warmth of his Ann Arbor home?  He is home, and intends to stay awhile. 

GAME AND SCORING SUMMARY 

The 1st quarter was a defensive standoff and a boring quarter if one was ever invented.  The offenses moved with the alacrity of refrigerated molasses. 

The second quarter did not yield the expected Wolverine TDs, but fortunately the Wolverines collared a pair of field goals by Gibbons and Wile.  Gibbons for 24-yards and Wile (Coach Hoke said he has the stronger leg) for 48-yards. 

The half ended M 6-MSU 0, and there was a reasonable expectation that since the Wolverines received to start the half, half time adjustments would get the offense moving and keep the defense effective.  Didn’t happen. 

The offense stalled and the defense allowed the aggressive Spartans to produce an 80-yard, 10-play drive culminating in a two-yard TD pass.  M-6, MSU 7. 

The teams traded punches for most of the third quarter with little result. 

Suddenly with a couple of minutes left in the third, a dull ball game got interesting, as Michigan began to drive.  Jordan Kovacs intercepted an MSU pass to stop what could have been a game winning MSU drive.  Instead M got an opportunity. Robinson ran, Roundtree caught a 15-yard pass, and the drive continued into the 4th quarter, finally stalled and Brandon Gibbons hit  a 21-yarder and Michigan held a precarious lead 9 to 7. 

MSU produced a drive of 8-plays and 90-yards, enabled by the fake field goal, and hit a FG of 21-yards.  M-9, MSU 10. 

Denard than skittered for 44-yards, and it looked like a score was in the bag. A holding call and an inability to convert a third down attempt added to the drama as M punted at about 3:07.  

I thought it was likely over, but the defense forced a three and out.  Jake Ryan caused a fumble that MSU recovered, but it stopped their drive. 

At the 2:00 mark, M had the ball and began a drive.  Vincent Smith had a 12-yard run, MSU contributed a 5-yard off side penalty, Denard ran for a short 1st down, and pass to Fitz Toussaint was completed but he was thrown for a loss, and the drive was stalled, but suddenly the Wolverines had a field goal chance. Brendan Gibbons struck a 38-yarder which angled a little to his right. I wondered at the time if it would be wide right.  I had a good look at it as I was standing by the left upright.  It was a happy moment when that baby sailed through.  After the goal, 5 seconds remained on the clock.

Coach Hoke on execution of the final drive … “You teach those situations, you talk about those situations. I really thought that Denard (Robinson) handled it well. He ran the offense, the other guys hurried back to the line of scrimmage. As far as Drew (Dileo) goes, he isn’t the biggest guy in the world, he’s not the fastest, but I can tell you one thing. Drew Dileo is a football player and he is a tough, little football player.”

I was standing next to former Wolverine center Steve Everett, who was also elated, and I got quite a celebratory bear hug and back slapping there.  Like the rest of us Steve was mighty happy to see his Wolverines prevail, but probably more so.

It was a wild finish to what for most of three quarters had been among the dullest offensive games I have seen. 

What a beautiful and impressive scene it is from ground level in M Stadium.  There are bands blaring on either side, scoreboards loud, activity everywhere, at times it seems to border on bedlam, and a collision sporting competition is in progress.  I did not think the old bowl could be improved, but it has been.  Even the lights enhance the ambiance. 

But the Wolverines have to leave all that behind and travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to try to husk the Huskers.  They may not face again this year defense on the level of Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan State but all their remaining schedule can bite the Wolverines.  Stopping that productive Husker offense will be the next challenge.

Go Blue!