Category: Featured

Posted on

Nothing But ‘Net – Week #07 – 12/14/2015 – The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

This was a week of good, bad, and ugly (in reverse order):

All in all, it was an eventful week, although most of the news was bad.

The loss at SMU was very disheartening. UM had won 4 games in a row going into the SMU game, including a couple against decent competition (Texas and NC State), but they were completely outplayed, outmuscled, outshot, and outhustled by SMU. Michigan actually had a small lead (11-7) with 13:18 left in the 1st half, before SMU got warmed up. Still, UM was only down 3 points (21-18) with 4:00 left in the half, when SMU went on a crushing 15-4 run to end the half, up 14 (36-22). Michigan managed to cut into the lead a little at the start of the 2nd half, and got as close as 8 points (43-35) with 16:37 left in the game, before SMU pushed the lead back up to double figures, and never let UM get closer than 10 points the rest of the way. It was a dominating performance by SMU, and Michigan was never really in the game for the last 24 minutes.

The win over Delaware State was actually pretty lackluster. DSU is a terrible team, and there was no doubt that UM would beat them handily, it was more a matter of how sharp the Wolverines would look. The answer: sharp as a marble. It was a dreary, sloppy game, with boatloads of mistakes by both teams. DSU gave Michigan dozens of chances to look good, and UM threw most of them away. Way too many dumb turnovers, missed open shots, and mental mistakes. Michigan led the whole way, and once they pushed the lead into double figures (15-5, with 13:14 to go in the 1st half), they never let DSU any closer. The halftime score was 38-18, and with 7:00 left in the game the score was 66-21. Yes, DSU only scored 3 points in the first 13:08 of the 2nd half. It was a laugher.

Spike. What can I say? He will be missed, not just as a player, but as a leader. He’s a great guy, a really nice guy, and it’s a shame that his career ended with a whimper instead of a bang. He played all last season with injured hips, and he had double hip surgery over the summer. He hoped that he would be recovered and rehabbed enough to play this season, but it was obvious that he was struggling out there. He will be missed.

So, what did we learn about this season’s UM team this week? We learned that they are a long way from being a good team. They have the components they need to succeed, but they certainly don’t have the confidence or the mental toughness, yet.

Stats

The stats for the SMU game are sad, oh so sad. UM shot very poorly overall (21-for-60 = 35.0%), they shot 3-pointers very poorly (10-for-36 = 27.8%), and they even shot free throws poorly (6-for-12 = 50.0%). They were thoroughly embarrassed on the boards (20-45), but they did win the turnover battle (10-17). Yay?

The stats for the DSU game are better, but still not very impressive. UM shot pretty well overall (32-for-61 = 52.5%), they shot 3-pointers pretty well (11-for-27 = 40.7%), but they still shot free throws poorly (5-for-10 = 50.0%). They won the rebounding battle (41-29) and the turnover battle (7-17). Against a weak opponent like DSU, they should have had even better stats than this.

Derrick Walton Jr. missed both games this week with his ankle injury, so Coach Beilein had to change the starting lineup again. In the SMU game, he used the same lineup as the previous game (Houston Baptist): Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (MAAR), Aubrey Dawkins, Ricky Doyle, Zak Irvin, and Caris LeVert. For the DSU game, he started Duncan Robinson instead of Dawkins.

MAAR was the only starter to hit double figures in both games this week, with 15 points vs. SMU and 11 vs. DSU. Robinson hit double figures in both games as well, but he was a bench player vs. SMU, and a starter vs. DSU. He had 15 and 11. Dawkins had 5 points as a starter vs. SMU, and 5 points as a bench player vs. DSU. All 5 of the starters in the DSU game hit double figures. Doyle had 10 points (along with 4 vs. SMU), Irvin had 12 (9 vs. SMU), and LeVert had 15 (5 vs. SMU). Before we go any further, let’s look at that last stat: LeVert had 5 points vs. SMU on 1-for-13 shooting (0-for-6 from 3-point range, 3-for-6 at the free throw line). That’s terrible. The team needs a lot more from him.

The bench chipped in a bit of scoring this week, mostly in the DSU game. As I mentioned above, Robinson scored 15 points vs. SMU as a bench player, and Dawkins had 5 points as a bench player vs. DSU. Kameron Chatman was the only other bench player to hit double figures this week, with 10 points vs. DSU (and 2 vs. SMU). Albrecht hit a 3-pointer in his last game as a Wolverine vs. SMU, and that was it for bench scoring vs. SMU. Moritz Wagner had 2 points vs. DSU, and 0 vs. SMU. Andrew Dakich had to “burn his redshirt” when Spike retired, and he scored 4 points vs. DSU in his first action this season. Mark Donnal played in both games, and failed to score. DJ Wilson played (and failed to score) in the SMU game, but sat out the DSU game with a sprained ankle.

This Week

This week, Michigan plays two games. On Tuesday (12/15/2015, 7:00 p.m., BTN), they play Northern Kentucky, then on Saturday (12/19/2015, 6:00 p.m., ESPN3), they play Youngstown State. Both games are in Crisler Arena. Both teams are “cupcakes”, and should be easy wins.

Come by Crisler for the games, and check back next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

Posted on

M FOOTBALL 2015- SOME SEASON ENDING COMMENTARY AND THE 2015 ANNUAL FOOTBALL BUST.

The 95th edition of the Wolverine’s football bust was again sponsored by the University of Michigan Club of Detroit, and was held on the evening of December 7, 2015 at Livonia’s Laurel Manor.

I was not able to attend the Bust this year, but it remains an opportunity that Michigan Fans should take annually for a number of reasons. It enables fans to put a face on the football machines you see on the field on Saturdays, and some that you don’t often get to observe that are in the background of the program, but contribute much to the success.

Obviously, we all still remember that the Wolverine’s 2015 football regular season ended in disappointment with a pounding by the Buckeyes. Nevertheless, this season overall was a resounding success, despite the ten second reprieve that saved Michigan State’s bacon in this year’s tilt against the Wolverines, and the last disappointment against Ohio State.

Like many others in the preseason, I held the opinion that the season could not be a success without victories against the Spartans and the Buckeyes, but it was a success in spite of that. The Wolverines were competitive in all their games, home and away, except for OSU. They endured, fought, and often overcame, fighting to success nine times.

The coaching team was, for the most part, also outstanding, and remains intact, with the exception of departing Defensive Coordinator D. J. Durkin. Durkin is the Head Coach at Maryland now and will be replaced by Greg Mattison as DC for the bowl game. Interim Athletic Director Hackett will be replaced at his own wish. A search committee to replace him has been formed, and is operating.

The entire record of this season is not written, as Florida will once again cross paths with the Wolverines in a New Year’s Day Citrus Bowl competition, in what should be an evenly matched game.

While it is obvious improvements are necessary, a 9 and 3 win loss record, and appearance in the Citrus Bowl are drastic improvements over last year’s dismal 5 wins, 7 losses, with no bowl appearance.

At the end of this season the Wolverines were seconds away from a real run at the East Division Championship game. They won away from home. They fielded a remarkable defense, and an improving offense. They were exciting and innovative.

For example, Jabril Peppers, was learning, and improving defensively (in several categories), offensively (in several categories including running back), and on special teams as he became an integral part of the Wolverine’s success. He will only improve his own, and his team’s fortunes.

The staff recruited Jake Ruddock, a graduate 5th year QB from Iowa, taught him a new system, nurtured and supported him through the rough patches, and he had quite a year. They made him into more than just the caretaker all expected. He became a playmaker.

There was a learning curve, as there were timing problems on early long throws, and much fan wringing of hands. It seemed for a while he would never hit WR’s like the streaking Jehu Chesson with the deep ball, but he did as they switched from a running to an effective passing offensive.

Ruddock and his teammate, Chesson, became only the second pair of teammates in conference history to share the Big Ten Player of the Week Award, after they connected for four TDs in the Wolverine’s double overtime at Indiana.

The speedy Chesson also prospered on special teams, recovered a fumble, blocked a punt, and was honored as the MVP of this year’s team by his teammates.

The nomenclature of the MVP Award has changed to the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award, and was earned for this year by Chesson.

The Dr. Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award was awarded to Tight End Michael Jocz.

The Hugh J. Rader Award for the Best Lineman was bestowed on Offensive Center Graham Glasgow. A fifth year Senior, he started 36 games in a 41 game career.

The Robert P. Ufer Award for enthusiasm and love for Michigan was bestowed on Line Backer Joe Bolden.

The Roger Zatkoff Award for most outstanding linebacker was given to Desmond Morgan. He was second on the team this year with 67 total tackles.

There is just one game left this season, but the fifteen practices preceding it will continue to benefit the Wolverines into next season, no matter the outcome..

 

Bring on the Gators, and Go Blue!

Note: As stated above, I did not attend this year’s Football Bust. The commentary is mine, but the facts pertaining to the Bust were gleaned from the official M football web site.

Posted on

Nothing But ‘Net – Week #06 – 12/07/2015 – Back On Track

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games last week, and they won them both. On Tuesday (12/01/2015), UM won at N.C. State 66-59, then on Saturday (12/05/2015), UM beat Houston Baptist 82-57 in Crisler Arena. The win over NCSU was part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which the Big Ten won again. The two wins raise Michigan’s record to 6-2.

The win over NCSU was actually pretty impressive. It was Michigan’s first true road game, after 3 neutral-site games in the Bahamas, and it came after UM had travel problems on the way home from the Bahamas and only had 48 hours in Ann Arbor to regroup. NCSU led for the first 10:00 of the game, although UM stayed close, and Michigan finally opened up a decent lead (28-18) with 3:21 left in the 1st half. They led by 8 (34-26) at halftime, and pushed the lead up to 15 (45-30) in the first 5:00 of the 2nd half. The next 5:00 were a little scary, as NCSU went on at 12-1 run, and got within 4 (46-42) with 10:00 to go. Michigan pushed the lead back up to 10 (56-46) with 6:23 left, and never let NCSU get closer than 7 points the rest of the way. The Wolverines played with poise down the stretch in a hostile environment, which is good practice for the rest of the season.

The win over HBU was not nearly as impressive. Sure, UM won by 25 points, but they had a hard time shaking HBU in the first half. They started out great, leading 11-0 after just 3:15, but HBU hung around, and got within 2 (26-24) with 4:34 left in the 1st half. UM finished the half with an 11-4 run, to lead by 9 (37-28) at halftime. Michigan came out a little more focused in the 2nd half, and pushed the lead up to an insurmountable 24 points (58-34) with 11:24 left in the game. HBU never got any closer than 17 points the rest of the game, and UM won by 25. Still, it was a lethargic performance against an overmatched opponent. Let’s blame it on a post-ACC/Big Ten game hangover, and finals.

So, what did we learn about this season’s UM team this week? We learned that they can bounce back from a couple bad games (Xavier and UConn) to beat some decent teams (Texas and NCSU). We learned that they can win on the road, in a hostile environment. And, we learned that they can still win convincingly against an inferior opponent, even when they don’t play that well. These are all encouraging things.

Stats

The stats for the NCSU game are pretty solid. UM shot well overall (24-for-48 = 50.0%), the shot decently from 3-point range (7-for-20 = 35.0%), and they shot well from the free-throw line (11-for-13 = 84.6%). They lost the rebounding battle (36-32), but got close, and they lost the turnover battle (11-7). It was their overall shooting that won the game.

The stats for the HBU game are a little better. Once again, UM shot pretty well overall (38-for-58 = 48.3%), they shot very well from 3-point range (11-for-23 = 47.8%), and they shot free throws pretty well (10-for-15 = 75.0%). As expected, they won the rebounding battle (33-29) and the turnover battle (6-16). Those 14 extra possessions really helped.

Individually, there was some bad news this week: Derrick Walton Jr. injured his ankle 13 minutes into the 1st half of the NCSU game, and missed the rest of that game, and the HBU game. It isn’t clear when he’ll be back, but it could be as early as this week.

Due to the injury, Coach Beilein had to change the starting lineup again. For the NCSU game, he started Aubrey Dawkins, Ricky Doyle, Zak Irvin, Caris LeVert, and Walton. For the HBU game, he started Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (MAAR) in place of Walton.

LeVert was the only starter to hit double figures in both games, with 18 vs. NCSU and 25 vs. HBU. Dawkins was the only other starter to hit double figures in either game, with 16 vs. HBU and 2 points in the NCSU game. The other starters didn’t do much: MAAR had 6 points in his only start, Doyle had 6 and 2 points, Irvin had 7 and 7, and Walton had 4 points, in 13 minutes.

The bench chipped in some points this week. Duncan Robinson hit double figures in both games, with 17 vs. NCSU and 19 vs. HBU. MAAR had 4 points in the NCSU game, Mark Donnal didn’t play in the NCSU game and had 2 points in the HBU game, Moritz Wagner had 8 and 1, and DJ Wilson had 0 and 4. Spike Albrecht and Kameron Chatman both played in both games, but didn’t score.

There was some question before the season about whether Robinson would be able to get his shots off vs. quality Division I opponents, and it is becoming apparent that he can, and that he’ll hit more than 50% of them. This is good news.

This Week

This week, Michigan plays two games. On Tuesday (12/08/2015, 9:00 p.m., ESPN2), they play at Southern Methodist (SMU), then on Saturday (12/12/2015, 12:00 p.m., ESPNU), they play Delaware State in Crisler Arena. The game vs. SMU will be UM’s toughest test so far, equivalent to the Xavier and UConn games. Michigan got manhandled in both of those games, so this will be a good yardstick to see if UM has fixed any of the problems that were exposed earlier. Delaware State is a cupcake, and will be no challenge.

Tune by to see how Michigan does vs. SMU, and come by Crisler for the Delaware State game. In any case, check back next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!