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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #07 – 12/22/2014 – Fading Hopes

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played one game last week, and they lost it. On Saturday (12/20/2014), they lost to SMU 62-51 in Crisler Arena. The loss drops Michigan’s season record to 6-5.

Michigan has now lost 4 games in a row, and hopes for this season are fading. As I said last week, the NJIT loss appears to have destroyed Michigan’s confidence. This is a broken, dysfunctional team. When adversity hits, they fold their tents and go home.

The SMU game was a dreary affair. Michigan shot really poorly, especially from 3-point range, and they rarely got an offensive rebound, so it was just “one and done”, over and over again. Even when they rallied and finally got a lead, 48-45, with just under 8:00 left, they went stone cold and allowed SMU to rattle off 17 unanswered points to put the game out of reach, before they got a meaningless 3-pointer with 45 seconds left.

Once again, I’m not going to examine the team or individual stats for the game. In short, the team played poorly, and no one had a good game individually.

This Week

This week, Michigan only plays one game. On Monday (12/22/2014, 8:00 p.m., BTN), they play Coppin State in Crisler. This could be Michigan’s last chance to win another game this season. They should be able to beat Coppin State, but who knows any more.

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

Go Blue!

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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #06 – 12/15/2014 – Season On The Brink

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played 2 games last week, and they lost both of them. On Tuesday (12/09/2014), UM lost at home to Eastern Michigan 45-42, then on Saturday (12/13/2014), they lost at (#3) Arizona 80-53. The two losses drop Michigan’s season record to 6-4.

Michigan has now lost 3 games in a row, and the season is definitely on the brink. The loss to Arizona was understandable, but the loss to EMU was embarrassing (although not as embarrassing as the previous loss, to NJIT). The NJIT loss appears to have destroyed whatever confidence Michigan had after the big win over Syracuse, and UM is now playing scared, and “playing not to lose” instead of playing to win. Michigan has 2 more non-conference games left to try to regain some confidence and save the season, before plunging into a tough Big Ten schedule. If they start Big Ten play in their current shape, they’ll be lucky to win 3 games.

The EMU game was truly ugly. Michigan could not do anything offensively against EMU’s 2-3 zone defense, the same defense they solved one week before vs. Syracuse. Every UM player looked scared and tentative, and EMU played with poise and enthusiasm. The last time UM was held to 42 points was back in the Truman administration. Sigh.

The Arizona game was also ugly, but at least Arizona is a quality opponent, playing at home. I expected a 30-point beatdown, and it was close to that. Last season, in Ann Arbor, UM almost beat Arizona when they were ranked #1, but this season’s team didn’t stand a chance.

I’m not going to examine the team or individual stats for either game. In short, the team played poorly in both games, and no one had a good week individually.

This Week

This week, Michigan only plays one game. On Saturday (12/20/2014, 12:00 p.m., ESPN2), they play Southern Methodist (SMU) in Crisler. Before the NJIT debacle and the 3-game losing streak, I would have expected UM to beat SMU comfortably, but now… If UM wants to salvage the season, they need to start by beating SMU.

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

Go Blue!

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M FOOTBALL 2014-THE 94th ANNUAL FOOTBALL BUST: IN A SHOW OF CLASS, EX-HEAD COACH BRADY HOKE HONORED TEAM 135, AND QUIETLY FADED INTO THE NIGHT.

The Wolverine’s 2013-2014 football season ended in disappointment in the win loss column, which caused the firing of Coach Brady Hoke at the end of the season. That poor record was too much to bear, even if may other aspects of the football program were right.

The reason why many other aspects were right were displayed at this year’s bust as Brady Hoke, 6 days from being given the axe, showed up to honor his players. He was seated near the man that fired him. The comments from both of them were laudatory, and amiable.

Many of the team members indicated gratitude that he had helped them turn from boys to men, and he expressed appreciation that they played hard every game, and had the ability to tune out distractions.

Gracious in his comments, and carefully on point, Hoke displayed his genuine regard for his players, and they for him. Reportedly, Hoke had tears in his eyes when he presented Devin Gardner, as did Gardner.

Gardner was up to the moment, as he adroitly presented his impressions of his unique and interesting career Michigan career. He finished with 6, 336-yards for his career, and 44 TDs, while he played two positions for three head coaches, changed offensive systems, endured an inexperienced offensive line, and shrugged off many hits afterwards by laughingly saying, on one occasion, he hoped they didn’t kill him. He will never forget singing the Victors and coming out of the tunnel.

He has a Bachelor’s degree and is headed for a Masters, and was named a football team captain at the function for Team 135.

The other Captain named was Jake Ryan, who won the Roger Zatkoff Award as the team’s best linebacker. Surviving a serious knee injury, he was successfully switched to middle linebacker this year, nailing 112 tackles, 14 TFLs and 2 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.

Walk on offensive lineman Joey Burzinski won the Dr. Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award.

Starting Center Jack Miller won the Hugh J. Rader Award for the best lineman. As the season wore on, Miller often became on of the team’s press conference spokesman.

Defensive end Brennan Beyer won the Robert P. Ufer Award for enthusiasm and love for Michigan.

Hoke quietly slipped out a door, having said farewell to team 135, quietly ending his M career, but not ending the fog of speculation which remains unabated regarding the leadership of Team 136 in his wake. There is much to come.

Go Blue!

 

 

 

 

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Nothing But ‘Net – Week #05 – 12/08/2014 – Good News/Bad News

The (#17) University of Michigan men’s basketball team played 2 games last week, and they won 1 and lost 1. On Tuesday (12/02/2014), UM beat Syracuse 68-65, then on Saturday (12/06/2014), UM lost to NJIT 72-70. The win and the loss leave Michigan with a record of 6-2 on the season.

The Syracuse game was part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which the Big Ten won again (8-6). The NJIT game was the most embarrassing loss for any UM sports team in any sport in my lifetime. That’s all I’m going to say about it.

The Syracuse game was close and exciting the whole way, and it was a great win.

I’m still too upset by the NJIT game to write anything more about either game. Maybe next week. The season isn’t over, it just feels like it.

This Week

This week, Michigan plays 2 games. On Tuesday (12/09/2014, 9:00 p.m., No TV) they play Eastern Michigan in Crisler Arena, then on Saturday (12/13/2014, 5:15 p.m. EST, ESPN), they play (#3) Arizona, in Tucson. Normally, I’d say that UM should handle EMU, and have a battle with Arizona, but after their poor showing vs. NJIT, I’m thinking that they’ll lose a close game to EMU, and get blown out by Arizona.

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

Go Blue!