B1G/NCAA basketball

[iam416]

Who knew M would get a chance to repay Ohio State so soon?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ngGlBJMVL4"]Wolverines React to Spartans loss: 3/4/12 - YouTube[/ame]

[Hannibal]

Side note. The first time OSU played IU, the Hoosiers were coming off their disastrous blown game at Illinois. I knew OSU was in real trouble. This game, IU was planning a celebration. Ohio State came in with everything to play for, including showing better than they did in Columbus. It was a war, and I'm not sure IU had quite the right mindset for the game.

Unfortunately for M, they'll be geared up for Sunday.

At this point, I'd be pleased just winning one out of our last two.

Not sure that I put much stock into explanations for why a team will play great one night, but not the next. Knowing about the nature of basketball, I simply can't fathom a team not getting up to play a pretty good OSU team at home. Are teams only capable of comprehending the threat of losing if they lost their most previous game?

[Hannibal]

Who knew M would get a chance to repay Ohio State so soon?

Wolverines React to Spartans loss: 3/4/12 - YouTube

Sure would be nice if they would have shown that kind of emotion the first time that they actually played MSU this year.

[Hannibal]

If we win our last two, and everyone else takes care of business, does that mean that there will be a five way tie for first place?

[hack]

Craft played out of his mind last night on offense. Ultimately you need your shooters to be on or you need Craft to do that, which he's not going to all the time.

This game, IU was planning a celebration. Ohio State came in with everything to play for, including showing better than they did in Columbus. It was a war, and I'm not sure IU had quite the right mindset for the game.

Couldn't agree more.

[iam416]

Four-way. Michigan and Indiana. Then, Ohio State if they beat Illinois (not a given by any stretch). Then MSU/Wisky winner (game is at EL). MSU closes at home against NW, so that's a mortal lock. Wisky closes at Penn State, which should be a mortal lock but which can, apparently, be tricky. Heh heh heh.

[Hannibal]

Since Wisky and MSU still play each other, a five-way tie is impossible, but a four-way tie would still be pretty crazy. In that case, I assume that we are cheering for MSU, because we want Wisky out of the "common opponents" pool for BTT seeding.

If that happens, does Michigan get the #1 seed because of OOC record? Or does it go to RPI rankings?

[hack]

At this point, I'd be pleased just winning one out of our last two.

Not sure that I put much stock into explanations for why a team will play great one night, but not the next. Knowing about the nature of basketball, I simply can't fathom a team not getting up to play a pretty good OSU team at home. Are teams only capable of comprehending the threat of losing if they lost their most previous game?

Well, the psychology of sports is pretty damn interesting. And of course the best coaches of our time, the Rileys and Pitinos and Jacksons and Parcells types, all write books about motivation. The mediocre coaches write books about Xs and Os. (And then there was Jim Tressell, who wrote a book about making promises to God.)

Joking aside, over the years it seems like it happens so often -- pairing any sort of awards ceremony with a game means losing that game. We've all heard it tons of times: ``Well Johnny's had a fine year and deserves that trophy, but Opponent X isn't just going to roll over today...''

[iam416]

Craft played out of his mind last night on offense. Ultimately you need your shooters to be on or you need Craft to do that, which he's not going to all the time.

There's not much mystery to Craft's game. But, I tell you what -- he has been massive for Ohio State in his last two games. He beat Michigan State. And he was huge last night.

I'm not sure what MSU was thinking. I think part of it is that Izzo preaches, rightfully so, in your grill defense. And the guy guarding Craft has him up in his grill all day long on the other end. So, I think they lose sight of what Craft is and isn't and want to play macho in your shirt defense when that's the absolute wrong way to go about things.

[iam416]

Interestingly, Ohio State pissed on Michigan State's Senior Day celebration last season, too. Of course, I don't think that had much to do with the game. That was an epic game and MSU just got pipped at the end. Last night, I don't think IU was quite ready to go to war.

[hack]

Very well could be. But, also, Craft at this point is as veteran as an all-conference performer gets. Not that he has a bag of tricks or anything, but he's going to feel comfortable in the moment.

[Hannibal]

I think that we tend to overanalyze losses. Specifically, we assume that you can't get fired up for two games in a row, or that you only perceive the threat of losing if you lost your last game.

When we shit the bed against MSU, a lot of people blamed that on the loss at Wisky and the tough schedule stretch. That you would not be fired up to play your in state rival the first time that both teams are ranked in the Top 10 is incomprehensible to me. Then, the loss at Penn State. They almost embarrassed us at home only 10 days before. How could you go into that road game overconfident, knowing what they almost did to you ten days before?

[iam416]

Oladipo, Watford, Zeller: 22 for 32 in Columbus; 12 for 25 in Bloomington. I don't think you need to look much further. Ohio State scored in mid-60s pace in both games. The difference was OSU's defense/IU's shooting. They were ridiculous in Columbus. And last night they weren't anywhere near as good AND they weren't quite ready, IMO, to really put the work in to get quality shots.

One thing that does point to OSU effort: I think IU had 2 fastbreak points. 2. For that team. I might have misread that, but the number was really low either way. That's largely a product of effort, IMO (and securing the ball).

[hack]

Me too. But you can't deny that they came out readier to crawl into a fetal position than to compete. Could be that it was deflating in Madison or they were just road weary. Could be. My own personal opinion is that players in most sports play better when they believe that the system their coach has them running is excellent and is going to work.

So in Breslin, with that crowd going apeshit and that ``here we go again'' feeling starting to creep in as the deficit grew in the first half, those players had to be maybe letting in a little bit of doubt about their team's approach.

But, as you point out, this is just guesswork.

[hack]

Oladipo, Watford, Zeller: 22 for 32 in Columbus; 12 for 25 in Bloomington. I don't think you need to look much further. Ohio State scored in mid-60s pace in both games. The difference was OSU's defense/IU's shooting. They were ridiculous in Columbus. And last night they weren't anywhere near as good AND they weren't quite ready, IMO, to really put the work in to get quality shots.

One thing that does point to OSU effort: I think IU had 2 fastbreak points. 2. For that team. I might have misread that, but the number was really low either way. That's largely a product of effort, IMO (and securing the ball).

That stretch of transition baskets by OSU was a familiar feeling for me -- wondering are they ever going to adjust their damn defense? Friggin' get back already!