MICHIGAN'S MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2015-2016

[hack]

Hackett made a mistake giving him a 6 year extension. His system feasts when you have NBA talent (but who's system wouldn't work in that situation) but it is a famine without that talent.

Yeah. Look back to 2013. Armed with 6 current or future NBA players, Beilein's teams played very tight one-and-ones with MSU and OSU. Those schools run simpler, more robust systems stressing defense first. They didn't need tons of future NBAers to hang with Michigan. There were some talented players on those teams, but nothing like what Beilein was running out there.

As Geezer says, a great 5 is the difference. As WM says, Beilein this year has everything he's made a priority of getting. No excuses. NONE. We'll see what happens. for this system to work, the players have to be more resilient than the scheme. They may or may not be this year.

[hack]

Question is: is that acceptable for this program.... Michigan basketball.

I fear that it is. People will ignore the fact that he has talent and is ignoring the availability of talent at the 5 spot. Especially because he all apple-cheeked Mr. Rogers over there in every way. Man I wish Michigan could move on from its baggage.

[hack]

That's true but it is still an extremely kind, milquetoast criticism of the team that says that the team is still "very young and inexperienced" and then treats this results as if it is some kind of outlier, and not a recurring pattern for 7 out of the past 9 seasons. The posters questioning Beilien in the forum threads and comment sections are still getting negbanged into oblivion and squealed at by the pod people.

Ever checked out the clowns at umhoops.com? It is far, far worse. HARBAUGH!!! is nothing compared to the slavish adoration of Beilein over there. It's a not-particularly-insightful blog and a particularly silly readership, but even over there there are some rumblings.

[paul daugherity]

Spike announced he is ending his career, effective immediately, due to his hip issues. The basketball tire fire continues.

[hack]

Bummer about Spike. I hope he's OK long term. Definitely gave us some fun memories and I'm sure he'll have some great ones himself.

[*JD*]

He'll probably make a good coach.

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/121115aaa.html

[lineygoblue]

Good luck to spike whatever he chooses to do. Better for him to go ahead and admit that he can't make it back, then to try and play and end up hurting himself even more severely. Best wishes to spike

[Cody_Russell]

Damn that sucks. I won't forget that game he had vs Louisville. Just amazing...

[paul daugherity]

Mgoblog is reporting that Belien said that there are more players injured. So the injury news is not over. We are moving quickly from a potentially mediocre season to a potentially very very bad season.

[The Oracle]

Yeah, not good when JB brings up injuries unprompted...not good at all.

[hack]

Gotta be Walton or Irvin unless someone went down in practice? Chrissakes.

[WM Wolverine]

Walton was an ankle, how severe? Walton is a guy M can't afford to lose with the loss of Spike, who IF HEALTHY would've started for a lot of other B1G teams last season.

Irvin doesn't look anywhere close to the same player he was in B1G play last season, I had him pegged as a possible early entry. He's a liability out there.

[The Oracle]

Sounds like the other injured guy is Wilson. That does suck because he needs to play and these next 4 teams would be a time to do that. I'm pretty much not counting on him at all this season.

[hack]

What do you have there?

Frankly that's great news that it's not Irvin or Walton. Michigan can't afford another year out of the tournament.

[hack]

Walton was an ankle, how severe? Walton is a guy M can't afford to lose with the loss of Spike, who IF HEALTHY would've started for a lot of other B1G teams last season.

Irvin doesn't look anywhere close to the same player he was in B1G play last season, I had him pegged as a possible early entry. He's a liability out there.

Cause for hope. It's been said he should be at 100% by conference play. He's got roughly a month, then. We absolutely need him out there at full strength.