U of M MEN'S BASKETBALL: 2018-2019

[Whitley]

Lundari Latest (3/15)

2 Michigan State (North Carolina region)
3 Purdue (Virginia/Tenn region), 3 Michigan (Kentucky/Duke region)
4 Wisconsin (North Carolina/MSU/ Texas Tech region)
6 Maryland (down)
8 Iowa (up)
10 Minnesota
11 Ohio State (up)

Indiana #3 team out

[Hannibal]

Trying to figure out who is sharing what region is a waste of time at this point. The only thing that likely has any accuracy is the seed line.

If we win out and we don't get a 2, I'll be shocked. My tentative prediction is a loss in the final to MSU, which I'd be fine with if we had taken care of them at home.

[lineygoblue]

It shouldn't be a shock to anyone that I'm still not buying MSU as one of the nation's elite. Their two best games of the season were against us, and they're getting maximum mileage out of those two wins. They've had some real stinkers among their losses.

To be fair, I don't see Michigan going much farther than Sparty. I wouldn't be surprised to see each of them bounced in the same round of the NCAA's in their respective regions.

[WM Wolverine]

I liked Sparty alot with Langford, they drop a tier from the elites without him... I really only put Virginia, Duke as elites... 3 through 10 is pretty close...

Iowa played little defense as advertised. The matchup with the Gophers is more favorable than Purdue but would've liked to have another quality win vs Purdue too.

Kenpom has us #6 behind Virginia, Gonzaga, Duke, Sparty, North Carolina... NET is awful and hope the committee is smart enough to realize its limitations. AP, coaches polls are better than NET.

[lineygoblue]

Well, it looks like its going to be M v MSU 3.0

Maybe the 3rd time is a charm. Go Blue.

[WM Wolverine]

Iggy needs to play 40 minutes.

[WM Wolverine]

M should've solidified a 2 seed, 5th in Kenpom, Sparty is 4th.

[Kstat]

[Jeff Buchanan]

Hell yes, they are playing to beat an important rival, send an important message to the twits in EL and win a third straight BT Tournament Championship.

[Kstat]

So... nothing important, then.

On to the Big dance.

[Jeff Buchanan]

..... and this is from mgoboard (facilitated by some unexpected tournament losses elsewhere):

Michigan vs Sparty is for the #2 seed in the West vs #1 seed Gonzaga. Tomorrow's game is essentially a regional bracket NCAA final-game, because the winner of UM/Sparty tomorrow is a lock to defeat Gonzaga in the west bracket and make the Final Four. #GoBlue.

Thoughts?

Also, what does Beileine pull out of his hat to counter Izzo's sweep of M in the regular season? I've read those two wins v. M were all Izzo's coaching.

How does Beilein deal with Winston (is he hurt?) dominating, Tillman getting inside M's otherwise excellent D and a hot Goins shooting 3s?

[Kstat]

Really they just have to make shots. Getting Matthews back is huge for their perimeter defense but in the end their defense is good enough to win; they just have to find the shooting.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Ahhh ..... score more than the other guy. I can actually understand that.

[lineygoblue]

Re: Gonzaga as a #1 seed ... are they still a 1 seed after losing this week?

... back to MSU ...

All I want is a fair shake from the zebras. Let the players decide the outcome.

If MSU wins again, fine. Off to Cally with you, and don't trip over Gonzaga.

For Michigan if they lose a 3rd time to Sparty, then take whatever falls to you, and make the best of it.

The Tournament is always crazy. Anything can happen.

[Whitley]

Lundari Latest (3/16)

East (Virginia)
2 Michigan

West (Gonzaga)
9 Minnesota (up)
11 Ohio State

South (Duke)
4 Purdue (down)
6 Maryland

Midwest (North Carolina)
2 Michigan State
4 Wisconsin
8 Iowa

Indiana #3 team out