Comments on: Game 6: Savannah State at Michigan Post Game

By: Go Blue

Go Blue — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:31:07 +0000

I feel more confident about the Maryland game now that Georgetown handled them with ease. Should be a tight game and one that would be huge for UM to win. I hope we see the blue uniforms Wed., I dont think UM has ever wore the whites this many games in a row. Usually they wear the blues more than the whites and maize. Its also not true that they only wear the maize at home in big games, this is generally true but I recall the maize jerseys on the road and against lesser opponents in the past.

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:22:56 +0000

As I watch the Zags play I cant help but draw some comparisons between matt bouldin and Zack Novak…similar size…similar skill set. Zack might be a better shooter though. I like how Gonzaga plays. Also remember that Adam Morrison was a 3 star according to scout…good to know as Blake Mclimans, and possibly Regan make their way to AA.

By: Giddings

Giddings — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:43:50 +0000

The blowout losses to Gonzaga and Georgetown could do one of two things to Maryland – they may deflate the Terps so much that they are now “used to” losing (like us last year), which could result in them playing tentative… or they may motivate them to work extra hard in practice this week because they know they have a lot to work on.

My guess is that the losses take a negative toll… you often hear players talk about how it’s much easier to practice productively after a win because they believe in themselves, their coach, and the system. I keep forgetting about that win over State though… hopefully Maryland forgets about it too.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:12:54 +0000

Maryland is getting absolutely handled by Georgetown… Yikes. At least we don’t play the Hoyas this year. Interesting weekend for the Terps though… A big win over an MSU team that struggled all weekend and then two blow out losses to the Zags and Hoyas.

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:05:58 +0000

I think you are right UDMC. Against teams like mayland, duke and tougher big ten teams Sims doesnt have to start but he should be running down to the scorers table after about 2 minutes, especially if Wright, or Shep, or whoever is in for Sims is stinkin it up…which Ant has been demonstrating much of lately. We just do not have enough quality depth at the 4 spot to have Sims hardly sit at all. In big games Sims has to play a lot. Thats why moving into the future I would like to see JB go after a couple athetic 4’s. I know he loves Regan, and thats fine but another Deshawn/Lavell Blanchard type player on top of Regan would be fantastic, then we wouldnt be sweating beads about having 1 well rounded player at the 4 spot.

By: BJ

BJ — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:53:29 +0000

Terps are getting <>

By: UMDC

UMDC — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:44:36 +0000

By that logic, why don’t we start Harris on the bench too, then we can have 40+ points coming off the bench with Sims and Harris!

It’s wonderful to have great bench production because that is a sign that you have great depth and thus a really good team. Putting bench players in the starting lineup in order to achieve great bench production isn’t the same thing.

The question is, do you start your best 5 or not? The history of organized basketball suggests you do (controlling, of course, for positional depth, which is not an issue for us since no one would claim that Gibson and Wright are better than Sims).

I know the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it argument.” But that suggests that we would have lost some of the games we won had we started Sims. I don’t think that is true. I think we have to exact same record right now with him starting and with him on the bench.

My concern is with the future. I think by not putting our best team on the court to begin the game, we put ourselves behind the eight ball right form the tip (notice when it is really important Sims starts the second half of games). Duke is certainly going to put its best 5 on the court to start the game against us. I can’t understand why we would want our 2nd team starting against Duke’s 1st team?

Maybe psychologically Sims can’t handle the pressure of starting and Wright, by being on the bench, is demoralized to the point that he is an even worse shooter than he already is. Psychology and the early cheap foul theory are the only two reasons I can think of to keep going with our current starting lineup. If this is true, then I’m wrong. Simple as that.

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:43:41 +0000

I like our chances with maryland…we just won a close game against a pretty athletic team, they pressured us just about every possession, and we fought through all the adversity to win. Now we get maryland who might be a little worn out and who doesnt pressure you as much. If we can win at maryland then coming home to play duke could make for a special day at the ole Crisler Arena!

By: Ky Fox

Ky Fox — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:36:23 +0000

Deshawn needs to continue to round out his game…if he can become a bit more explosive in taking it to the basket and around the baskett, as well as continuing to develop his outside shot he could be a late rounder..look at how much his mid range has gotten better from when he arrived(mostly thanks to JB) The bright side for Sims is that he has continued to get better every year! By late next year I think he will be good enough to make a team…he has to continue to develop his shot though.
And I absolutley agree with Giddings. Everyone is making such a big deal because we almost lost to SSU…MSU barely squeeked by WSU today and like giddings mentioned that Louisville lost to Western Kentuck. Just because it was a close game with SSU doesnt mean we cant hang with some of the top dogs out there. There are a ton of real good ball players out there and they all cant go to duke, MSU, OSU, or Uconn..so a lot of them end up in places like SSU, WKU, Wichita State, and so on…some of SSU’s players were not all bad..should we have beaten them by more? yes probably so..we just need to learn to come out firing on all cylinders to start the game, and that will come with experience…we also have to remember how young our team is still.
And imagine when Manny and Deshawn do make NBA teams how much that will help us in recruiting…kids will see how much better JB can make them, and who wouldnt want to be coached and taught by a guy who extracts every ability and abilities you never thought you had…to make you as good as you can be. Its only looking up

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:48:27 +0000

Keep Simms coming off the bench! They have no legit scorer off the bench, and if he likes it why change it? Right now your just hoping to catch lighting in the bottle with Wright or Gibson. Bringing Wright off the bench, could mess up the flow. I love having a possible 20 coming off the bench rather then, having a goose egg struggling with his stroke.