HAPPY SELECTION SUNDAY!
Its just like Christmas, I can’t wait to see the unveiling and find out where Michigan is headed and who they will play. I hope that Crisler is rocking today (although I am not a fan of the cbs lookins on teams watching the show). I am thinking 10 seed facing off against the Butler Bulldogs.

One forgets how arrogant people who are paid to give their opinions can be. Feinstein sounds like the embodiment of East Coast Bias in national sports media.

Feinstein is terrible, but he’s only a reflection of the opinions on ESPN and CBS today. I’m in ACC country, and the disrespect of the Big 10 is palpable. There’s only one way to reverse it though. Win; otherwise, it’ll be seen as justified.

Feinstein does a great job with the books he writes, Season on the Brink, The Last Amateurs, etc. but his columns are usually are trash

Really, all Mullins is missing is an IROC and a Lil Wayne CD. The hate I feel for that guys is normally reserved for Buckeye football players.

I will never defend MSU, but when Digger pointed out this morning that the BIG TEN is overrated and one of his points was that players aren’t playing well and said RAYMAR MORGAN…..come on digger, the kid was sick for most of the year and has never quite achieved what his potential shows. That proved to me that digger has spent more time matching ties and highlighters than watching bball. What a ****.

Cant wait till the selections are announced… 1 more hour!!!! i am hoping we get a 10 seed… GO BLUE!!!!!

Unfortunately– the Big Ten appears a year away from multiple teams
making noise in this event. We all know Michigan is another solid recruiting class and Ben Cronin away from being competitve on a nightly basis and it appears the same can be said for Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Say what you will about John Feinstein, like him or not the guy is excellent at debating his point of view– though just two bids seems extreme. Feinstein though is an advocate of the smaller conferences getting consideration, as opposed to the second tier schools from the power conferences dominating the at-large bids.

All the B10 disrespect is making me angry. I’m very tired of it. The only truth in the matter is that the conference doesn’t have the top teams in the nation. But they do have many solid teams. I think the B10 will do just fine in the tourney, I expect at least one of the lower seeds to make a little Sweet 16 run. And MSU, Purdue and Illinois are all capable of making an Elite 8 run as well.

If anybody is reading this at Crisler can you give us some updates on what the atmosphere is like there?

students and people were lined outside before doors opened. maize rage slowly filling up. ppl are sitting in blue seats behind as well. leather chairs or placed where check in for players usually are and jumbotron is lowererd with cbs playing on screen. cbs cameras all around. lots of excitement.

The Big East and ACC are just jealous that we are getting it done without McDonalds All Americans and they aren’t getting it done with McDonalds All Americans.

Once again the tournament will remind everybody that Big Ten teams CAN RUN WHEN THEY NEED TO, but they play D and execute in half court, too.

Just got to Crisler, a pretty decent crowd already.

Diebler hits a meaningless 3 at the buzzer to make it a 4 point win for Purdue instead of 7. The spread was 6.5 pts. Discuss.

When healthy, I think Purdue is the best team in the conference. congrats to them for winning the BTT

I’m hoping for State to make a run to the Final Four, Illinois or Purdue to make Elite 8, and get 3 or 4 teams into the Sweet 16. I think that would shut up some doubters. I’d really like to see some head to head match ups with ACC and Big East as well.

Thinking towards next year I think we should finally be able to win the B10 – ACC challenge.

Whats it like at Crisler? How many people? Whats going on before the show?

For the record, ESPN’s bracket projection is a nightmare draw. An aggressive, underseeded Marquette followed by Blake Griffin?

15 minutes. Come on clock. Tick away!

Crowd is loud! Making it tough on Beilein during this interview.

consistently inconsistent?

I had OSU +6, so nice shot by Diebler. Also nice of E’Twaun to miss the front end of that one and one with a minute left.

Feinstein is a respectable author. It would be difficult for anyone who has read any of his books to disagree with that. I’m not sure where his venom for the big ten is coming from, though.

Also, the big ten is a sophomore-heavy conference this year and will only be better next year. There are a ton of talented underclassmen including Manny FRESH, Robbie Hummel, Evan Turner, Talor Battle, Kalin Lucas, Mike Davis & Demetri McCamey. The B10 will be a power conference next year as well.

Coach is deaf, awesome!

But why is he so red?

I would love to play Marquette in the first round. They have been in a freefall since losing James for the season.

I’ve seen Marquette play all year and I want no part of them. I understand 4 straight losses, losing that guy, etc. etc. but that McNeal kid is a stud. They are very athletic and I think that would be a tough matchup for us. I want Utah, BYU or Cal in the first round.

Coach B addressing the crowd thanking them and telling them in or out, we’re all in it together.

Here we go! I can feel it baby.

Marquette is a still a solid team without James, but they are actually a decent matchup for us. They have no true center nor inside scorer. Plus at times they play with a 6’5 guy at center. Their wings are awesome, and McNeal can flat out play. But they are the type of team that we can frustrate with our zones and in the man-to-man we wont get abused inside. I would much rather play them, then say a Clemson, Texas or LSU, that have inside guys to punish us. Michigan’s wose games came against teams with several bigs (except Uconn). Most of those games were not even close. Michigan will need a great effort no matter who they play, but I would welcome a Marquette matchup.

Someone needs to remind all these jackasses that think the Big Ten is bad of these things:

1) Our 7th place team beat the ACC tournament champ (not to mention played UConn tight for an entire game in Storrs, before Jerome Dyson got hurt)
2) Our 8th place team beat the Big East regular season and tourney champ on a neutral court
3) Our 9th place team housed the other ACC tourney finalist.

And that’s only a few of the numerous good OOC wins the Big Ten had this year. The conference should be really good next year with many of the important guys back for quite a few of these teams (Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, Lucas back for MSU, Minnesota) plus additional recruits coming in. It’s already pretty darn good this year. Maybe there’s no one as good as a healthy North Carolina in the Big Ten this year, but you can say that for every conference in the country except maybe the Big East. And only maybe for them.

Great speech by coach B. Victors playing. Way cool.

Quit with the yakking and get to the picks.

Who wants pizzzzzzZza?

I DO I DO – do you deliver?

its to bad that Michigan isnt going to be a two seed, so that the PA guy at Crisler can say, “and thats two for Blue!”

…. Not yet.

Arizona in, Dayton as an 11. I’m officially nervous.

man. getting nervous.

Ok, not in the midwest. If Arizona makes it and we don’t there’s going to be some pissed off pitchfork people waiting outside the homes of the NCAA selection committee

we miss WVU. Phew.

yeah, other Matt and Avery Queen, I’m getting nervous too. AZ didn’t belong in. Not. At. all.

Michigan State gets a nice draw. Elite 8 should be a reasonable expectation with a real shot of beating Louisville to get to the 4.

I was scared of WVU just now too, that would have been a horrible matchup for us.

As soon as I saw OSU and MSU in that bracket I figured we’d be waiting for another regional. Tough sledding for OSU — Siena’s a good team with experience. MSU’s path looks good to the Sweet 16. I suspect Kansas isn’t going to be making it there — WVU or even NoDakState (who will be frisky) will beat them I think.

A healthy Purdue should beat both UNI and Washington or Miss State. I like that draw for them.

I don’t know whether to feel good or bad about Arizona and Maryland getting in.

Maryland at 10?!? I’m scared now…

penn st is out

Only 1 Big ten team in this region. That means 8 teams are not making it for sure now.

Man. Maryland in and as a 10? That would’ve been a decent draw for us…

Maryland Terps a 10!?! Texas A&M a 9!! This is a bad sign for the Big Ten, especially with Purdue only getting a 5 seed. LET US IN!!!

Penn St is definitely out. If I see Minnesota before us, then I’ll be depressed.

they just gave memphis a cake walk to the elite 8

We’re looking at 6 teams now, right?

If minnesota makes it and we don’t, I’m gonna go nuts.

Agreed Tweeter, Penn State is probably gone and Minnesota should be seriously sweating.

I still think we’re good. If Arizona got in there’s no way they can leave Michigan out. Better conference, better wins.

my ears are turning red…

Yeah, I’m with Larry. Purdue at 5 doesn’t bode well for the rest of the Big Ten.

man i coulda gone for that 11 in the west. i’m hoping the committee is thinking bcs conferences over mid majors and that big ten is included. based on a&m getting a 9, zona getting in, and md getting 10.

Ha . . . on the live feed, when the PA guy asked “Who wants pizza?” Grady raised his hand.

Tennessee is in. We better be

Hoo boy. That’s REALLY bad. Wisco as a 12.

Wisconsin at 12? Ugh

Wisconsin a 12 seed?

uh oh.

Minnesota is in. We have to be

Okay, Minnesota a 10? That’s good, right? Right?

Uh oh

its ok, minny is a 10, so we are all good. maybe a 9 in the south?

Wow. Minny at a 10 makes me feel a lot better. There is just no valid way to put Minnesota in without putting Michigan in. Again, better wins, and a season sweep to boot.

A lot of people thought that Wisconsin was in worse shape than Minnesota, so we can still make it.

gophers > Badgers are we > minny?

Minnesota at 10? That’s good for us.

Aw, that stinks, VCU gets a tough draw I think. Eric Maynor is awesome.

Really making this tough on us huh?

This is just so like them to have us sweat it out like this…

WTF?!?!?! Wisconsin a 12? Now I’m actually worried.

CBS is just setting up that Crisler crowd to explode when they see it as the last seed, the 11 in the south. Come on, come on….

I’ll call us v. Butler in the 8/9

Penn St. is in trouble

St. Mary’s better not be in. SDSU is out as well it looks. Sorry Steve.

10 seed vs arizona state

Jeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuusssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay positive. Someone has to be that last 10-12 seed. It will be us…

well psu or us is out.

Illinois is definitely in, which leaves them and either us or Penn State to be revealed in this last bracket. I’m very very nervous now.

WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Thank you boys. Thank you coach B!

Hallelujah!!!!!!!

Made it.

Kelvin Grady better be ready to play.

YYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

YESSSSSSS

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

phew.

Clemson… that’ll be a tough game. Hopefully they’re still exhausted.

WE’RE IN! HAIL TO THE VICTORS!

We are in, but as Tweeter said, this is an absolutely awful matchup. Much rather be the 11 against Arizona state…and Oklahoma in round 2 will be brutal as well.

Wow. That was way too exciting. Awful draw for us, would have much better as the 11 or 12 in the South, but who cares. The ten year drought is over!!!!

We are truly Michigan fans. First time in the tournament in a decade and we’re (me included) worried about the draw.

terrible bracket for us but we’re in!

Not horrible for us in the first round, but if we get past Clemson, Oklahoma is an awful matchup for us with Griffin.

Congrats, guys, and good luck. Been a long time coming, but absolutely deserved this season.

Thanks Ben. And hey, I don’t care if we go one game and done. Our draught is over. Damn proud of these kids. They fought like hell! Well done Blue!

well extremely relieved. awful draw.

after this season that was fittingly suspensful, but go blue!!!!!

When they showed Clemson as a 7 seed, I said out loud, “oh no, that’s a tough draw for us.” Then I paused and said, “screw it, I don’t care, we have to have this.” Then I yelled out a huge yell.

It’s Great To Be!

the whole arena is singing the victors. Goose bump time! Thanks again guys

I literally had a heart attack, but I think I’m alive. I should at least survive until the first round. I teared up pretty good there. What a baby I am.

Delete the other one Dylan. I’ll retype it. Thanks Ben. And hey, I don’t care if we go one game and done. Our draught is over. Darn proud of these kids. They fought like heck! Well done Blue!

No, Ken. You’re no baby, you’re a fan. I’m still trying to force the goose bumps down…

Anybody know when they release the game times?

and i’ve watched the announcement 10 times

I’ll be in Vegas from Wednesday through Monday. I’ll be taking Michigan to win on Thursday.

Go Blue (and welcome back)!

So why exactly does everyone think Clemson is a horrible matchup. There press is great, but if you beat it their half court defense is a sieve. Giving Beilein 4 days to prepare for the press is a big plus for us. Grady is gonna have to be ready to play on Thursday. We either win or we lose by 20.

Well, I guess I’m taking Thursday off. Man, I need to study up on Clemson. I really don’t know much about them.

Looking closer at Clemson, this isn’t as bad a matchup as we initially thought. Booker is their best scoring big, and he goes at 6-7. They’ve dropped four of their last five, including home losses to Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, and only beating Virginia at home. They commit almost 15 turnovers a game, and they aren’t great passers (key to beating the 1-3-1), only dishing out 15 assists. A big part of their defense is the press and forcing turnovers, and M excels at holding on to the ball.

On they negative side, as a team they shoot 38% from 3, and their top three scorers all shoot about 40%. They absolutely demolished Maryland at home (by 30), won at Illinois, and of course crushed Duke by 30 in one of their worst losses ever. They beat Savannah State by 32 four days before M needed overtime to beat them.

Looking at their schedule though, they certainly appear to be less strong now than they were at the beginning of the season. Let’s hope so, anyway. GO BLUE!!

The only way I’m unhappy Thursday is if we get smoked. Otherwise win or lose, I’m happy to finally get to watch us in a tourney game. It’s been far too long.

Clemson is doing their patented slide, it seems like they peak way too early each year. And aside from that egg we laid against Illinois we’ve played well of late. I like our chances.

When do they sort out the game times? Think we’ll be an afternoon game?

Anyone catch Bobby Knight’s comments regarding women on the men’s selection committee. (Paraphrasing) “He and I both agreed that men are going to pay more attention to the men’s tournament. Women are going to pay more attention to the women’s tournament. We really don’t think one should be on the other’s selection committee.”

Jebus. Line of the night.

Coming into the final region there were 7 automatic bids, and 7 ‘lock at-larges remaining to go with North Carolina so there was only one bubble spot left. I was freaking out for a second when i saw that I still had boston college as not announced but then I realized I had forgotten to cross them off. whew!!

Haha, I couldn’t believe he said that Ian. He wants Augusta National to run the selection committee, apparently.

The Big Ten seeds are 2-5-5-8-10-10-12. That’s an expected performance of 4-7 overall with just Michigan State making the second weekend. The committee didn’t do Illinois, Purdue, or Wisconsin any favors by shipping them out west but the only team that would surprise me if they made the Sweet 16 is Minnesota.

anybody else noticed Manny wasn’t at the selection show?

walking distances to kansas city.
Clemson, SC – 855 miles
Ann Arbor, Mi – 696 mi.
Norman, Ok – 374 mi.
Baltimor, Md – 1,062 mi.

so we win the distance test. now for the real debate. who wins in a fight? Wolverine vs Tiger?

Where is Mich playing?

you would’nt be surprised if we made the S16 in THAT bracket?

nevermind. i see him now.

I’m the only one in this world. Can please someone join me in this life? Or maybe death…