Comments on: Game 5: Michigan vs. Alabama Open Thread

By: Tweeter

Tweeter — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:50:37 +0000

I believe a lot of people are looking at the wrong side of the court. Our offense has not been great by any standard, but to me, that is not where the problem lies. Its the defense.

Even if we had converted more on offense, those defensive issues still cost us. UM missed three layups and two dunks that I can remember, but Alabama missed just as many if not more easy shots in the paint. Until this team figures out how to stop people from getting inside, they are not going to win consistently.

Offense comes and goes, as we saw this weekend with the putrid shooting, but defense is always your fallback. When last years team made their turnaround in Big Ten play, it was on the strength of their D. So while finding a third scoring option or knocking down more threes would certainly be nice, this team needs to focus more on stopping penetration and ball pressure.

By: gpsimms

gpsimms — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:47:47 +0000

ugh. so in every our bracket vs. the other bracket game, our bracket loses. The one team we beat lost all three. Good thing basketball season is longer than football season. also, i have more faith in beilein to figure things out.

By: maxwell's demon

maxwell's demon — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:36:38 +0000

Marquette loss really puts a nice final touch to this weekend. Hopefully we shoot better back in our own gym

By: Giddings

Giddings — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:34:12 +0000

Wow, both UM and Marquette should have coasted today, instead both blow it in the 2nd half… and that makes the “top half” of the bracket 0-4 today.

By: Giddings

Giddings — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:18:46 +0000

Maybe I spoke too soon on Marquette… didn’t realize they would decide to stop scoring in this half. 48-48 with 3 mins left, that’s ugly…

By: Dylan

Dylan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:58:22 +0000

FWIW, Portland will be in the top 25 tomorrow.

By: Giddings

Giddings — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:55:08 +0000

Well at least Marquette looks legit.

By the way, would you rather have neutral court losses to Marquette and Alabama, Utah and Bradley, or Portland and Texas A&M? I wonder if the Illinois and Minny fans are freaking out as much as we are.

By: not Scott

not Scott — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:44:27 +0000

Scott, let’s wait until you’re sober to post again.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:32:14 +0000

This team is soft, plays uninspired and cannot rebound. We should have got Pitino 8 years ago. Sad thing is, they’ll be lucky to make the NIT the 4 years, especially without Harris and Sims. Yuck!!!

By: PeteM

PeteM — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:22:27 +0000

UMIndy, I agree that there’s a bit too much hand wringing going on, but I also think that it really is a problem that we can’t win a game when we get to the line much more often and have 19 steals.

I think that — based on last year — this team will get better and will get up for big games. The defense has to improve drastically though.

KDavis, good point about Manny — they were having success drawing foul calls on the inside and taking a long 3-pointer at that time didn’t make sense. I’d have gone inside at least once if nothing was there popped it back out.