Of course we're talking basketball here, not the college football Game of the Century(TM) (for 2006). And there's no similarity between Michigan's teams - where the hopes for the basketball season don't include a possible national championship, as it did in football.
No, the hoops team is hoping that a win over the Buckeyes would give them a good enough resume - and an attention grabbing win - to merely make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998. Even with a win on Saturday, the Wolverines might do well to win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament next weekend to enhance their chances.But no one would believe the Wolverines are a national championship contender, unlike Ohio State. In football parlance, the Wolverines are hoping to beat tOSU so they can get to the Motor City Bowl. And just like how the trip to Detroit in December would be nice for a team like Indiana, even a one-and-done appearance in the NCAAs would be enjoyable for maize and blue basketball fans.
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Is this Ammaker's last chance? Or has that ship already sailed, barring another Friedel/Fischer/Schembechler (sic?) tournament miracle?
From the outside looking in, Michigan needs to do something soon if it wants to remain competitive in the league. Sampson will make IU better, Illinois will come roaring back next year, and Sparty is always tough.
And perhaps the best coach in the land resides in Madison. I shudder to think what that guy could do with all the talent the Buckeyes have this year.
Beast,
too bad that the "best coach in the land" as you call him, can't recruit kids like Oden, Connely, Cook, Hunter, etc.
Coaching in any sport (nowadays) is a combination of skills. I agree that Bo Ryan maybe better from the game preparation standpoint, but he's not half the recruiter that Matta is (just look at the class Bucks have this year, and the one they have coming in next year).
If he were as good a recruiter as Matta , Wisconsin would be a lot better than they're now (you're right about that).
Anon,
You're absolutely right. I should have said best game coach when describing Ryan. As a game tactician, he reminds me a lot of Denny Crum in his prime.
Shit, is it still basketball season? Now that the Cocks are just about mathematically ineligible for the NIT (so we can't defend our 2 year NIT championship 65th best team in the country reign), I have devoted my attention to college baseball. Anyone?
OOC:
If you're South Carolina, you're never mathematically ineligible for the NIT.
Really, it's in the bylaws.
I don't know. When you consider that Bo Ryan tries to run a clean program and doesn't have the financial resources for recruiting you might have to consider him the best coach in college basketball.
BiB - you're right. We thought we got rid of the Chicken Curse when we kicked tOSU's ass in our first Outback Bowl matchup, but really it morphed into a "Freaking Crush All Competition in the NIT and Make All Cock Fans Think Next Season will be our Final Four Year but then smash our dreams" curse.
Big one on the diamond this weekend, #2 Cocks vs. #4 Tigers home and home series.
OOC:
My #1 Rice Owls will see you in Omaha, sir.
OOC... isn't that 66th best team in the land? There's a play-in game in March Madness(tm) ;)
Wow, nothing like ending your rival's chance at the tourney by going on a 10-0 run to finish the game when you were down by 6 with 3:54 to go.
Oh, and there was a point in the game where after a non foul call the entire UM student section in unison was pointing at the nearest official and chanting "ref you suck, ref you suck"
Classy
An Ohio State fan lecturing on class.
That's pretty funny.
This blog is notorious for calling OSU fans classless. Just reminding you that the high horse you put yourselves on is not as high as you think.
Unfreakingbelievable... U of M led pretty much led the whole way, only to self destruct in the final moments. Was Lloyd Carr coaching this team (ooops did I say that out loud)? When they stopped attacking and played conservative, tOSU got back in the game.
ohio_guy... whats going on in the scarlet and grey blogs then?
Sorry, that dog just doesn't hunt.
While one of the great features of this blog is it has a following of all types of college football fans, it is a U of M blog and as such pro U of M opinions may be expressed from time to time in here -- no need for moderators from south of the border.
um ohio guy...
Its a hockey cheer for when the ref makes a bad call. Its been done for ages there and obviously a lot of hockey fans go to the basketball game...
And oh yeah those refs kinda did blow it, that was definitely a foul, but hey whatever...
But from what I've heard here, UM fans are all class and would never do such a thing. And yet, you say it's a tradition there? Shocking...just, shocking...
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