1. This is a huge game Saturday. We can slam the door shut on PSU and MSU's B1G title hopes this weekend. If we somehow lose, it very much opens the door for one of them to take the title, and not in a crazy, they need Rutgers to run the table scenario. Remember two years ago? PSU had about a 1% chance to make the B1G title game, but one poor performance at Iowa later, PSU was shockingly in a good position. Let's not repeat history.
2. I do think the timing of this game favors us. PSU is banged up and coming off a game against Iowa. If I could have our opponent play one team before UM to wear them down, it would be Iowa. We have no excuses not to play well here, at home, rested, against a team that is smallish on the lines and somewhat banged up.
3. In many ways, I think Tarik Black is a bigger piece to the puzzle down the stretch than Rashan Gary. We could use them both but Black's re-emergence into a top flight receiver would go a long way to making this a more complete offense.
4. I have a hunch MSU is going to run the table and finish 9-3. So UM can have the division locked up by the time we kickoff in Columbus.
5. On hoops, we generally take our lumps early in the year but I think it will be different this year. Now, I'm not expecting a repeat of 2013 where we started 15-0, but having a veteran point guard and an elite defensive unit should help us pull out some games early. With the non-conference, I'm always looking for two things -- beat at least one NCAA caliber opponent and don't lose to any RPI killers (i.e. NJIT).
6. With respect to the former, we should have three chances at a quality win - at Villanova, UNC at home and Providence at Mohegan Sun (projecting). South Carolina at home isn't a game I think we will be able to hang our hat on in March. If we can win 1 of those 3, and not drop any of the others, we will have checked the non-conference box. 2 of 3 would be terrific.
7. The good news with the 20 game schedule is there are two less RPI killer non-conference opponents.
8. I really like this team but I kind of chuckle at the outrage that we're not picked to win the conference. Michigan has finished above 8th once in the last four years. Last season, we were tied for fourth. What I know is that we will win enough in the conference to be in the dance with a good seed and be most dangerous in March. I'd bet us finishing 4th or 5th as much as 2nd, but the regular season finish doesn't really concern me.
2. I do think the timing of this game favors us. PSU is banged up and coming off a game against Iowa. If I could have our opponent play one team before UM to wear them down, it would be Iowa. We have no excuses not to play well here, at home, rested, against a team that is smallish on the lines and somewhat banged up.
3. In many ways, I think Tarik Black is a bigger piece to the puzzle down the stretch than Rashan Gary. We could use them both but Black's re-emergence into a top flight receiver would go a long way to making this a more complete offense.
4. I have a hunch MSU is going to run the table and finish 9-3. So UM can have the division locked up by the time we kickoff in Columbus.
5. On hoops, we generally take our lumps early in the year but I think it will be different this year. Now, I'm not expecting a repeat of 2013 where we started 15-0, but having a veteran point guard and an elite defensive unit should help us pull out some games early. With the non-conference, I'm always looking for two things -- beat at least one NCAA caliber opponent and don't lose to any RPI killers (i.e. NJIT).
6. With respect to the former, we should have three chances at a quality win - at Villanova, UNC at home and Providence at Mohegan Sun (projecting). South Carolina at home isn't a game I think we will be able to hang our hat on in March. If we can win 1 of those 3, and not drop any of the others, we will have checked the non-conference box. 2 of 3 would be terrific.
7. The good news with the 20 game schedule is there are two less RPI killer non-conference opponents.
8. I really like this team but I kind of chuckle at the outrage that we're not picked to win the conference. Michigan has finished above 8th once in the last four years. Last season, we were tied for fourth. What I know is that we will win enough in the conference to be in the dance with a good seed and be most dangerous in March. I'd bet us finishing 4th or 5th as much as 2nd, but the regular season finish doesn't really concern me.
