Virginia Tech @ Michigan game thread

[biggunsbob]

JB press conference. At least he is like svg and tells it like it is. Wagner was sick all day . I guess one reason he was sitting more. He talked about 2 of his players yapping at refs for calls. He said they need to understand how ref is calling the game.


Jb
'Strange things on defense'


https://m.soundcloud.com/umichathletics/bkm-john-beilein-post-game-media-vs-virginia-tech

 

[dubbsco]

I said it before the season and my tune is not changing. This team is just not very talented. No amount of scheme or effort will get them to win anything of value (Big Ten championship, tournament, going somewhere in NCAA). There is not a single guy you can get the ball to and say "get me a bucket."

It's just so damming that the recruiting has completely trailed off after two great seasons in 2013 and 2014. And the evidence is pointing more and more to that being a great collection of players that had everything come together perfectly.

I like Beilein, I was one of the first to defend him in his early goings when people weren't happy. But I'm really not sure what the direction of this program is anymore.

 

[UMRules06]

I've never been a huge Beilein fan. It's more to do with his philosophies than him as a person. He's a great man, and he knows how to coach. However his style of play is not one that many championships teams have. It just isn't. We made it to a championship game solely because of Trey Burke (see the Kansas game).

Now obviously I was willing to let bygones be bygones when things were going well. But yes the past 2-3 seasons have been very lackluster, and they show no signs of improving anytime soon. If this team ends up as another bubble team or another one and done type performance, then I would seriously start to evaluate options at that point.

 

[thewolverines24]

I said it before the season and my tune is not changing. This team is just not very talented. No amount of scheme or effort will get them to win anything of value (Big Ten championship, tournament, going somewhere in NCAA). There is not a single guy you can get the ball to and say "get me a bucket."

It's just so damming that the recruiting has completely trailed off after two great seasons in 2013 and 2014. And the evidence is pointing more and more to that being a great collection of players that had everything come together perfectly.

I like Beilein, I was one of the first to defend him in his early goings when people weren't happy. But I'm really not sure what the direction of this program is anymore.

This is where I am at as well, but next year's class looks good on paper. I wish we could sign Mo Bamba as well, but we know how it goes with elite big men recruits. It will be nice to have Poole, who is 6'3", running PG for us. Haven't had a bigger PG since Morris left. Really hoping Livers is ready to step in right away. A 6'8" combo forward, who can actually play, would be great to have. I am tempering my expectations because I thought we had that when we signed Chatman.

I have no excitement about the future of Teske or Austin Davis. I'm sick of the completely nonathletic big man playing the 5.

 

[dubbsco]

Yeah, Teske really just looks sort of lost out there. Austin Davis is so far down the bench, I have no clue if he'll ever suit up.

I think the Tyus Battle and constant striking out of the top tier talent is just killing this team.

 

[biggunsbob]

I agree with everything all of you have said. It just frustrates me to no end how jb scaundered recuriting after back to back really good seasons. It shocked me he could not get any top guys to come to Michigan.
I really feel this slow team needs to play a two three zone at times to protect guys from getting fouls. Jb mentioned that 2 of his players we barking at officials (one was wilson I am sure) on fouls calls. Wilson espically just did not listen because after his 2nd and 3rd foul jb was in his ear I am sure yapping at him about how the refs were calling the game. Well wilson didn't listen because his 4th and 5th fouls (that cost 4 points) were both way in the front court..

 

[biggunsbob]

Getting no real help from any freshmen really hurts. Simpson looks small and lost to me running the offense . Teske looks slow although I did see a few good plays from him last night. Not sure on the other freshmen . Wilson had one great weekend and now can't stay on the court. We really need him . His shot selection has to improve, and when he gets over 7 to 8 rebounds this team is so much better.
Again I felt a 2/3 zone for a few minutes last night could have saved wilson (maybe). The last play was terrible last night by Zak. With over 20+ seconds jb said they had a play called and Tech took away the #1 option on that play and he said his players (zak) should have gone to the second option because it was there. Tech gives up alot of offensive rebounds which the broadcast just mentioned on the previous 3 made by Robinson. Man should have drove and crashed boards at 10 seconds.
Where the heck was Walton last night ?

 

[hungry]

This is where I am at as well, but next year's class looks good on paper. I wish we could sign Mo Bamba as well, but we know how it goes with elite big men recruits. It will be nice to have Poole, who is 6'3", running PG for us. Haven't had a bigger PG since Morris left. Really hoping Livers is ready to step in right away. A 6'8" combo forward, who can actually play, would be great to have. I am tempering my expectations because I thought we had that when we signed Chatman.

I have no excitement about the future of Teske or Austin Davis. I'm sick of the completely nonathletic big man playing the 5.

Come on, man. Usually I'm the most optimistic guy here regarding JB and basketball, but we've seen this episode before. The freshmen next season won't come in ready to play. Look at last year and look at this year. Watson and Teske are both comical. They look like they've never played basketball in their life. Xavier Simpson looks like he's never taken a shot before. These guys were highly rated recruits. Simpson scored a lot of points in high school. The freshmen last year looked totally lost, also. Michigan just doesn't seem to be able to get freshmen ready to play. Meanwhile, freshmen on some other teams are coming in and doing fine. I just don't get that disconnect.

Then there's the whole inability to even inbound a basketball. That is just inexcusable.

I've started to lose it here.

 

[hungry]

I agree with everything all of you have said. It just frustrates me to no end how jb scaundered recuriting after back to back really good seasons. It shocked me he could not get any top guys to come to Michigan.
I really feel this slow team needs to play a two three zone at times to protect guys from getting fouls. Jb mentioned that 2 of his players we barking at officials (one was wilson I am sure) on fouls calls. Wilson espically just did not listen because after his 2nd and 3rd foul jb was in his ear I am sure yapping at him about how the refs were calling the game. Well wilson didn't listen because his 4th and 5th fouls (that cost 4 points) were both way in the front court..

Wilson and Wagner both do it. I'm sick of it. They get called for a foul and they immediately start whining and get that whiny face and shrug their shoulders and hold out their hands palm up. Then they look over at JB, as if he is going to explain everything to them or hold them or something. He needs to tell them to cut that shit out, toughen up, and go play basketball. You get called for a foul, whether you did it or not, just toughen up and go play ball. They are just soft.

Wilson getting his 5th foul was on JB. After he got his 4th foul, it was clear the guy was going to be useless last night. JB should have put him on the end of the bench. He comes back in and immediately gives a foul and 2 shots and does his whiny stuff again. JB should've never put him back in the game.

 

[hungry]

Getting no real help from any freshmen really hurts. Simpson looks small and lost to me running the offense . Teske looks slow although I did see a few good plays from him last night. Not sure on the other freshmen . Wilson had one great weekend and now can't stay on the court. We really need him . His shot selection has to improve, and when he gets over 7 to 8 rebounds this team is so much better.
Again I felt a 2/3 zone for a few minutes last night could have saved wilson (maybe). The last play was terrible last night by Zak. With over 20+ seconds jb said they had a play called and Tech took away the #1 option on that play and he said his players (zak) should have gone to the second option because it was there. Tech gives up alot of offensive rebounds which the broadcast just mentioned on the previous 3 made by Robinson. Man should have drove and crashed boards at 10 seconds.
Where the heck was Walton last night ?

Yeah. I didn't see a play run. I saw 4 guys standing around watching Irvin get double-teamed. Hey! if you're double-teamed, guess what? Someone's open. Move the ball around and get a good shot. Go to the basket and draw a foul. You're down 1. I'd rather have Abdul-Rahkman get the ball at that point in the game. At least, he's going to go to the hoop.