Roundball, Defense and Other Things I'm Thankful For

It's the week of The Game and we're talking about basketball?  Yeah, I guess us Michigan fans have some things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

So I was subbing for a 4th grade class last week and they were making lists of things they were thankful for.  Most kids said cute things like "my mommy" or un-cute spoiled things like "my wii", (humor not lost on me) and some even talked with great perspective saying things like "food, because other people are starving".  Stealing a page out of their book, here's a list of ten things I'm most thankful for as a Michigan fan, in no particular order.

1. Competitive Basketball Team

Following the Chris Webber fallout, Michigan self imposed sanctioned its basketball program to death.  They also hired Tommy Amaker.  Amaker was a good man.  He recruited well, graduated players, did everything with class and within NCAA rules and was pretty much exactly what Michigan wanted out of their basketball program.  It was clean.  It was also terribly dormant as a national competitor.

John Beilein arrived with a resume of success everywhere (literally, he's coached at every single D1 school....well not literally but you know what I meant) He also arrived at the same time as facility upgrades galore.  New practice facility, Crisler renovations, etc.  All this has coincided with a couple of NCAA tournament runs and all of a sudden Michigna has a basketball program worth talking about again.  I like basketball so I'm a fan of this development.
 
2. Overachieving Freshman 

He's a point guard.  He's good.

This section could also be titled "Beilein's ability to find diamonds in the rough".  Here's a leetle story about Tim Hardawy Jr.  He came to Michigan's camp without an offer.  He was seen as a long jumpshooter who wasn't a great basketball player.  JB had a choice to make as scholarships were tight and Michigan was in some highly touted kids.  Hardaway was nowhere near the top 100 on any recruiting site.  He was a sleeper.  He earned his offer, committed soon thereafter and started rising in the rankings.  He could play and people were taking notice.  He's going to be a first round draft pick when he heads to the NBA, he's really awesome.  +1 for JB

This year's Tim Hardaway is Trey Burke.  After watching his highlights, the youtube videos of his strenuous workouts he put in every morning at 5:30am and then seeing his recruiting ranking, I was a little perplexed.  I mean, some teams are going to be getting really awesome players if they are 90 of them better than this kid, which was pretty much the consensus from all the services.  So Burke came in, earned the starting job, outplayed Joe Jackson of Memphis (widely considered one of the best PG's in college basketball) and has shown himself to be simply awesome.  +2 JB, thanks, I like you.

3. Greg Mattison

Man.  Love.

Man love. Bottom ten to top ten in every important defensive category with the same players. :)

4. Coaches with Job Security

It's nice heading into The Game with a galvanized fan base supporting Brady Hoke while Ohio has a lame duck coach, Urban rumors swirling and a 6-5 record.  Those proverbial tables, they've turned.  It feels good. 

5. Retina Burning Maize Jerseys

So we head out to dinner last night in Texas and there's a tv on in the bar showing a basketball game.  It was far away but there was no mistaking the blindingly bright maize jerseys as Michigan's.  I was able to mosey on over and check the score and see Michigan taking care of business against UCLA.  Seriously though, that color should not exist.  Normal maize is not fluorescent.

6. Little Bro

My big brother has told me he's proud of me, so I'll pass that along and let Michigan's little bro, the Sparties, know that we are secretly proud of you.  You've overcome the "Sparty No" to rise up and be at the top of the Big Ten for a couple of seasons.  We don't want you beating us, (seriously, cut that out) but you can beat OSU every year and we'll be proud of you.  Good luck in the Big Ten championship game little guy, we know you can do it!

7. Velcro

You need it if you want your shoelaces untied.

8. A Secondary

Seems like Michigan hasn't had one of these since I was in college.  My hairline hints at this being a long interval.  It's nice to have a defensive backfield again.

9. The Game

More on this tomorrow, but I wait so anxiously for football season for so long and now we only have one game left.  At least it's the biggest of the year against that school down south.  This is always the biggest game of the year and I'm glad they kept it as the season finale.  Every year will end with a bang.  Go Blue, Beat Ohio!

10. Packers @ Lions

For the first time in a long, long time, the Lions play on Thanksgiving in an extremely meaningful game.  This isn't even their first appearance on national television this season!  It's going to be a tough matchup against the undefeated Packers.  Speaking of the Pack, they are much more difficult to hate now with Favre gone.  Man I hated him.  Aaron Rodgers is so much more likeable.  I like his discount double check commercial.  I like his demeanor, I just kinda like him. Hopefully Suh and Vandenbosch sack him a lot today but don't hurt him too much.  If the Lions win today the hype will hit a fever pitch and the Lions will be in great shape for a playoff spot.  Thanks Lions for finally being competitive in the professional league with the most parity.  You were terrible for so many years that now it's so much more exciting when you are simply pretty good.