Well, we lost twice last year. That has to be point one. But that is fine. See, UM is our little brother. And like Izzo Says, "It irks me if we win a lot (against Michigan) and lose one and people say the tide is changing."Make that three in a row. Tommy. Remember that Michigan player years ago who made a little comment about brothers? Of course you do, Spartans the world over incessantly speak on this every time anything occurs in this rivalry. The fact that Sparties will not let it die and continue to bring up the little brother comment proves how close to home it strikes. Your inferiority complex shows itself again and again.
It's been a long time since Michigan basketball has been this good or this relevant, yet John Beilein's program acts with class and dignity when it comes to Michigan State. Contrast this with the way Mark Dantonio would react in a postgame press conference after a victory over Michigan.
"Michigan State, I’m telling you, is one heck of a team. They’re difficult to defend and they’re difficult to score on. Fantastic coach, coaching staff as well. Draymond Green is as good as anybody that there is in the country and we really feel fortunate to get a win, especially over a program like that.”
“It’s always been a great rivalry. You look at the last 10 or 12 years, it hasn’t been much of a rivalry. They’ve been beating us pretty well. Our thing is we’re trying to win a Big Ten Championship. Michigan State is so good, and I admire what they do so much. The whole university, everybody, it’s a great place. You’ve gotta beat places that you admire, you’ve gotta do that to win a Big Ten Championship.”(Quotes taken from UMHoops)
Pure class. He could have rubbed salt in their wounds. He could have brought up three in a row. He could have discussed bragging rights in the streets of Michigan for years to come. Instead he handled himself with class and dignity, with true Michigan ideals and in doing so proves once more why Michigan stands alone atop this rivalry. Games will be won and lost by both sides but it will always be Great to Be A Michigan Wolverine.
Some thoughts on the game...
Burke vs Appling
Is true freshman Trey Burke the best player in the state of Michigan? I'm probably reading way too much into one game but he was certainly the best player on the floor yesterday.
Burke's statline for the game:
8-11 for 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers.
What the statline doesn't show is how Burke made plays in key moments. Key blocks, an NBA range three with Michigan trailing and the game winning assist. I thought Appling played pretty well offensively and in transition but as Izzo said he just ran out of gas from doing everything and playing so many minutes. Still, the story of this game has to be Burke. This game will be remembered (by me at least) as the point in the season when Trey Burke went from phenomenal freshman to best player on Michigan's team. With the recent history of Michigan basketball stars I'm now terrified of who's going to play PG next year after Trey declares for the NBA draft after this season.
Draymond Green
I still think Izzo offered Green (a low 4/high 3 star type) late in the process just to keep him off Michigan's roster. That has worked out quite well for MSU and for Green. I love the way he plays and how he leads his team. He's talented, works hard, scores, dishes and does all the little things. He also guaranteed victory over Michigan in the Breslin in February. (ESPN Insider article)
Zach Novak and Stu Douglass
Of course, in that 2008 recruiting class Michigan ended up with an unranked player and a 2 star, though you may have heard of Zach Novak and Stu Douglass. This worked out pretty well for Michigan. Stu got the start in last night's game and he and Novak both made big plays throughout the game. Novak is the clear leader of Michigan's team and the team plays with his heart and grit and determination which make them so fun to watch. Novak has won our Spartan loving friend Reese over as his favorite player in college basketball. Depending on what happens the rest of the way this season it will be interesting to see how Novak is remembered in Michigan history. In my own humble epinion, he's one of the all-time greats from the standpoint of what he's done for the school and basketball program.
And therefore, Mr Novak, you get the honor of the onrivalries background. To The Victors! (Hail!) go the spoils.
wait, beilein schooled izzo in class? isnt this what you said exactly what a coach should say? or are you comparing apples and oranges?
ReplyDeleteHere's an excerpt from Joe Rexrode's blog following the UM-MSU football program regarding the apparent scourge on college football coaches Dantonio.
ReplyDelete* Brady Hoke and Mark Dantonio had the warmest post-game greeting between an MSU and U-M coach that I can recall. It's not fake. This rivalry won't lose any steam -- you won't let it -- but there's mutual respect going on right now.
“As far as Brady, Brady’s a good man, I think he’s a very good coach," Dantonio said. "They’re a well-coached football team and they’re just starting. So it takes time.”
Seems remarkably similar to what Beilein said actually.
Dantonio doesn't like Michigan, he's made that clear. But if we are talking about obsession's we could talk about UM fan's obsession with discrediting Dantonio from afar.
I like Izzo. Though I thought he did his team a disservice the last few minutes of the game. He was clearly on tilt. I don't get how that helps your team win.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Dantonio. Winning cures all I guess.
I'm just glad I'm a Michigan fan. Both our major sports teams have coaches I am proud to have.
wait, how was he on tilt? we had a shot to win the game, a clear one. were you expecting a time out?
ReplyDeleteI too am proud to have two coaches in the major sports.
I have a fundamental disagreement with crying to the refs as much as he did. He should have been focused on the next play. Whatever it was they tried to do at the end wasn't a typical Izzo play to get someone a great look. Green had a good look but that came from him making a play.
ReplyDeleteCrying to the refs? Did you watch the game? One time he's in a bad vantage point to argue for applkng which was over and back. Any other time was justified I'd say considering how wide open the the refs let the game bes in the first half.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes that was a designed play for green. Which is why AT didn't shoot it when he was wide open for three. If I wasn't on my phone id like about 1000 interviews that said the same.
One other interesting thing was all the trash talk on twitter from msu football players, especially when denard was shown (which was awesome that he was in the student section by the way). I highly doubt you would have seen the same tweets from Michigan players if they were showing cousins.
ReplyDeleteAs far as izzo, the last 4 minutes were very poorly coached. Not calling a timeout when the final play self combusted was his worse offense. He claimed he was afraid Michigan would go zone , but I'd much rather have a set play against a zone than whatever that cf was at the end. I also think he made the mistake by going small to match Michigan in the last 4 minutes. State's biggest advantage all night was in the post, why would you want to give that up?