Michigan Friday: Grandma Always Said, "Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight"

Robin Buckson, Detroit News

I watched too much basketball yesterday like most of America and my first thought was if Michigan plays like they did in the Big Ten Tournament, they are going to make a good run to the Final 4.  Teams were playing sloppy, turning the ball over, and not shooting well.  


Then Michigan took the court at 10:30 PM EST, which is a crime in itself.   Athletes are not at their prime that late at night, yes college kids normally stay up late, but they don't take Mid-Terms at 11:00PM either.   The game started, Michigan wins the tip and Wagner falls down and travels in the first two seconds.   Then a few seconds later MAAR gets the first foul of the game and Coach B pulls him out of the game. 


That was a little example of how the game would go for the Wolverines.   Montana jumped out to a 10-0 lead and the Wolverines looked like they were sleep walking in the first half.   If Montana had an offense even a little like Buffalo, the Wolverines would have joined Arizona in heading home today.   Montana in the second half couldn't throw the ball in the ocean from the beach, they struggled in all aspects of offense.   The Wolverines didn't too much better and really was only holding on to a 10 point lead.


Mo Wagner was off all night and finished the game with a total of 5 points, Matthews played well and mostly lay ups and dunks and had 30 on the night.   MAAR who struggled most of the night finished with 11 and was the only other Wolverine in double figures. 


Michigan looked rusty and bothered by Montana's trap defense and quick guards.   The game was slow and even slower with a long delay due to the scores table losing power (even the scores table didn't want to play that late).   The Wolverines got a lift from their bench in the first half with Simmons and Poole got some important buckets when the Wolverines were in a funk.   The defense in the second won the game as the Wolverines continue to turn the ball over and mostly on fast breaks. 


The best thing you can say about this game is the Wolverines won and moving on.   They now face a Houston team that had a guard go for nearly 40 in the game prior.   He seems like Houston's only  offense and Simpson and MAAR will have their hands full with a volume shooter. 


Guess what?  Michigan has the late game again and will have a 9:40 tip (hopefully).  Poor Coach B is not going to get much sleep as he has a lot to fix before Saturday night. 

• Jimmy's brother-in-law Tom Crean got the Georgia head coaching role

• Mazi Smith 4 Star DT from Grand Rapids seems to be trending to Michigan right now.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/michigan-friday-grandma-always-said.html

Michigan Thursday: It's Back To Basketball Day

After 10 days off, Michigan will take the court tonight but it might be closer to tomorrow morning, as the expected tip will be around 10:00 EST.   Coach B pulled out all his tricks to keep the Wolverines sharp, as nothing kills a hot team quicker then a long rest.   On the flip side, Michigan and the 3 other Big Ten NCAA Teams should have fresh legs for a run through the tournament. 


Montana plays in the Big Sky league and tend to fall more towards the defense side of the ball then an explosive offense.   They like to trap the ball and force turnovers for easy offense.  Michigan should be well prepared for that and we might see more time from guys like Jaaron Simmons for ball handing purposes and to give Simpson some rest.  


Coach B seems to do well in March because his system is really hard to prepare for in a small window.  If Michigan shoots the ball well at all, I expect a double digit win for the Wolverines. 


Here are some examples of Montana playing better teams:


Lost: 70-57 at Penn State
Lost: 70-54 at Stanford
Lost: 66-63 at Washington


Michigan and Montana both beat UC Riverside: 


Montana won 77-61
Michigan won 87-42




Michigan's other major sport, football has a few recruits in town this weekend for a visit:


-Zach Harrison,  4 star DE from Ohio - He seems to a OSU lock but Michigan will get its shot this weekend.


-Will Harrod, 4 star OT from Maryland - 6'5 300 pounds and a strong lean towards the Wolverines.  Could be on commit watch.  Yes Please!


-Tra Wilkins, 3 star Athlete from GA - This guys has an impressive offer list from the SEC and may project to LB. 


-Paul Tyson, 4 star QB from Alabama - Yes he has an Alabama offer.   Enough said. 


-Daequan Hardy, not ranked CB from Pittsburg - Only 5'10 but a good athlete that could blow up on the recruiting trail.   He has offers from Michigan, Army, Navy, Buffalo, and Bowling Green.


-Dax Hill, 5 star Safety from Tulsa - Maybe the best safety in the country, experts believe an OU lean. 




from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/michigan-thursday-its-back-to.html

Wolverine Wednesday: If It's Broken It Better Get Fixed

USAToday

I know coaches have to protect kids and support their team during the season.  So when Jimmy said, they were very confident in John O'Korn going into the OSU game, you know he was doing just that. 


Michigan had three glaring issues after the embarrassment in the Outback Bowl:

1. QB
2. Offensive Line
3. Team was not strong enough

Hopefully, Jimmy fixed the first problem by getting a 5 Star QB to transfer in.  (of course we are still waiting on a NCAA decision if he is eligible or not).   The second problem we believe is more coaching than talent.    It took some time but Jimmy fixed that by moving out Drevno and hiring offensive line guru Ed Warriner. 


Now it has been confirmed that Jimmy is doubling down on the offensive line coaching.   He has hired Detroit Lions Offensive line coach Ron Prince (and former head coach of Kansas State) to a analyst role and former Tennessee Titans defensive assistant with offensive line coaching experience Brandon Blaney to the same analyst role.  As I'm sure most of you know, these positions are not "on the field coaching" but can help with game strategy, scouting, and film review with the players. 


“Ed Warinner and Ron Prince who’s now working with us as an analyst,” said Harbaugh regarding the voices now charged with shaping his offensive line. “Brandon Blaney is coming over from the Titans, who also coached offensive line at Iowa State in his career.  We’ve got some tremendous coaching and a bunch of guys that need to get coached really well.”


So that position group is getting plenty of attention, which of course it needs.  So what about the new S&C guy and the new workout center that just opened?

Did you know Michigan was outscored in the 4th Quarter 23-0 against Wisconsin, Ohio State and South Carolina?  All three games were winnable and that is just a crazy stat. 

Ben Herbert was hired from Arkansas to fix that problem and make Michigan a stronger better conditioned team.  Ben is big into accountability and nutrition to get the results on the field that he has been successfully doing for Hogbacks and Badgers.  Here is one approach that Ben has used in the past from the Land of 10 site:

The story goes that he went to a local Home Depot, purchased a couple of giant house plants, stuck a nametag on one and called it “The Governor” and did the same with another, calling it “The Deacon.”The Governor was fed a diet by the book and tended to regularly. The Deacon was given beer, whiskey and Doritos. (or what college kids usually eat and drink)



It didn’t take long for players to see the difference in the two plants. Or to get the damn point.

Every Badgers workout ended with the players grabbing hands and forming a large circle. If you were late for a workout or a test, you couldn’t join in and were forced to stand in the middle as your teammates surrounded you. No shock, the circle got larger as time went on, and the head count inside started shrinking, too. One circle. One page. One goal.


So we know Herbert is big into accountability. And greens. His sundae bar at his last gig with Arkansas included kale and avocado as mixers for the energy drinks. In 2014, the Razorbacks trotted out the heaviest offensive line in FBS, with an average of 328.4 pounds per blocker.


You can love or hate the story above, but the approach is different and new to the Wolverines and that is exactly what they need, as the past approach has not been effective. 


I tip my hat to Jimmy and his wiliness to change to get the results we are looking for.   Yes, it took a little longer then we liked and Yes, Pep is still on staff and Jimmy did hire the failed Florida coach, but big changes were needed and it seems Jimmy has made them.

• Reports are that Ole Miss got the packet on Shea Patterson's eligibility from Michigan, but it officially has to come from the NCAA and the 10 day review period doesn't start until it arrives from the NCAA.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/wolverine-wednesday-if-its-broken-it.html

Michigan Tuesday: Cuts Deep

Did you see the photo's of Tom Brady's hand/thumb cut before the AFC Championship game?


Here it is if you haven't see it.   Wow, was that a deep cut.  I'm surprised he could play. 

• 2019 Indiana 4 star RB Sampson James visited Ann Arbor last Saturday.  

• 2020 LB Kalel Mullins was also in town.

• Michigan Basketball signed commit SG Adrien Nunez was named to the first team All-NEPSAC team.  Seems going the prep school route was smart for Adrien.

• Atlanta 2019 safety Kyle Hamilton has Michigan in his final group.

• Michigan also made the final group for the top CB in the 2019 class, five-star Derek Stingley Jr.  The issue is Derek is from Louisiana which means he is a lock for LSU.

• Michigan just offered CT 2019 WR Cornelius Johnson.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/michigan-tuesday-cuts-deep.html

Michigan Monday: Hello Wichita.and Montana

Michigan would have loved to have gotten MSU's spot, a #3 seed and two games in Detroit Rock City.   Remember, when Michigan got the Outback Bowl Bid over the better record MSU?  Well, that just happened to Michigan.  It didn't matter that Michigan won the Big Ten Tournament and MSU twice, MSU had the better record and the committee gave them the home cooking. 


Michigan now has to go on the road to Wichita, Kansas and play a Montana team as a 3 seed in the West.   This bracket could set up a re-match with North Carolina in the sweet 16.   This time Michigan is much approved and this will be on a neutral site court.    If Michigan can stay hot after the 10 day layoff then I like their chances in this bracket. 


It probably will be a 10:00 tip or later on Thursday, so schedule some late appointments on Friday because you might be a little late to the office. 


I know very little about Montana but I know they start two 6'2 guys and three 6'8 guys.   They will probably try to play small ball against Michigan and to have a chance will have to shoot the lights out of the building.   This is not a roll over team and what seems a pretty decent match-up for a round one game against a 3 seed. 


If Michigan can get by Montana, they will either play a good Houston team or San Diego State.  If SDS wins Round One, it will be a match-up of former Steve Fisher's teams.

• Calvin Anderson as your probably know and predicted went home to Texas.   Calvin was a 2 star out of Austin and didn't get s sniff from UT, now he is a longhorn.   Even though I wanted him in Ann Arbor, you can't blame a kid for fulfilling a dream. 

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/michigan-monday-hello-wichitaand-montana.html

Michigan Friday: A Big Day For Wolverine Sneakerheads

Nike and the Jordan Brand are dropping two new Michigan basketball shoes today at 10:00.   They will be available at MDen and probably online at Nike.com.  


It's rare for Jordan to drop two Michigan shoes on the same day, but they are hoping that March Madness will open your wallet.  It's a little taste of the new and a little taste of the old.    We will take a look at both shoes in todays post. 





These shoes are the newest in the Jordan line.  It's Russell Westbrook's first signature basketball shoes (he has done a few lifestyle shoes for Jordan) called the Why Not Zer0.1.  The first Why Not's sold out quickly, but the second and the third releases around the All Star Game are still available.  


I believe I saw Charles Matthews wearing these this past weekend in NYC as the Wolverines ran the table.   As you can see there are no laces on these and very lightweight.  Retail is $125







These are the Michigan edition Jordan 32's low.  If you ask regular sneakerhead's they would've preferred a release in a much lower Jordan version number.  We didn't get that and today we have the 32's.  Which seems to be a trend as the last Michigan Shoe was the Jordan 31's.  This isn't your fathers Jordan's and crafted for today's marketplace with the flyknit uppers and leather heel panel.   Retail is $160.

• Looks like David Brandon will be looking for another gig as Toys-R-Us isn't going to make it out of bankruptcy and are starting the liquidation process.   Another major retailer dying as our shopping habits continue to change. 

• Coach B will being running a full game inter squad scrimmage today with officials to keep his team sharp during the break.

from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/michigan-friday-big-day-for-wolverine.html

Michigan Thursday: Calvin Anderson Ready To Announce This Weekend

burtorangenation.com

We all know too well that Michigan didn't hit a home run in offensive line recruiting in the 2018 class.   So our next best hope was finding a graduate transfer.   Calvin Anderson from Rice is the top offensive tackle transfer prospect and many big time teams are coming after him like Texas, Auburn, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and others. 


The issue is Calvin's home town is Austin, Texas and "its hard to say no when Mamma calls", was the famous Bear Bryant line.   The other problem is, Jimmy for some reason put Tim Drevno in charge of his recruitment and they hit it off.  They went to Top Golf and did other fun things together, it was a start of a regular bro-mance.   Calvin is also a big fan of recruiting director Matt Dudek and (hopefully soon-to-be starting QB) Shea Patterson.   The other advantage Michigan has is, Calvin would be able to block an NFL worthy D-Line during practice at Michigan and getting prepared for the NFL draft is the reason Calvin is looking for a one year gig.


Reports though are that OL Coach Ed Warinner hasn't been down to visit with Calvin at all.   So Michigan has a chance, but probably a slim one right now.   There was also a rumored back-up plan for a SEC offensive lineman that now seems to be off the table.   If Calvin doesn't pick the Wolverines, their best bet is to see what the transfer market looks like after Spring Practice.   We all know how difficult it is for transfers to qualify academically in Ann Arbor, so there maybe little to no options in that pool either.  If your wondering about Calvin academically, he is graduating in a degree in Mathematical Economic Analysis.   This transfer seems like a good experiment in his own mathematical economic analysis and whether he will get to the NFL or not. 


Calvin is expected to announce sometime on Saturday.



from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/03/michigan-thursday-calvin-anderson-ready.html