New Uniforms For The Tourneys

This is a few days old now, but  Michigan will be wearing these jerseys for the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament.   If you notice, there are fancy dotes at the top and side of the shorts for enhanced breathability.   It also highlights the Wolverines on the front of both jerseys.   If you love these and have to have it, the MDen has the entire uniform for $155 all up ($90 for the jersey, $65 for the shorts).

Michigan Friday: What To Expect From Coach Nuss vs. Big Al

When Doug Nussmeier came to Ann Arbor he left a few things back in Alabama: his family, warmer weather and a national championship quality team.  

In Ann Arbor he got a few extra dollars, a 5th year QB and an offensive line with a combined 31 starts.   SB Nation did a very nice piece on what to expect from a Coach Nuss offensive vs. a Big Al offense.  I have taken a few excerpts from the article but I recommend you read the entire thing.   It's very detailed and starts to answer why our 5 star offensive lineman struggled last year under Big Al:

Borges' offensive system is one that is fairly complex. It involves a massive collection of plays designed to take advantage of a defense at critical times. The Michigan OC excelled at setting up defenses for devastating play-action passes after noting their overplays of other concepts. Borges' particular methods for doing this also involved a fairly sizable number of overall concepts.

For example, the Michigan offense involved six primary run schemes: power, iso, draw, horn (a tackle lead play), inside zone, and outside zone. It's worth noting here, just for comparison, that NFL run-game guru Alex Gibbs believes that a ground attack should be built almost entirely on just inside and outside zone.

Borges' run game for his baby-faced interior line involved those two schemes plus four others. That's a lot of footwork, technique, and reads for the players to master in any of those concepts. Consequently, the Michigan run game faltered and often failed to set up the team for play action. In fact, Devin Gardner frequently executed a play-fake to the running back only to turn and find not a wide open receiver in his sight lines, but several defenders in his face.

Under Nuss:

The run game will likely be built around inside zone and remain committed to the concept from week to week. Whereas Borges would build a million different constraints and play calls around multiple different run and pass schemes, Nussmeier will run inside zone in multiple ways, from multiple formations, and with different constraints built off of it to counter defensive responses. At Alabama, players would rep inside zone against every single defensive look that might come up, ensuring it could be called against any opponent.

 

Ideally, Michigan's young linemen can focus on their footwork and assignments without being asked to master several different techniques in order to have a dynamic gameplan.

 

To be a great college football coach you have to develop your talent.  Charlie Weiss struggled with that at ND and it seemed Big Al did at Michigan.   There are concepts and techniques that Taylor Lewan could do as a senior that Kyle Kalis couldn't.    This article finally started to answer the question, "How can true freshman step in at other programs (on the offensive line) and play well and at Michigan they are lost?"

 

I'm not sure what Big Al was thinking or trying to do with his approach.   Yes, it's important to come up with good plans but it's more important to execute things your team is able to execute.   I love the approach Coach Nuss has, he is simplifying the offensive line and adding help from H-Backs and Tight Ends.   He is creating a simplified power baseline and building off of it as the guys mature and are able to handle more complex techniques.

 

I'm a big Devin Gardner fan and I thought he had zero chance to be successful last year.   I sure hope he gets a running game and some time to pass this season, so he can get a chance at a career in the NFL.

 

Here is to a fresh approach and hope for a better 2014 season!

 

 

Michigan Thursday: Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Seeds

My guess is that Big Ten coaches don't love the Big Ten Tournament.   If you get a first round bye and you continue to win, you will play 3 games in 3 days.   Then you add the fact that you could be playing in the NCAA Tournament in 4 days.   That is a ton of high pressure basketball in a short matter of time.

I'm guessing John Beilein is one of those coaches, that doesn't love the BIG Tourney.  He seems like a guy that likes to prepare his team properly for a game, not watch an hour of tape and then send his team to a shoot around.   To keep his team fresh, I'm guessing we see a lot more Irvin and Bielfeldt then we have during the season.   I also like the look of Spike and Derrick on the floor together.   It gives Michigan another ball handler and I would like to see Spike get some more shots.

Most are predicting Michigan as a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.  There is a chance they move up to #2 with a strong Big Ten Tournament and others fall in the ACC.  If Michigan makes a run in either tournament we need to see GR3 become this years McGary.

So the next question is, what about the NBA Draft and where do the experts see Michigan's 3 PRo's:

• Most NBA predictors have Nik anywhere between 10-20.  Draft Express has him #20
• GR3 and Mitch seem to be trending to the second round.  DE has GR3 at #44 and Mitch at #37.

It is really going to be difficult for the NBA guys to rate Mitch unless he gets healthy between now and the draft.  If he can't work out,  he will continue to drop.   Teams are always worried about big men and back problems.  I don't think you leave if your a second rounder, on the other hand we did see Hardaway jump up many boards after his work outs and combine.   The success that Trey and Tim are having this year has to help other Beilein players with NBA executives.

• This is late but the Eagles released Jason Avant.  I hope he finds another team but if he doesn't, he has been a stand up pro and I will never forget that one handed catch at Northwestern!

Wolverine Wednesday: They're On!

Rick Danzl / Associated Press

 

How about that for an exclamation point.  When Michigan shoots the 3 like that (69.6%), I'm not sure there are many teams in the NCAA that can beat them.

Michigan won the outright Big Ten Championship last night for the first time since Gary Grant ran the point and Roy Tarpley was a force down low.  That was back in 1986 and Michigan is now back on top of the Big Ten.    The Wolverines started fast last night and never looked back as they shot Illinois right out of their own gym.   In fact, Michigan was close to scoring enough points in the first half (52) to win the entire game at 84-53.  

Everyone was a star last night, Nik shot the ball great and so did pretty much everyone else.  John Beilein should be the unanimous National Coach of the Year for what he has done with this group of young men mostly after McGary went down with a back injury. 

We measure success around here in Big Ten Championships and now John Beilein has two and a Final 4 birth.   This year is a success no matter what happens in Indy and in the NCAA Tournament (but it's going to be really fun to watch!).  It seems there is a transformation going on at this traditional football school.

Congratulations to the players and coaches!  You will always be remembered with this championship and another banner in Crisler!  

• Michigan also will be the #1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which is a first for the Wolverines.

• Scoring last night:  Stauskas 24, LeVert 15, GR313, Walton 9, Irvin 9, Albrecht 6

Michigan Tuesday: Urban Goes Under The Knife and the Wolverines Take The Floor

Urban Meyer had a procedure over the weekend to reduce headaches from an congenital arachnoid cyst that was discovered in 1988.  It doesn't seem like he will miss any time at Spring Practice.  


Michigan will take the floor again tonight at Illinois who just upset the Spartans in East Lansing.   Things that you will hear during the telecast that you have heard in every Michigan Basketball game this year include:

• "LeVert was once committed to a MAC school"   
• "John Beilein picked him up after John Groce took the Illinois job"
• "LeVert and Stauskas re-dedicated themselves over the summer and got stronger"
• "Glen Robinson III is the son of the Big Dog"
• "We all remember Spike from the first half of the National Championship Game"
• "Michigan had to replace two first round draft picks and an injured All-American Mitch McGary"

I'm sure you have a few that I missed. 

What's ironic is that John Groce got the Illinois job partly over the upset win Ohio had over Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.  That loss moved LeVert to Michigan.    So sometimes when you lose, you win.   Let's hope he Wolverines leave tonight with a full share of the Big Ten title.

• Jon Horford confirms he will come back for his 11th season next year.  Just kidding, but he graduates this spring and will be back next year. 

• 7:00 tip on ESPN Tonight

Michigan Monday: Close But There Is Still Work To Be Done

Tony Ding / Associated Press

 

Michigan secured a share of the Big Ten Title on Saturday after a win over the Golden Gophers and a loss by Michigan State.   I'm sure the only place the young Wolverines heard about securing a share was on twitter or reading an article on-line.   My guess is John Beilein and staff are not discussing it with the team because there is still work to be done in two more games to secure the entire championship all to themselves.

Michigan has two games this week, on the road to Illinois and at home against Indiana.   If Michigan wins one of those games, they will own the entire Big Ten Championship to themselves.  Losing two first round draft picks to the NBA Draft and with All American Mitch McGary playing only a few games before going down with a back injury, many thought Michigan would struggle to even make it to the NCAA Tournament.   We know now they are Big Ten Champs but like a tired 8 year old, they don't want to share anything!  

Congratulations to the team and John Beilien and Staff for a wonderful coaching job!


Speaking of Michigan State, what is going on this year between the schools in Ann Arbor and the one in East Lansing.   It's like Freaky Friday!

Michigan historically has been known as a football school.  Michigan State on the other hand is known as a basketball school.   Michigan Football this year started fast and ended very poorly.   Michigan State Football started shaky, won the Big Ten and ended up as Rose Bowl Champions.   MSU has also recently owned the head to head match up between the two state rivals on the football field.   It is completely just the opposite of what we are used to.

Michigan State has been a basketball school since Magic Johnson and the coaching of Tom Izzo.   Michigan Basketball has seen success in spurts but due to many factors, never were a consistent program competing at a high level every year.   This year Michigan started out shaky with a true freshman point guard and an All American spending more time on the bench injured then on the floor playing.   Michigan State started out strong as one of the top teams in the nation until they got hit with the injury bug as well.    Now MSU is limping to the finish line of the Big Ten season and Michigan is coming off a Final Four and now are Big Ten Champions after sweeping the Spartans this year.  Again the complete opposite of what we usually see or expect. 

It feels pretty good right now, but not so good during football season.  Let's hope both Michigan programs can figure out how to be successful at the same time and a consistent power in both sports. 

Michigan Friday: Damien Harris Update

Michigan's top prospect on the board for the 2015 class is RB Damien Harris.  Damien had committed to Michigan this past summer after Big Al was let go, Damien opened up his recruitment to make sure he experienced the recruiting process.   Big Al was close with Damien's High School head coach as they were on the staff together at Auburn.

Since Coach Nuss has gotten the job, he has made the re-recruitment of Damien one of his top priorities.  His first visit recruiting visit was to out to Kentucky to see Damien and his family.   Last weekend, Damien came back to Ann Arbor for Junior Day and Coach Nuss was seen at the basketball game with Damien.  

So how did it go?

“It was the same comfort,” Ms. Harris reported.  “I know for me it was.  I really haven’t gotten a chance to sit down with Damien and discuss it (at length) because he has been in school and practice since we got home.  I did ask him (Monday) night, ‘did the feelings come back that you had initially with Michigan?’  He was like, ‘the feeling never left.  I never loss [sic] any of the feeling that I had for Michigan."

Insiders are saying this is a Michigan - OSU battle for his services even though he will take other visits to places like Alabama, USC and others.  

If we see him up in Ann Arbor for the Spring Game and for a regular season game.   I think Michigan's chances are pretty good at re-landing the talented running back. 

• Coach Nuss and GMat had their first Spring Practice press conference yesterday.

• Ohio State lost to Penn State last night in basketball.

• Michigan hosts a tough Minnesota team on Saturday at 6:00 on BTN.