Michigan Tuesday: We Got a Basketball Team

When Juwan took over, I 100% supported that hire.  There was times even when his team was playing well that Michigan didn't have any scores on the court.  Or how Juwan struggled to find any shooters his entire time in Ann Arbor. 

Those days are over!  Dusty has done a wonderful job finding good players in the portal.  Each one can shoot and it seems each one can defend.  They had over 50 points at the half last night and scored over 100 for the game in the first W of the season.   I think they have 8 players that could go for 20+ any night. 

This team is deep as well, they look to be maybe 10 deep with 2 guys out last night due to injury.   The Wolverines do have some weaknesses and will need to be a better at getting rebounds.   Keep an eye on the 7 foot transfer from Yale Danny Wolf, he has handles, can shoot the 3, and work the low the post.  He played 24 minutes, shot 8-10 and finished with 19 points.  LJ Cason is a true freshman and a future star.  

I've said this before and will say it again, Support this team!  Basketball is back in Ann Arbor! 

What a great tweet below:

FWIW, here's the first and last home game of the Dusty May era at Florida Atlantic. https://t.co/8qhXdIek5T pic.twitter.com/2VNBOMS5vH

— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) November 5, 2024

• I really want to bang on the Big Ten for scheduling Michigan - Oregon and then Michigan - IU in back to back weeks.  But nobody saw IU coming this year. 

• Its funny how different fan bases want different start times.  Michigan fans want every game at Noon.  I guess the PSU fans boycotted the Fox Pre-game show because they were mad PSU-OSU was not a night game/White Out.  

• I didn't watch the CFP Playoff ranking shows when Michigan was good, I won't be watching tonight for sure.  Part of me wonders if Warde will fumble the TV interviews. 

• Erik All has blown out his ACL and is out for the rest of his rookie season. 

• It's a big and important day.  Clearly its the NFL Trade Deadline Day! :-)

• Lions made a trade for the Browns Smith to try to band aide a pass rush while Hutch is out. 

• MACtion tonight! 

Michigan Monday: Couple Things I Forgot to Mention From Saturday

As I wrote after the game, Saturday was one of the worst coached games from Michigan since RR and Hoke roamed the sideline.  Even dusty old Danielson was questioning if they knew the rules or not.  

One thing I didn't consider going into the season was that the Big Ten was going to need extra officials for the multiple more games that would be played every weekend.  

The Big Ten officiating has gone from bad to worse this season.  It's just not the Michigan game, I see it in every Big Ten game I watch.   Someone should be fired for the missed call on Oregon's first TD.   That was a complete miss and a bad one.  It's the reason you have review.  I don't want an apology from the Big Ten, I want a clear explanation of how these officials are ranked and what happens when someone misses a review so obvious?  Human error is going to happen on the field, that should not happen in the booth.   

That was the first thing I forgot to mention, the second is the TD at the end of the game.  Plan and simple that is a BUSH LEAGUE move by Dan Lanning and the Ducks OC.  When he shook hands with Sherrone he better have apologizing for that.   The right thing to do is take a knee and end the game.   How many times did we see Michigan do that inside the 5 yard line the past 3 years?  Numerous times.   Respect is earned not given in the Big Ten.   This isn't the PAC 12.  Good Luck with the rest of your season.

Too Early Look at IU:

Record: 9-0 

Best Win:  Washington 

Pass: 284 (19th)

Run: 191 (30th)

Score: 46.6 points per (2nd)

Give up  13.7 (7th)

Line: Michigan +14

IU found a diamond in the rough with its new head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison.  Curt went into the transfer portal and found his own diamonds and turned IU into a 9-0 football team this season.  They have a top 2 offense and a top 10 defense.   

The issue is they haven't played anyone but they do still have Ohio State on the schedule.  Curt has made such an impact that fans at Ohio State have been clamoring for Curt next year, I would guess Penn State fans might be thinking the same this week and some Michigan fans are thinking Curt might have been the reset the program needed after last season. 

Curt was a long time assistant coach that finally got his shot as a head coach and he has made the best of it.  Last game, IU was down 10-0 to Sparty and scored 47 unanswered.   Michigan will again have its hands full this week.  Maybe the Michigan bus should just end up in West Lafayette and see if Purdue is available on Saturday.  Well it turns out they are hosting Ohio State, I think the Boilermakers would be up for the trade.  CBS just said they are in as well!  😀

Michigan Football has been doing well on the recruiting trail. 

• On Friday they got a 3/4 star DL from Benny Patterson who flipped from the Cincinnati Bearcats. 
• On Saturday, they got the long rumored commit from 4 star CB Shamari Earls who flipped from Georgia.  

Good to see the future is bright with these new editions!  Welcome to Ann Arbor! 

Last point on a Monday.  James Franklin is who he is.  He will never change and neither will his program.  We have all seen that OSU/PSU too many times to count.

Bengals Video with a nice former Wolverine shout out! 

Good dub, on to Thursday.

Locker Room Celebration | @KetteringHealth pic.twitter.com/o4Rj8Q4GYi

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 4, 2024

Oregon Post Game

The result is what we all expected.  Oregon did to Michigan what Michigan has been doing to teams for 3 years.  That was our time, this is the Ducks time.  I'm not mad, Michigan got beat by a better team and the 100K watching live and Millions on TV knew it during every snap.  

The Ducks ran the clock in the 2nd half and Michigan tried to play even with a team fighting with one hand behind their back. 

I do have a few thoughts.  

• Davis Warren is becoming a QB, its too bad we didn't have this type of play against UW and Illinois because those were embarrassing loses. 

• Michigan's coaching staff is miles below what it has been
• Wink should be fired in December 
• Campbell should be demoted to QB coach
• They should hire a competent OC
• Sherrone better figure it out because the coaching today was the worse that its been since Hoke.
• That 4th down WR pass, was a clown show call.  Play football.  So stupid.  Terrible coaching 
• Having the kid over the center on a punt is also a coaching issue

• The Loveland drop challenge was another terrible coaching decision

• Orji is a pure dog man, love his toughness.  Get him to the edge more and stop trying to run him in the middle of the field. 

• Hey Wink, who is covering the middle of the field?  The back judge?

• Wink, a 2 man rush?  

• Well done Loveland

• Great game Morris! 

• Graham and Grant continue to play hard.  

Loved the heart the team played with today in clearly an over matched situation.   Now they have to go on the road and face another undefeated ranked team.  I wish we had a coaching staff that could prepare the team properly.  We don't and we better have an upgrade next season. 

Oregon Preview

Time: 3:30

Location: Big House 

Weather: 50 and Cloudy 

TV: CBS (Nessler & Danielson)

Line: Michigan + 14.5

When everyone saw the schedule come out they knew that playing Texas, Oregon, and Ohio State in the same year was trouble.  At least Texas and Oregon was at home.  What we didn't expect was really bad performances on the road against Washington and Illinois.  They Ducks have already beaten the Buckeyes and currently the #1 team in the nation with a light schedule prior to the Big Ten Championship game.  

Michigan is a over a 2 TD dog and their best cover corner is questionable at best and most likely won't play.  Did I mention Wink is still Michigan's DC?  

Dear Sherrone:

Well done last week finding the proper mix in Warren and Orji.  Beating the Spartans is a must win if your going to keep your job long term in Ann Arbor.  This week is another story.  You have the #1 team in the nation visiting, a QB that has been in college similar length to Tuttle, and a very good defense.   I expected the Ducks to have an explosive offense but they have been pretty sound on defense so far this year.  

They didn't exactly shut down the Professional Columbus Crew but they did enough to win the game.  So you have your hands full this weekend for sure.  

I write to you every Friday with the purpose of giving you advice.  This week, even I don't know what to say.

Michigan needs to control the clock and run the ball.  The problem is everyone knows Michigan wants to run the ball.  The Ducks will again provide a loaded box and shut down Michigan's running game.  Which means Warren must complete his passes and Orji must be the best runner on the field for both teams.   The Wolverines must again play a clean game.  No turnovers or dumb drive extending penalties.

On defense, the only thing I can think of to stop the Ducks offense is pressure, Michigan's talented front 4 must get pressure and run coverage schemes in the secondary.  If you blitz, Gabriel will pick the secondary apart.   Stewart and others must have a huge day.  Gabriel is always due to have a stinker game and lets hope Saturday is the day.  

Coach, everyone knows this year is a wash and even though we all would love an upset on Saturday, nobody expects it.  Your biggest win this year would be for Bryce Underwood to commit, sign a bidding NIL deal, and enroll in Ann Arbor in January.  

Coach your out "everything" on Saturday.  The Ducks have spent more money on its roster, have better coaches, have more talent, an explosive offense, and a good defense.  They want what Michigan earned last season.  A National Championship.  Time to lace up the shoes a little tighter, pull the chin strip a little harder, and coach a little louder.  This is the Big House and nobody comes in and embarasses the Michigan Wolverines!  Play with pride and Play God Damn Michigan Football.  We have seen it in small windows this season.  Time to play it for a full game.   Good luck and make us proud and prove that you are the leader of this team for a long time.  

Oregon 34 Michigan 17