Michigan Friday: Gayle To The Victors

I have been highly critical of Roddy Gayle's game lately.  He had been turning the ball over, taking bad shots, and not defending up to his standard.  In fact, that went for him and Burnett.  If Michigan is going to make a run to the Final 4, they need these two veterans to step up. 

Gayle did just that last night.  Michigan was up 10 in a highly contested game and Burnett entered the game midway through the 2nd half, within seconds he fouled and gave up a 3 point play.  Dusty looked at Gayle and it changed the game in winning time.  Gayle in one defensive stand, got a huge block, grabbed an important rebound, and called a time out.  Then in the next series, forced the driving Hawkeye to lose the ball off his knee.   These two plays were the difference between the Wolverines making history as the 1st team in the Big Ten since the 1976 Bobby Knight undefeated Indiana Hoosiers to win all their games on the road in Big Ten play. 

Michigan clearly missed LJ as the bench only scored 11 total points.   The Wolverines were also turnover machines and made a total of 18 during the contest.  Mara played well in spurts but he and Johnson combined for 8 turnovers as Iowa was contesting every pass.  

Any road win in the Big Ten is a good win and Iowa City was ready to celebrate a huge win and they went home quiet.  Next up is Sparty at Crisler on Sunday at 4:30. Next week is the Big Ten Tournament. 

• I did not know that Barry Sanders has a son who is a senior on MSU's basketball team 

• There are rumors that big changes can be coming for the Bowl system.  Let me save you some time and kill the bowls do a Group of 6 playoff system and call it a day. 

Michigan Thursday: Trap Game Time

It's never easy to travel to Iowa and leave with a win.  Tonight Dusty takes his #3 ranked squad into Iowa City to face a 20 win Hawkeyes team.   With the end of the season and instate rival MSU coming this weekend, its the trapiest of trap games. 

It will also be the first time the Wolverines will take the floor without Cason.  It will also be interesting to see what the rotation will be off the bench.  

Game tip is 8:00 on Peacock or NBC Sports Network.

• RIP Lou Holtz, they will never make another one.  I hated Lou when he was coaching ND but he was entertaining mixing it up at ESPN and taking shots at Ryan Day late in his life.  He also made an appearance at Jimmy's strange Signing Day Extravaganza he did one year while at Michigan.   Lou was also the Jets head coach for a minute.  RIP coach. 

• Michigan Basketball is expecting a big recruiting weekend for the MSU game. 

Wolverine Wednesday: New Recruiting Director and 3 First Rounders

Michigan Basketball has it final last true road game on Thursday against Iowa.  Prior to the Wolverines catching a flight, the Athletic has come out with its latest Mock NBA Draft and has 3 Wolverines poised to go in the first round: Yaxel Lendeborg #19, Morez Johnson Jr. #22, and Aday Mara #27.  It still seems too early to think about reloading for next season.  Speaking of next season, a full redshirt year for Cason is not out of the question as he rehabs his ACL.

Michigan Football also hired USC recruiting director on Tuesday who just lead the Trojans to the #1 class in the nation this past cycle.   Meet Sklar Phan, who was an intern for the Las Vegas Raiders, also held staff roles at North Texas, Texas (where she graduated from), and Houston, prior to joining USC.  Another solid hire by Coach Whitt. 

• Former Wolverine Frankie Collins was on Vandy this season but just quit the team. 

• I know the Vikings are looking for another QB as JJ has been hurt more then he has been healthy, but they also should be looking at getting a better offensive line and some type of running game. 

• UCLA beat Nebraska by 20 points last night?

Michigan Tuesday: Still #3

Michigan accomplished one of its goals on Friday night.  They secured the Big Ten Title all to themselves.  Now, there are two more goals still out there.  #2 is win the Big Ten Tournament and #3 is clearly the NCAA Tournament.  Both of those goals just got a little tougher with the loss of Cason to an ACL injury.  

To reach both goals its important Michigan finishes with a 2-0 record this week.   They travel on Thursday to Iowa who is a 20 win team and face instate rival #8 ranked MSU on Sunday at Crisler.  These games are not important for the Big Ten Championship seeding, they are important for Michigan's NCAA seeding and hopefully a #1 seed. 

Who is going to play back up point guard?  I expect to see Yax play some point forward and Trey McKinney to replace Cason in many situations.   The wild card of course is Roddy Gayle and if he can find his game again.  If you remember last season, he was in an incredibly bad slump to end the season and then found his game in the post season.   We need him to find his game in a similar fashion this year.  His game lately has been about poor decisions on driving the basketball, missed 3's, and turnovers.   If he continues to play defense, rebound, and distribute the ball, he will find his offense.

Michigan continues to be ranked #3 as Duke has been beating everyone by 30 after their Michigan win. 

• Glasgow got released by the Lions yesterday.  He has had a tremendous run for a college walk-on.  He spent 7 years with the Lions and if he is healthy I expect him to sign with another NFL team. 

• The Lions also traded RB David Montgomery yesterday and got an offensive lineman and 2 draft picks from the Texans.  This was a smart trade by Detroit, RB's have a very short shelf life in the NFL and the Lions have way too many other needs. 

• I know there was some news about Michigan's former head coach and a former staffer this weekend.  I wanted you to understand where I am at news regarding that former coach.   News of what that former head coach did or didn't do while at Michigan or his legal troubles is only relevant to this blog on the employment or loss of employment for Michigan's athletics director.   I understand that the latest news is disturbing and should come with serious consequences for both men involved.  This was one of the worst hires in the history of the program and I hope to never hear his name again.  Michigan should also be looking for a new AD.  I know getting Dusty was a great hire, but it still doesn't make up for the lack of leadership with the football team the last 3-4 years. 

• Vincent Gray has signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL