Michigan Monday: Sweeping Sparty

Love or hate Sparty but you have to admit that Tom Izzo can coach basketball.  He can also recruit and outside of Coach B, Michigan has not had a coach that could match up the X O's with him.   Coach B was not a supreme recruiter even though he was 2nd to none in other coaching areas.  

Now Michigan has a coach that can do both and Dusty beat Tom and his squad by a combined 22 points this season.   The match-ups might not be over either as Michigan could see Sparty this weekend or even in the NCAA Tournament. 

Izzo used the Iowa game plan to pressure the top of the key and put Mara in conflict before he could make his lobs or other passes.  This worked for a half as Michigan continues to find its footing without LJ Cason.  Michigan then in the 2nd half matched MSU's physicality and shot better then Sparty.  Yax was again the star and seems to love the bright lights with 27 points while Rez added a solid 18.  I'm telling you right now, I love me some March Roddy Gayle who played well and scored 15, McKenney made some big baskets and had 12 off the bench.   Burnett played better and had 10 points in his last game at Crisler.   Cadeau and Mara both struggled combining for 6 points and 5 turnovers.

I love watching this team and I hate to nick pick but there is plenty for Dusty and staff to work on this week.  MSU pushed the ball after made baskets and beat the Wolverines down the floor, the Michigan bigs got into foul trouble and Michigan did not look that organized on offense with the small unit was on the floor.   The LJ role continues to be a work in progress.  Cadeau struggled against MSU and Michigan really didn't have a solution at point when he went to the bench.   Yax is a special talent but he just can't always be the solution on offense when Michigan gets into a funk. 

In the first half Michigan played MSU's game.  In the second, MSU couldn't keep up with Michigan's game.  In the post game, Izzo fell right into the trap and had this quote: “I guess the crowd didn’t watch the game, because I’m nobody’s damn little brother, and neither is my team.”

This has been a historic regular season but the job is not done.  Congrats to the seniors, lets go to work in Chicago! 9 more games, lets go! 

• LJ told CBS he is not going to have surgery until next month so he can be with the team through out the tournament run.  He is going to have it done in A2 and rehab in A2 as well. The expectation is LJ will redshirt next season as he recovers. 

• How was that afternoon for all the recruits Dusty had on campus?  1 - Beat your rivals, 2 - Do Senior Night, 3- Get handed the Big Ten Trophy, 4 - Release the confetti, 5- Cut down the nets.  

• Give Yax the Big 10 Player of the Year and Mara the Defensive POY.

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?