Michigan Friday: A Win but a Loss

Michigan Basketball got its first win in its last game in Europe.  Michigan beat The Serbian Club Mega SuperBet 84-81.  McKenney lead the team with 25 points, JP had 16, and EC finished with 15 points.  Michigan got to play a lot of players in this game including Harrison Hochberg, Malachi Brown, and Moeller got over 26 minutes at Center.  

The loss comes with a potential serious knee injury to superstar 5-star true Freshman Brandon McCoy. Who slipped and went down only seconds into the game and had to be carried off the floor.  I don't expect to hear the severity of the injury until the team gets back home and can do MRI's etc.  Either way it did not look good. 

Starting tomorrow Michigan Football will be a week away from playing a real football game in the Big House.  It's time to identify the starters, the 2 deep, and put the game plan in for Western Michigan. 

• Warde is back on Sam Webb radio this morning talking about leaving with his head held high and will always be a Michigan Fan.  He does not deserve a long goodbye.  Just go big man.

Enjoy Week 0 games on Saturday.  The best game of the day might be the night game between Memphis at UNLV at 10 PM EST.  NC State vs. Virginia is also an ACC conference game.  I don't have high expectations for UNC vs. TCU in Dublin.  

Michigan Thursday: OSU On-Field Tiny Homes

There has been a trend in the US for say the last 10-15 years, where people are building tiny homes to lessen their footprint and frankly not everyone needs at ton of square footage to live. Some innovative companies are turning large shipping containers into Tiny Homes.  I've even seen a company that donates these homes to former Military personnel that are struggling out of the service. What a great idea! 

There is also a trend where Big Time college football programs need to act like a Fortune 500 company and find new ways to grow revenue.  

Ohio State has decided to put on field suites at the back of the end zone.  Some critics have wondered if it's worth it to put the students further from the field and will the suites have good site lines when the ball is on the other side of the field?  For OSU, they are charging $144K per season and they all are sold out.  

I have one question for you, do they have bathrooms?  I doubt they do and haven't been able to run plumbing to these suites.  For nearly $150K a year, I need to have a private bathroom.  Right?

© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Michigan has yet to add jersey patches or these type of suites but there are discussions about Big House expansion and jersey patches will happen when someone pays Michigan's large price tag (I suspect).  

 

Wolverine Wednesday: What I'm Thinking a Week 1/2 Out

Fall Camp is over and Game 1 install is moving forward for our Michigan Wolverines.  We have a weak slate of Week 0 games this weekend, which for some reason is now called an extended Week 1.  In 10 days we will have Michigan Football back in the Big House! 

Here are my thoughts at this point:

• I think Michigan has the talent and coaching to compete in every game this season, even against the OSU and the Oregon's of the world on the road. 
• Bryce's needs the light to come on and come on quickly.  He has to remove himself from his bank account and just focus on being the best QB he can be.  The season is really riding on his accuracy, decision making, and protecting the ball. 
• Everyone loves our RB's and so do I 
• I think the OL is going to be special with 8-10 deep that can play! 
• WR is going to be a strength this year.  Michigan has two NFL players with Marsh and JJ and a host of young guns ready to blow the tops off a defense.  
• I expect less from the TE's this year.  With such a loaded WR room. 
• I can't tell you how excited I am about a defense run by a coordinator that knows how to coach the college game. 
• I think the DE's will surprise us, and the DT will be solid. 
• I also like what I'm hearing in the secondary between the experience and young guys.  
• My biggest concern is at LB, Michigan lost a ton here and I'm very concerned that teams might be able to move the ball due to this position grouping.  This is the biggest question mark on the team right now.
• Special Teams!  Do your job, make your kicks, catch punts, and make tackles.  

I like this team a lot but it rides on Bryce's shoulders, he has to take the reins and have his talent match his production. Don't love the potential hole in the middle of the defense, but what can help that is a great pass rush and a bunch of athletes that can cover. Hill is also been aware of this problem for 9 months, so I'm sure he has a plan. Maybe more zone?

I don't see this team blowing out good teams (like our basketball team did), I see them being competitive and playing fundamental football.   If they play smart, I see them as a borderline playoff team this year.  

Let's get this thing kicked off! 

• RIP Dolly Parton 

• So nobody loves this NFL Roster back to the NCAA?  Does the new Big Ten rule mean Roddy can't come back to the Basketball Team

Michigan Tuesday: 0-2 in Lithuania

I didn't watch this game but Michigan was short handed and I figured it would go the way it went.  Michigan sat out Thiam due to injury and McKenney I assume for rest.   That is not a recipe for a win. Michigan again had a lead in the first half but let it slip away in the 2nd, even though they kept it close at the end.   EC lead the team with 19 points, JP bounced back from a stinker with 17 and McCoy finished with 15.  Michigan lost 82-77. 

Michigan Basketball will end their European trip at 1 p.m. Thursday in Croatia against Mega SUPERBET.

• The Big House advertising went up yesterday. 

• Question, can Michigan pick up a LB on the NFL waiver wire?  The answer is no as the Big Ten just put a rule in place that shut NFL players coming back to the Big Ten.  

• Positive buzz on Bryce is good and better then negative buzz, but let's just cap it and let our eyes  see his development on 9/5.

• Does Jed York know he is rich?