National Champions Tuesday: Those That Stay

Jacob Hamilton | jhamilt3/mlive.com/TNS

When we saw this team for the first time, we thought they could bring a National Championship to Ann Arbor.  When we saw the team play in Vegas, we thought they might go undefeated.  The team Dusty put on the floor this year was special and last night they proved it again, in a much different way. 

Dan Hurley might be a crazy man but he can coach basketball and he did all he could to derail the Wolverines last night.  As expected,  they slowed down the pace and tried to shoot the Wolverines out of the gym.  Whether it was Michigan's solid defense or the Husky shooters were just off, that plan failed.  Michigan was too big and too talented to lose on Monday night.  

Before I get to the star of the game, a huge hat tip goes to Yax.  His performance last night in my mind goes right up there with Isiah Thomas playing on a severely sprained ankle against the Lakers in the NBA Finals.   He gutted out 13 points in 36 minutes and didn't even come off the floor in the first half.  Now to Elliott Cadeau, the star of the game.  Michigan had a limited Yax, zero 3 point shooting for most of the game, and early Mara was not scoring down low.  This was setting up to be a Hurley special and Cadeau said no, thank you, this is our year! He lead the Wolverines with 19 points and instead of assisting he stepped up and scored a ton of big baskets.  He had one of his best scoring games of the year during the biggest game.  

UConn hit nine 3 point shots during the game and the Wolverines only made 2.  The difference in the game was Michigan scoring 25 points from the free throw line and UConn clearly being in foul trouble all game.  UConn only had 12 points from the line.  

The game wasn't pretty, it was a tough defensive match-up as both teams struggled to shoot the ball.  Michigan who had scored 90 points in every tournament game only managed to put up 69 points.   Still that was enough to beat the Huskies. I would also be remiss if I didn't call out McKinney who hit a huge late 3 and made 2 important free throws after Gayle had missed two from the line.  Those points from McKinney made it very difficult for UConn to make a Duke game comeback.

Dusty has done a tremendous job turning this program around and last night netted him and Michigan a National Championship.  I still think I'm in shock, I 100% know I was when Gayle threw the ball down the court to close out the game. To quote Dusty, "it still feels like we have another game to prepare for" It's going to be a really long day at work as I'm 100% gassed.  

Congratulations to this team, the Michigan Program, and to us!  We deserve nights like last night and I hope we have many more to come! 

Go Blue to the National Champions! 

• A sign this process never sleeps:  The transfer portal opened at Midnight last night while the Wolverines were celebrating in the locker room.  The staff had it opened and scouting for next year. 

Michigan Monday: Continuation of the Good Building Vibes

The University of Michigan loves Lucas Oil Stadium, it has given them 3 Big Ten Championships in Football and now a dominating Final 4 win.  Lets hope that good building "feels" continues until Midnight tonight.  

I love nights like this one, it just feels good to be alive and care about something so deeply.  Yes, this is a kids game and yes, on Tuesday we need to go on with our regular lives, but for 2.5 hours tonight we get to live and have passion for something we have zero control over.  I'm going to miss this team, maybe not since the Fab 5 has a Michigan Basketball team been so appointment level viewing for me.  Yes, Coach B's teams were really good and a couple should've won the National Championship.  But for one reason or another, this team just stuck a cord with me and I didn't want to miss a game.  

As for tonight, I'm concerned about Yax and didn't like him limping around doing interviews, etc yesterday.  I was hoping for some sleep magic and he would feel better on Sunday, that didn't seem to happen.  His injury is not structural which is a bonus, but that doesn't help it feel any better.  Michigan needs Yax and I know he will give it a go tonight, I just don't now for how long or how effective he will be.  UConn has a similar issue with Solo Ball and a possible foot sprain.  I love Michigan's chances tonight, but I sure as hell would love it even more with a healthy Yax. 

UConn is not an easy match-up and Hurley can coach.  Tarris Reed a former Wolverine is a good player and Michigan's bigs will have their hands full. With that said, Michigan is just as hard to prepare for in one day and I'm sure Hurley has yet to go to sleep and is getting plenty advice from his brother and father.  UConn can shoot the 3 and Michigan will need to protect the 3 ball like they are playing Wisconsin.  

Michigan needs Yax to be Yax, a career night from Cadeau, we need him hitting his layups and 3's, distributing to his fellow Wolverines, and staying out of foul trouble.  We also need another group effort to win this game.  Mara has to continue to dominate down low, Rez seemed to get out of his slump in Indy and will need him to be the Reed stopper.   In nights like tonight, it usually comes from someone we don't expect.  April Roddy needs to be in the house, Burnett needs to continue his good Final 4 play, with hitting 3's and playing strong defense (also make those free throws), McKinney seems to be ready for these bright lights and we need another 16+ from him, and lets not sleep on Tschetter who has been waiting his entire 10 year 😀 Michigan Basketball career for this night.  His shot has been way off in the NCAA Tournament but tonight he might just have the magic touch! On defense, Michigan must stay with the 3 point shooters, we all watched the Duke game and saw the comeback.  Please do not collapse on the dribble drives and stay with the shooters.  Michigan can win this game on defense if they control the 3 point shot.

Fellow Michigan fans, my advice tonight is to savor this feeling as it doesn't come often.  Put your faith in Dusty, the Michigan staff, the Michigan trainers/Doctors, and most importantly the Wolverines on the floor.  I hope we fill up Lucas Oil and play UConn like their visiting Crisler.  I hope Mr. Miyagi visits the Michigan locker room and heals Yax and I hope we go to bed smiling because we got to witness this team play one last game. 

Wolverine Weekend Update: Didn't See That Coming

The Media is sort of a funny unique thing, there really isn't a ton of creativity outside of Charles Barkley.  The golf was in a rain delay and there really wasn't much sports on Saturday afternoon, so I had to listen to ESPN's College Gameday which does not do justice to the name of the show, when compared to its football coverage.  Each one of those fools picked Arizona to win the game.  I hate pre-game shows, its not getting the viewer prepared to watch the game, they have become a terrible version of Saturday Night Live.

Now, when I say "I didn't see that coming" what I meant was a Michigan domination.  I thought we were going to have a back and forth and maybe even overtime.  The one thing I thought about where Michigan might have an advantage is the 3 freshman starters on Arizona.  That is a ton of pressure to put on a young player to carry the water in a Final 4 game.   Michigan exploited that weaknees and got out early and never looked back.  It was so bad for Arizona, Cadeau was 2-14 shooting in the 1st half and was dominating the game.   Mara was the star of the night with a career game high of 26 points.  

So now the big question, is Yax close to healthy after going down with a ankle and a knee injury?  The Michigan Difference needs to step up today and get him round the clock treatment.  Every knee and ankle device known to man and maybe even a hyperbolic chamber in his hotel room.  His shot stayed clean but his defense was not even close to what it normally is.   With UConn's motion and confusing defense, we will need Yax as close to 100% as possible to win on Monday. 

If you have watched this team all year, this is the Vegas Wolverines we've all been hoping to see.  The issue is now, with Yax and LJ hurt, can the Wolverines continue to be that team?  Dusty has his hands full for the next 24+ hours. 

Another storyline for Monday night is the Tarris Reed revenge game.  Tarris played at Michigan for Juwan Howard and then transferred to UConn.  He has worked on his body and his game and is a lot better player then he was in Ann Arbor.  Will Tschetter is going to need to teach the staff, Mara, and Rez about his game. 

Michigan historically seems to always play well in the first game of the Final 4, its the 2nd game of the weekend the Wolverines have struggled.  Time to flip the script and prepare for Monday night! 

Happy Easter Everyone! 

Michigan Friday: Good Stadium Vibes

Michigan Football has played very well in Indy and won 2 Big Ten Titles there.  So it's safe to say Michigan has a good feeling about playing in Lucas Oil.  What doesn't feel great is watching tape on Arizona and Dusty and his staff have their hands full on Saturday night. 

The Wildcats might be the best team Michigan has faced all year.  Against Duke, Michigan felt what it was like to play a physical team with skill players.  Arizona is physical, big, and has skill players.  Duke's downfall was they were also very young and freshmen make mistakes.   In a similar fashion, Arizona starts 3 freshmen, a junior, and a senior.   Even Dusty said this week in Indy, "Watching Arizona was like watching us".

That is why the line is so close, even Vegas is having a hard time picking a winner in this one.   So what is the difference when two teams are so similar?  Defense and someone stepping up that the game plan didn't account for.  

Michigan on the defensive side must not collapse on the dribble drives and stay with the shooters.  Most programs score at the rim or at the 3 point line, the Wildcats have a good mid-range game as well.  This next part is going to be very difficult, but Michigan might consider not trying to block every shot and getting in better rebounding position.  If Michigan gets out rebounded its going to be a long night for the Wolverines. 

For Michigan to move on to Monday, they are going to need some key players to step up.  Yax has to be Yax, Morez needs to get out his funk and must defend, rebound, and score in the low post,  Mara needs to stay out of foul trouble, and we need April Roddy.  Michigan is going to need a big night from Gayle or McKenney or Burnett.  Like a 25 point night.  Arizona has had a week to scout the Wolverines, we need someone not in the scouting report to catch fire.   Michigan also must limit turnovers, as giving the Wildcats extra possessions is very troublesome.

If Michigan plays like they did in Vegas and Cadeau stays away from mix nuts, I think we will get to watch one more game on Monday night! 

• Michigan hosted 2027 4-star TE Jack McNamara recently and he is very high on the Wolverines. He looks like Cade but I don't believe they are related. 

• Memo to the Detroit Lions: You can't lose players, not add during Free Agency, and think your going to be better than last year.  That strategy did not work last year.  It won't work this year.

• SEC coaches are saying with the bigger CFP format now, there is no need to play the SEC Championship.  I agree with that stance for the Big 10 as well.   I always lean towards more football but start the playoffs earlier and get rid of the Conference Championship games.  The first conference who does it will have an advantage and the others will follow.

• The Fab 5 is back together doing an alternative broadcast on TruTV for the game.  

Have a Good Holiday Weekend Everyone!