Michigan Thursday: News and Notes

The Michigan Basketball team is now in Chicago and will await their next opponent.  They will face either Ohio State or Iowa during the noon game on Friday.  

• Oregon State has picked off one of Dusty's top assistants and has hired Justin Joyner as their next head coach. 

• Josh Uche has signed a FA deal with the Dolphins 

• Kyler Murray is expected to sign with Minnesota to compete with JJ.   Makes sense, JJ looked good, bad, and injured last season.   After being injured his entire rookie season.  

• Will Johnson will wear #2 for the Cardinals now, he had been #0. 

• Crisler had 13 consecutive sell outs this year! 

• Former LB coach Chris Partridge is suing U of M.  In a long list of Warde F-Up's this one has to be in the top 10.  

• Yax is a Sporting News 1st Team All-America 

• The Players Championship starts today.  I've played the other Dye course there but not the $1200 per round "Stadium".  Its a great complex and about a mile from the PGA Tour headquarters.   This is for sure the 5th major.  

Wolverine Wednesday: Maxx Return

Is Maxx Crosby the best Eastern Michigan Football player ever?  I think you can make a case for him over Charlie Batch, who had a long career but was mainly a backup for his career. 

Jesse Minter's Raven's doctor was not optimistic about Maxx playing long term after they reviewed his recently repaired knee and sent him back to Tom Brady and the Raiders.   I lean more to the Ravens on this decision, 2 first rounders is a lot of compensation for a guy, your not sure is going to play the next 5 years.  The smile that can light up the night sky is from Trey Hendrickson’s camp.

• Bam scored how many? 83!

• Syracuse fires their head basketball coach today

• Today's Trivia Question: Who is currently the longest tenured player with the New England Patriots? Answer: Former Michigan Wolverine offensive lineman Mike Onwenu.

Michigan Tuesday: Former Wolverines on the Move in NFL Free Agency

Michigan has a number of players in the league and some of them were on move yesterday during the first day of free agency. 

-Gary got traded from Green Bay to Dallas.  Seems Jerry wants the former Packers Defensive Line. 

-Devin Bush whose career was close to being over, signed a new 3 year deal with the Bears after a solid year with Cleveland. 

-Paye is heading to the Raiders and will play for Tom Brady.

• The Big Ten Tournament starts today, which is crazy.  

• Does the Detroit Lions have any money in free agency?  They have signed a center so far. 

• OSU's President resigns after an inappropriate relationship.  

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.