What a fun game. Now for some exciting Pitt vs. Northw … zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Shooting from the hip here but IU looks like a team that has a Hunter Dickinson (TJD) and literally nothing else. Their guards put their heads down and dive into traffic like football running backs and they don’t have any modern wings.
I would wholeheartedly back the Michigan men’s basketball team should they come out and say they refuse to play Christmas Day in Nebraska. Who benefits from playing Christmas Day? It’s bizarro to me. Livers already said the players do not want to play the game. They shouldn’t play the game. Ludicrous that it was ever scheduled
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TV networks, and by extension the schools and the programs, benefit from playing on Christmas Day. Livers is free to not like playing, it’s not something I’d want him saying before the game is played if I’m Juwan or Warde though.
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It’s all about the (universities’, coaches’ and administrators’) Benjamins, baby.
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Sometimes I have to unexpectedly work on Christmas but I would never schedule it. They scheduled it! The only way you should schedule the game is if every person involved says they want to play.
I don’t get how a Big Ten game against Nebraska(!) is going to generate more views, and therefore more money, at 6pm on Christmas Day compared to a 7pm tip on Dec 23 or something.
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I think it is as simple as: Well, we were never allowed to play on Christmas before but this year no one is allowed to go home and see their families on Christmas so we can play!
It would be one thing if U-M didn’t have almost two weeks off before that game. That’s the bizarre part.
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There are four B1G games on Christmas Day and two the day after. Its not a Michigan/Nebraska thing.
I think his point is… MSU/Wisconsin in the middle of the afternoon on national TV might make sense on Christmas, but what does the fourth-best game of the day on BTN at night really bring in?
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And my point is its being billed as a “Day of B1G Basketball!” Would people feel better about it if we were playing Michigan St on CBS instead of Nebraska on BTN?
I certainly think that people would look at it differently compared to a trip to Nebraska.
I think it’s both used as white noise to not pickup coaches, but also to try to keep the players in a routine. They still do the player intros with the lights dimmed, the Jalen intro video before the tip, and during media breaks play some of those “Know your teammate” type videos on the scoreboard. It’s either to keep a routine, or just for Brendan’s enjoyment.
Ok, well then they don’t actually care about what Livers said or wants.
Again, he’s certainly free to not want to play on Christmas but if someone wants to cape up for his cause it shouldn’t matter who or where he’s playing.
I guess I’m missing the point? I think everyone – fans, players, etc. – would look at playing on Christmas different if it was a big game and not the longest road trip of the season. Do you disagree?
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I’m going by what he said in the interview. He doesn’t want to play on Christmas. I didn’t see a caveat there. I took the reference to players being paid to suggest that amateurs shouldn’t be asked for such a sacrifice. Perfectly fine point IMO.
If that is his point (and the point of others here who said they should refuse to play the game), then the opponent doesn’t matter. Its a much less sympathetic position to have if you just think your opponent sucks.
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Agree it would maybe be something the players would get excited about if it were billed as some one-time Xmas B10 Basketball Extravaganza of some sort. The NBA makes a point of having interesting games on that day. Doesn’t just have whatever game. M/MSU on that day suddenly takes on a special flavor. Garza vs Cockburn on that day might be something to market. Or if the Iowa/Nebraska football hate extends to basketball, do that.
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Over the last 20 years the ONLY games on Christmas day have been the Honolulu Christmas tournament, which teams signed up for and planned multiple year in advance. The big ten putting out conference games on Christmas in a schedule released two weeks before the season starts is gross.
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Yeah, look I’m not really defending anything or anyone. I’m glad I have something to watching on Christmas night, but if they weren’t playing because of the holiday I wouldn’t be mad about it. I think fans getting upset about it on behalf of the player is a little weird. Like Dylan said, its not like they are supposed to be attending large family gatherings or traveling out of town anyway. And football players, at all levels, often practice or play on Thanksgiving.
If I’m Juwan, I’m not happy that my best player is telling the press he doesn’t want to play an upcoming conference game. That doesn’t look good at all, especially if we go out there and lay an egg.
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