sorry about double post. Just wanted to see what it would be like to have 2 bigs on court at the same time.
I agree with what you’re saying about Duke, UK, UNC, Kansas, and I’m fine with that. Let’s hope 2015-16 and 16-17 are better than this past season–do we have and Elite 8 in us in any of those years? Let’s hope.
Very interesting stats. Given Michigan’s vast wilderness during the Ellerbe and Amaker years, it’s reasonable to expect that our “true” level is in that 5-10 range.
Can Michigan break into the top 5? Not while playing by the rules, in my humble opinion.
Can Michigan break into the top 5? Not while playing by the rules, in my humble opinion.
In fairness, I’m guessing that the 6 EE appearances cited above included ones where UM wasn’t playing by the rules…
Good discussion topic, Rev (hope you’re feeling OK). Michigan is shy of “elite”, IMO, but we’ve been pretty consistent. Made the championship game in every decade but one since the 60s: '65, '76, '89, '92, '93, 2013. But only one title. Our claim to elite status took a hit post Ed Martin when we missed the dance altogether for too long a stretch. And then there’s the question of what time period you look at. IU may not be elite in very recent history, but there tradition and name = elite, kind of like us in football. They were great for most of the Bob Knight era. UK, KU, UNC would be elite schools based on recent success and tradition going back at least 60 years. Duke has been elite for the last 30. Georgetown and Louisville are in the same time period category as Duke, but not as consistently successful. UCLA has been up and down for the last 30, but unmatched in the 60s and 70s. Then there’s the relatively nouveau elite - UConn, MSU, Arizona, Florida, Syracuse, whose elite play is more recent, i.e. 10 - 20 years.