Game 12: Michigan at UCF Open Thread

I know you keep saying this, but when is a reasonable time to say to say realistically that the season is shot?

We are done with nonconference play and have nothing to show for it so it seems we know what this team is and the direction its headed. I don’t expect the conference schedule to be any easier that what the team has played so far.

That being said, I definitely expect improvement and this team could steal some games against the upper tier of the conference. But they’re not consistent and don’t have anything they can point to right now to say “this could be a winning formula if x or y happens”. I think there is too much to solve for that really puts this team in a good position to make the post season without a minor miracle.

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I think the response to this is unfortunate but true…there’s no doubt Juwan thought Houston was going to be a knockdown shooter that could also create and that devante was going to be better. That didn’t happen, but also every other coach in America would’ve taken them thinking the same thing.

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At least he played D like a cardboard cutout

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From tonight, I choose to embrace that UCF was forced to stop going under ballscreens when defending Jones. More of that in 2022.

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There’s plenty wrong, if you aren’t going aggressively go after the offensive glass you better have Isaiah livers and Zach novaks at 4 and not non shooting threats

What does “shot” mean? Obviously Michigan isn’t a top-five type of team but if Michigan goes .500 in the Big Ten it is going to make the NCAA Tournament.

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And why were we still playing 2-3 zone when we’re down by a bunch & getting torched on 3’s?

I can’t fathom it right now. Everything feeds off him being physically too weak, but he can’t even put the ball on the deck right now because he’s too weak to get where he wants to go.

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I think this comes down to talent as well.
He was a defensive genius with Franz, who is an elite defender, and a defensive bust without. I still think it comes down to like for like talent replacement. The replacements for smith, Franz livers have not lived up to any hype, but also were massive recruits that everyone wanted

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  1. Will this team go .500 in Big Ten play? They already lost one of their hypothetical easiest games on the schedule.

  2. It seems right because there are some resume wins out there that could be had, but to go .500 at this point after this disaster nonconference schedule would also mean they have at least 15 losses, which seems like a lot. I’d think to make it with 15 losses, they’d need some real eye opening wins and not to get there by just beating the lower half of the big ten teams. And I’m not sure I see this team being capable of beating Purdue or the other top tier teams.

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You think a 16-14 record is getting them in? Has any power 5 team ever made the tournament with a record like that?

MSU made it at what 15-12 last year?

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Who knows but they have 18 of 20 games to play.

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Do we realistically think they’ll go .500 in conference play? I guess thats my concern, since the loss to Minnesota is a huge recalibration of expectations. Thats a game this team had to win, especially at home.

Also, I don’t want to come off as rude or anything, I am just asking. I definitely trust your expertise and knowledge. I’m not the type to get emotionally drunk when my favorite team is having a rough season. Just have a lot of thoughts given what we thought this team would look like preseason and where were at now.

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We don’t have a suitable replacement for Chaundee either

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Just leaving the game… ugh, pain, ehh, and oof.

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Fair enough. I would be surprised if a .500 big ten record was enough given the lack of any notable non-conference wins. But I could be wrong.

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I’m usually optimistic but I don’t see this team going .500 in the league. If I had to lay money I would say 8 wins in the Big.

Very true. It goes deep no doubt. Needed Houston to be insanely good to meet expectations IMO, but you can’t always count on that and we’re seeing it now

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My frustration, you want to run out lineups like unc under Roy Willliams you better dominate the offensive glass and that seems flat out against juwans philosophy

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