Also, I believe there was talk before and even during the year about it being MSU’s “greatest team ever” and other hyperbole, so when the team turned out to not be quite that, it felt like a letdown. If expectations had been lower, then maybe it’d be seen differently.
I thought MSU was going to be awesome last year prior to the start of the season.
For me, I remember realizing they were good but not great after witnessing their blooper reel type plays every game. They were doing some bone-headed stuff that elite teams just don’t do, imo…
I don’t think it is fair to object that “you can poke holes in anybodies resume”. Their seeding was a gift in terms of quality of wins when factored for home and away. A gift! Detroit was a gift! Their Big Ten schedule was very very favorable. Objectively favorable schedule by a variety of measures…
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Well, last year’s Big 10 strength of schedule for MSU was very easy. No road games at UM, Purdue and Nebraska. This year they play all of those on the road, plus other difficult games. MSU’s schedule is much tougher than UM’s and much tougher than MSU’s schedule was last year.
For 2018-9, I think UM wins the B1G over MSU primarily due to the relative strengths of the league schedule. UM has a two game lead going into the finale at Breslin. My thoughts.
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I think Michigan’s head to head record vs MSU last year has skewed opinions here o. Their 2018 team. MSU was been really good last year, and they’re good agains this year.
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But people were saying they were an overrated team last year before we played them.
I do think we matched up really well against them last year. Z and Wagner are about as a favorable a matchup you can get to mitigate the effectiveness of Winston and Ward.
I do think MSU is very good this year and to be honest UM is a little overrated (if I tell the truth).
I agree with everything re:MSU. I can’t figure out if we’re overrated, because I think our resume and marquis wins (with zero losses) warrant top 5 ranking. But we’re also not playing to our ceiling right now. We’ll lose games this year, as will other top ten teams, and I think we’ll finish right about where we’re at in the rankings.
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I think Michigan is a much worse matchup for MSU this year than last. They run even more stuff through Cassius this year, who has never been able to get any sort of leverage against Simpson. They play 2 bigs 100% of the time. Goins and Tillman are going to have to guard Iggy? Matthews or Poole can take advantage of McQuaid, depending on who MSU sticks Langford on.
Nick Ward might have to go 15 for 18 from the field and score 35 to beat Michigan in my opinion. And he might just be capable of doing that, especially if Teske’s post guarding struggles are real.
Sure seems like if both teams play the way theyve been playing/stick to their tendencies, then the game will come down to just how much X can slow Winston. Even in transition, it’s *find Winston, so he can make a play." Even if Ward gets his, itll be on inefficient post-ups and Id expect Michigan to foul way less than OSU/Ward to not hit 80% again
Teske’s defense does seem to frustrate Ward. If Livers is healthy maybe he can drain a bunch of 3’s from the 5 spot!
Can’t wait to watch it unfold.
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I worry about our depth. Everyone needs to stay healthy. Everyone needs to stay out of foul trouble. Hopefully nobody fouls out. No overtime games please. It just feels like a lot finger crossing to me.
I love our first 7 and hope we can develop the 8th and 9th men soon!
Agree - depth, FT shooting, and I suppose 3pt shooting are still concerns that will cost us a game or 2. The Livers back issue is my biggest concern. But man, Eli has stepped his game up so dramatically. I fully trust him in his role…funny that 6 months ago many assumed he was a definite transfer at years’ end.
I certainly hope another guy can emerge out of necessity, but my guess is it will just be minutes from Davis that we cross our fingers things don’t go off the rails when he plays.
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Michigan vs MSU this year is going to be tightly contested. A battle. I expect MSU will have the same game plan as last year. Pound it inside and get M in foul trouble. Key for M, just below transition D, is defending without fouling.
I worry I came across negatively in some other places, so I should add: Michigan is really good this year!
Edit: off topic so I deleted some things.
Tough to say if we’re overrated. The way Michigan looked early was impressive. If they find that stride again then Michigan is truly a top team.
If we lose today then it is fair to say we were a tad ovverrated right now.
Guess Michigan has no chance in EL guys, that’ll save me two hours watching that game.
In all seriousness, I don’t get the Michigan could be overrated talk at all above. They just went to the NC game and are what, 29-1 now in last 30? They’re not going to get up for the December buy-in games.
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What a strange comment to make on January 6th. This MSU team isn’t one of the all time greats or anything.
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Actually, I think Michigan could be a little overrated. I think we are definitely top 15 and probably top 10, but I am not sure we are top 5.
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Definitely a strange comment but seems like a strange guy ha.
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Why though? Only notion that could give someone pause is how they played in December.
Putting aside the rankings, I don’t think there’s that many elite teams this year, and I think Michigan is one of the elite.