Inside Michigan Basketball. Inside Michigan Basketball ’08-’09 debuts on the Big Ten Network at 10:30 PM Thursday night on the Big Ten Network. It will also re-air Friday at 3PM on BTN.
Ben Cronin. Per Angelique, Beilein plans to make some kind of decision on Ben Cronin around the Oakland game (last game he can play). I fully expect the red shirt but we’ll see. This will also be Laval Lucas-Perry’s debut.
The Big Ten. The Chicago Tribune says that the Big Ten has announced it’s presence to the nation. Right now the Big Ten seems like a conference where everyone could go 500. Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, and Northwestern have all looked great thus far in non-conference play. The kicker is that the teams that were picked to finish on top, Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin, aren’t in this group. Assuming they can find their form there is a huge group of contenders. There won’t be many easy wins in the Big Ten this year.
John Gasaway, The Former Big Ten Wonk, takes a look at the conference with a focus on Ohio State and Michigan.
Recognition. A lot of people have been grumbling about Michigan not getting enough recognition on the national stage. I’ve got no beef. They made a big jump in the polls and if they keep winning they will be top 25. Not only that but people across the country are talking about Michigan basketball. Rush the Court calls Beilein the Q1 Coach of Year and names Michigan as a surprise team. The Rivals power rankings have Manny Harris as the #3 shooting guard, John Beilein 13th, and DeShawn Sims 18th. DraftInfo calls DeShawn one of this weeks top three performers. Plenty of other national writers are giving Michigan props as well, Jay Bilas ($), Seth Davis, and Fran Fraschilla ($) are just a few.
Renovations. The word seems to be out there that some sort of basketball renovations will go before the regents this January. Go Blue Michigan Wolverine makes mention of it here:
Been told by several people that Martin is going to take plans to the regents, or at least float the idea of something being done for the practice facility, in January. I believe it takes the regents three to four meetings to pass it all, before any new ground will be broken.
I’m working on a piece about all things Crisler including the arena itself and the game day atmosphere. This will probably come in the next couple weeks.
What’s Next?
- EMU coach Charles Ramsey was suspended 3 days for fighting with a student.
- Michigan’s opponents for the next four games have a combined record of 9-25. Only Oakland has more than one win over a division 1 team. EMU has beat up on Wayne State and Marygrove and North Carolina Central is winless.
These should be four easy wins but I just can’t forget Savannah State (who lost 100-38 versus Georgetown last night). Luckily I don’t think that John Beilein and his players will forget Savannah State either.
More links:
- NBA Great Hardaway Sees Greatness in Beilein ($)
- DreBlog: Hoops post-Duke! ($)
GoBlueWolverine needs to work on spelling, or at least consult a roster. It’s Kelvin not Kalvin and Shepherd not Sheperd. - Borton’s Blog: McCormick on win over Duke ($)
- Wolverines in good shape for Big Dance already
File under: getting ahead of ourselves - Braun: It’s how you end, not how you start
A lot of games left to be played… - Wolverines getting exciting under John Beilein
Some good Pat Beilein quotes - Iowa’s leading scorer, freshman Anthony Tucker was suspended indefinitely after a trip to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.
