Ugly, fortunate, and all the rest.
But real signs: Tre Donaldson as leader and clutch go to guy. Rubin Jones as energetic ball hawk. Roddy Gayle, Jr. finding his stride and better off the bench. L.J. Cason - quick defensive feet, offense, improved awareness.
Who wrote what is below? Finally, personal realization. After the hard times at the end of the regular season these eight players have done amazing things. Lots of games and travel.
Could anyone do better?
It is so tempting--after the jump--to see the imperfections. It looks and sounds and feels stupid.
Seth Davis, is he the moron at CBS with the damn triton?. Someone else mispronounced Burnett. Does Brad Nessler ever shut up? (Someone else said that first.) They don't know anything.
10-0 Michigan. Usually it is the other way around. Michigan -2.5 would have been a smart bet, as bets go.
I'm tempted to say it isn't a fair fight but that isn't the case. Size doesn't matter in the tournament. Besides, UC San Diego is 30,000-plus students and it is in La Jolla. It is no slouch in academics either.
This is not going to be a close game. Michigan is just too tough. And a flustered UCSD team turning it over is not going to help. It could be ugly. It is ugly. Michigan on pace for about 20 turnovers, and they're fouling Tait-Jones too much.. It is men against boys.
UCSD's history is as a Division 2 school and most of their players are Division 2 transfers.
Michigan's strategy seems to be to shoot 3's. So far some are going in.
Jones just hand it to the other team. Michigan is playing stupid. Wolf over the back. Who knows? I'm surprised... Is Denver so difficult?
UCSD plays this quick, two guys in your face, defense. Tait-Jones isolating draws a foul almost every time. The commercial breaks are really long.
Prediction: ugly, slow, dull win. UCSD looks tired as the first half is ending. Michigan--Goldin, Wolf is clumsy--is wearing them down. 41-27. Stats: Wolf is in one of those not enough rest funks, but he is big enough to help. Everyone else is playing their game; no serious foul trouble. Nine turnovers, but they do more dumb things than what is counted.. If Wolf had the touch around the basket that Goldin does he would be really good. Seth Davis gave up quickly.
They're playing "bully ball" the female talking head is saying. They always do. They always play ugly.
Second half, same. Tait-Jones on the bench. Michigan is not that big except for Goldin and Wolf! Maybe it is jet lag.
I was curious if the Big Ten Tournament win would carry over in a positive way. It has not.
This was one of the most lackadaisical, I Don't Care Michigan basketball games I have seen. Wolf was awful; Golding was bad; Donaldson didn't do much; Jones was terrible and Burnet too. Cason was off; Gayle was normal; Cheddar did little. This was not a proud team eager to be in the tournament. May and the rest of the coaches don't care either.
The second half sucked. And UCSD was not a tough opponent.
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