Things discussed:
- The debacle in Breslin: Shot selection, Winston is a dude, MSU got better because they're forced to play Tillman, who's a better player than Ward especially against Michigan.
- Brandon Johns done messed up when he was auto-benched onto the floor at a position he hasn't played
- How is Romeo Langford an NBA prospect and Winston isn't?
- Weird Guys hour: Michigan botched their opportunity to stretch a 12-point lead with State's backups on the floor
- The officiating: When Dan Dakich is talking on national television about how the officiating is completely unbalanced, that's a tough pill to swallow. Beilein angry: referees should stop giving Izzo games for being a whiny little bitch. Free throws: 28-6 not counting intentional fouls at the end. INSANE calls in this one—note that they started after a (legit) travel on Winston that Izzo lost his shit over. Craig checked every (140) Big Ten box score for massive free throw disparities (Michigan, which rarely fouls, got 20% of them). Izzo got them: could have been a 10 or 20-point swing. How is the biggest game of the year in the Big Ten also the most unbalanced officiated game in the Big Ten this year? Also: par for the course. Expect Beilein to start lobbying more because what happens on the court is less important than what a Hall of Fame-bound coach is telling them what's happening on the court.
- Big Ten Tourney: Michigan got a decent draw but….
- Iowa is a bad matchup: they're a zone defense and their weakness is Garza is a bad defender and Michigan doesn't excel at attacking either of those things.
- Games from last night: we preferred Iowa, predicted Minnesota win. Did not predict Maryland.
- How is IU on the bubble: They have the best wins of anybody on the bubble, but also the most losses. Put Indiana against a low major with a huge W-L record in a First Four: IU vs IU-Belmont! Brian would do this every year.
- Purdue Renaissance: Ryan Cline makes weird shots, Haarms has emerged, they have a 280-pound backup five now too.
- Wisconsin: Trice has fallen apart, Reuvers is an interesting player
- State to win it? This has been Izzo's best coaching job in years. Helps when his mistakes injure out of the lineup. This is the kind of team he's better at coaching: stop recruiting lottery picks Tom.
- Do you keep Livers in the starting lineup?