Crazy 4 Maize and Blue

Hats off to out-going seniors Zack Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. They played a very good overall game against Louisvill in the Seet 16 - their last on-court efforts as Wolverines. The two leaders combined for 39 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Both of them shot better than 50% from the field and combined for a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. It was unbelievable work against the Ducks. Sadly, it came down to Walton Jr. launching a hailmary from deep with the final seconds on the game clock winding down, only to see it bounce of the rim and put a period at the end of their unforgettable seven game win streak through the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Like any sport, the basketball season is not about where you start. It's about where you end up. Michigan hadn't even been ranked at any point of the regular season. Going into postseason play they were only riding a 10-8 conference record. That was just good enough to be tied with Michigan State, Iowa, and Northwestern fo...

Every year about this time, as the football team enjoys spring practice, I release this list of the top players on tap for the new season ahead. These rankings of new and returning players are admittedly somewhat arbitrary, but it's intended to seek out potential "breakout" candidates and projecting expectations throughout the roster. There are a lot of spots up for grabs. There are a lot of young players vying for playing time. We will start to see more of Harbaugh's guys with three full recruiting classes of his now on campus. However, there is still a strong presence at the top from players that were recruits under Hoke. And those guys will make up the bulk of the leadership on this team. Of course, there is a lot of speculation here. But what would the offseason be without it? Anyway, let's get to it. 2015 Edition 2016 Edition Enjoy! Top 20 Returning Players: *Denotes player that may not be able to play due to injury, academic, or off-field is...

Top Performer: Derrick Walton Jr. (Sr) - Nobody is playing the point any better than Walton is right now. The Detroit native had a double-double with 26 points and 11 assists against the Cowboys in the first round, and he did it with complete confidence too. He really put on a show. The points did not come as easily for him against Louisville in the round of 32, but he still chipped in 10 more while recording seven rebounds and six more assists. Most importantly, they all got the win. His 8-9 shooting at the free throw line in the first two games was also big, and it proved just how comfortable he is in this situation. It also means that teams are better off not fouling him if they don't have to, so expect him to continue moving his game inside a little bit more. The strategy helped seal the deal at the end of the game against the Cardinals. And if he can continue to pressure teams up the lane then more guys should be clear to take shots from the perimeter. As long as they keep ...

To say the University of Michigan men's basketball team has had a roller coaster of a season is an understatement. They were an average team at best. I had even deemed them unwatchable and boring just two months ago. They hit a low point when they got punched in the mouth by arch rivals Michigan State and Ohio State in back to back games on January 29th and February 4th. At that point the Wolverines were at risk of being left out of March Madness altogether. As fans, many of us were already looking to next season as a crashing end to this year almost seemed inevitable. Ironically, nothing could've been further from the truth. The following game on February 7th brought rival Michigan State to Crisler Arena. It was the second matchup between the two schools in a nine-day span. A make a break game-type of situation that could've propelled a slide into 2017 obscurity. Nobody was optimistic. Not even the Michigan faithful. There were empty seats available at tipoff even though...

My quick opinion on this Michigan Men's basketball team hasn't changed much. That loss at Northwestern is what it is: a talented home team with a fired up crowd going toe-to-toe with a hot but streaky Wolverine team in the middle of a tough stretch to wrap up the season. Good on the Wildcats for playing a tough game and making the play of the year at the end. Way to go! Now let's focus on Nebraska! We will know more about this team in the coming weeks. The Big Ten tournament will be very interesting. If Michigan gets hot they could make a couple runs like they did last year. No doubt. One player that I'd like to point out right away is freshman point guard Xavier Simpson. If he continues to rise the way that he has been over the last few weeks then this team could become a real threat to make a run for the Final Four. And yes, I do mean that. Why not? A team with great depth can stay more fresh during March Madness, and there are plenty of rising stars on this roste...