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Posted at 6:00am — 1/27/2012

GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Michigan at Purdue — Another 66-64 Deal — Purdue Recap and look-around Big Ten

Michigan lost last week at Arkansas and beat Purdue on Tuesday in close two point games. It was probably more important to win at Purdue than at Arkansas. Why so? A nine and nine league record gets Michigan a nice look by the selection committee with the tough schedule the Wolverines have/will played. Michigan now has six league wins. Ten league wins probably gives the basketball team a sure ticket.

In contrast to Saturday, Michigan played well most of the game against Purdue. Purdue, like Wisconsin, really misses a pair of great contributors from last year. As a result, like Wisconsin again, the Boilers are relying on defense until the new offensive mix gels.

Michigan played well to get a ten-point lead, then could not put the foot on the Boiler throat and held on with some good defense and a little luck at the end. Giving up the second opportunity at the end almost cost the Wolverines the game.

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Posted at 6:00am — 1/26/2012

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 20 Defensive Players Evaluations 20-16

The college football season never really ends for any dedicated aficionado that wishes every week was game week. We here also plead guilty and have prepared tidbits for consumption looking at the 2011 and offensive and defensive personnel.

First off is a look back and ahead for key defensive players of 2011, and below is a short description relating to those key players.

Michigan’s defense underwent a metamorphosis throughout the 2011 season. Here are the twenty principals in this transformation.

After seeing our ranking of players come to the message board and give your opinion and how you would rank the defensive players.

20. Cam Gordon:

No questioning his talent, he must stay healthy.

Cam could be factor at Sam or Will linebacker. If everything goes right he could be more than a factor.

Next season:
Cam needs to keep improving his size and strength. This spring could be a make or break year for Cam. He must show he belongs on the field and to find a spot for him.

19. J.B. Fitzgerald:

Fitz provided quality depth and good special team’s play.

The coaches and players appreciate his contributions and it was nice to see him have a special moment that will last a lifetime.

We wish him the best in whatever happens for him.

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Posted at 6:00am — 1/25/2011

GBMWolverine: The Michigan Man Podcast — Episode 97 — Al Randall the voice behind Michigan Hockey

1) The View From Section 17 – Michigan Baseball eyes season start in 3 weeks with “Meet The Wolverines” at Junge Center.

2) Michigan Insider – Al Randall, the play by play voice of Michigan Hockey is our guest today.

3) Wolverine Quick Hits – The latest hoops & hockey news.

Website: GBMWolverine

Listener Line: (313) 263-4842. Open 24/7 for your audio comments. Leave a comment and hear yourself on an upcoming show or e-mail: The Michigan Man Podcast.

The Michigan Man Podast on GBMWolverine is now available in the Apple & Android market stores.

You can subscribe for free at the I-Tunes store. Click I-Tunes

Thanks again to Al Randall, the outstanding radio play by play voice of Michigan Hockey for being our guest today. Tune in next Wednesday when we talk Michigan Basketball. Our scheduled guest is Michigan beat writer Nick Baumgardner from Ann Arbor.com

For more information on Meet The Wolverines (Men’s baseball). Call Michigan baseball Operations Director Ricky Babcock at 734 647-4550. GO BLUE!

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Follow us on Twitter: @GBMWolverine
Follow us on Twitter: @The Michigan Man Podcast

PodCast by GBMWolverine Staff — Mike Fitzpatrick

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Posted at 4:00pm — 1/24/2012

GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Michigan at Purdue — TV Schedule

Michigan Basketball
Michigan at Purdue
7:00pm – 9:00pm
DirecTV Channel 206
ESPN

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Follow us on Twitter: @GBMWolverine

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Posted at 6:00am — 1/24/2012

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 22 Offensive Players Evaluations 5-1

The college football season never really ends for any dedicated aficionado that wishes every week was game week. We here also plead guilty and have prepared tidbits for consumption looking at the 2011 and offensive and defensive personnel.

First off is a look back and ahead for key offensive players of 2011, and below is a short description relating to those key players.

After seeing our ranking of players come to the message board and give your opinion and how you would rank the offensive players.

5. Junior Hemingway:

Junior fulfilled some long-awaited potential with a big senior season.

He recorded 34 catches and provided as much of a deep threat as his skills would allow. His strength and timing allowed for some big catches in traffic.

Junior will be missed more than most fans think/believe especially with Stonum leaving the program. Hemingway was the go to guy who made catches Michigan had to have, or fail.

Next season:
His future could hold a chance as a possession receiver at the next level. Like many receivers at the next level a lot will be determined by his draft pick not from what he did on the football field, but his combine type stats especially his forty yard dash.

4. Taylor Lewan:

This talented lineman played through tough injuries, starting with an off-season elbow injury in spring practices that limited his time learning the new offense, getting bigger and stronger in the off-season which limited him.

He did a great job of protecting Denard’s backside.

The injury this past year held back Taylor’s strength improvement opportunity. Taylor can still be an elite lineman and this upcoming year will be very paramount to his future success.

Next season:
Taylor needs to continue to get bigger and stronger, he probably played last year at below 300 pounds. As with all linemen, drive and zone blocking will both need to improve. His future is bright and could be the next All-American linemen for Michigan in the NFL.

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Posted at 6:00am — 1/23/2012

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 22 Offensive Players Evaluations 10-6

The college football season never really ends for any dedicated aficionado that wishes every week was game week. We here also plead guilty and have prepared tidbits for consumption looking at the 2011 and offensive and defensive personnel.

First off is a look back and ahead for key offensive players of 2011, and below is a short description relating to those key players.

After seeing our ranking of players come to the message board and give your opinion and how you would rank the offensive players.

10. Patrick Omameh:

Yes, Patrick still has some pass protection problems, but his improvement was a huge lift.

Once Michigan returned to a plan of Fitz and Denard on the zone read, Omameh’s run game seemed to pick up. He is a competent but not overwhelming lineman.

Patrick does things the right way and has come a long way from a 245-pound flyer/project so often belittled. Patrick is now near 300 pounds and is still athletic. He will always be a top student and citizen. Michigan has some holes from the graduated linemen and Patrick’s improvement in the off-season can help shore the losses.

Next season:
No mystery here as well: Patrick needs to improve his pass protection, continue to gain strength, and just decide to get a little on the mean side.

9. Mark Huyge:

If Fitz was not the team’s most improved, Huyge might very well be the choice.

After years of bouncing between tackle and guard, Mark finally found a home at right tackle and did a competent job at the position which helped lead to Schofield’s move to left guard when Barnum had his injuries.

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4:00pm — 1/22/2012

GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Michigan at Arkansas — Review — Does Almost Count for Anything

The title above can be answered many ways. First off the empirical score of yesterday’s game will always show a loss. Second, Michigan has yet to win a true road game notwithstanding Oakland. Third, this was no moral victory; the game had nothing to do about morals. But, and finally, one thing happened; even when getting pounded by an Arkansas team that started off 11-11 from the field, Michigan kept poise, kept to the plan, and steadily mounted a comeback.

Having discussed the philosophical elements above, now on to the game. Michigan continues to be really strange concerning the start of games. At home the team frequently shoots out to big leads, but then at other times, in other buildings, it is like an alarm clock must go off before the team plays defense with intensity and adjusts to the flow of a game.

Michigan played a good, but not great, SEC team yesterday on the road in a really tough place to win. Just like with Indiana, Michigan had a real opportunity to gain a win that could boost tournament seeding. If urgency is a pill, Michigan is on time release. The Hogs ran out of the gate and played with far more defensive intensity applying pressure to ball handlers and shooters. Again, Michigan got into a mode of just allowing good shooters to have the good open look, and the Hogs obliged with a big run of over 60% shooting in the first half.

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Posted at 6:00am — 1/22/2012

GBMWolverine: Coach’s Corner — Michigan Football — Top 22 Offensive Players Evaluations 15-11

The college football season never really ends for any dedicated aficionado that wishes every week was game week. We here also plead guilty and have prepared tidbits for consumption looking at the 2011 and offensive and defensive personnel.

First off is a look back and ahead for key offensive players of 2011, and below is a short description relating to those key players.

After seeing our ranking of players come to the message board and give your opinion and how you would rank the offensive players.

15. Rick Barnum:

Injuries lowered his ranking.

When healthy his movement skills and athletic ability made him the team’s best puller. Like Schofield, Barnum can fill in the void left from losing two starters.

Next season:
Ricky needs to get healthy, get bigger, and become stronger. Will be interesting to see how this plays out. He could play his normal position at guard or could move to center if warranted, but that could be more on other players being ready than him.

14. Devin Gardner:

A backup gets overlooked much of the time.

Coach Borges effort to get him involved speaks of his talent. And there is no doubt Devin has plenty of talent.

Like other talented guys across the nation, Devin needs more reps to accelerate his development. His arm mechanics did not seem to progress, but did not regress either. Patience may be his middle name waiting another year to play significant minutes.

Next season:
Have a game plan that is followed to the letter for improvement, show intensity and gain the coaches’ eye. Become the best passer on the team and be ready, use the spring as a self-proclaimed mission for making a statement. Above all, take advantage of any opportunity at any spot that may arise.

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