MGoBlog: The MGoPodcast

1 Hour and 38 Minutes

With David Nasternak and Alex Drain

This Podcast Has a Sponsor: Michigan Law Grad Jonathan Paul is the guy with the C you want skating next to the ref and pleading your case. He's also a good guy to sit next to at the hockey games.

Segment 1
A discussion of the evolution of language and phonetics. It's tough to broadcast a sport you've never broadcasted before. Actual hockey talk starts at about the 20 minute mark. It was a fine weekend getting five of six points. Your best penalty killer is your goalie. Ivankovic still seems a little rusty (except in OT), maybe there's a lingering injury. Friday night was one of the most insane three-on-three OT hockey games we've seen. This is what people wanted three-on-three hockey to be. 
 
Segment 2
5:00pm puck drop is a weird start time. Michigan wasn't very sound on defense all weekend. The plays they run on power plays are really fun to watch, there are always new wrinkles. Why does there have to be pushing and shoving at the end of every series? Nothing happens anyways, they're just yapping chihuahuas. Is Penn State the fifth best team in the country? Catching up with teams from around the country. Team seeding and location predictions for the tournament - more teams should play closer to their home. Michigan is still more likely to be the #1 overall over Michigan State. Penn State basically needs to win the Big Ten tournament to be a 1 seed. Previewing the Wisconsin series. 
 
MUSIC

NHL on ESPN Theme

"Kitty" -- The Presidents of the United States of America

Ice Hockey (NES) theme

2 hours and 6 minutes

The Sponsors

Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com.

Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers.

1. Men's Basketball vs UCLA
Starts at 0:51

Brian gets three minutes to talk about Mick Cronin, he hopes he never gets fired from UCLA. He's like a jolly caricature of Izzo. He's Sideshow Bob stepping on the rakes. Michigan would be up by 10 in the first half and it would feel like they should be up 20. Tschetter's really improved as a defender but this game wasn't for him. UCLA was turning the ball over a ton, Michigan didn't have any until the end of the first half. This was a responsible game from Cadeau, some of his turnovers have been boneheaded. He's at around the same turnover rate as last year. LJ Cason is becoming a reliably effective playmaker. Mick Cronin might not have forgotten how to coach defense but he might've forgotten to scout Xavier Booker. If they play a bad game that means only winning by 10. 

2. Men's Basketball vs Northwestern
Starts at 28:10

Similar situation in this game where Michigan played a dominant second half. The difference is they were down 16 points. Kenpom still had them at about 30% chance to win even down 16 in the second half! Michigan missed so many bunnies in this one. They started running NBA sets in their second half rally and that works because they have the size for it. The big story of this game was LJ Cason. Cadeau wasn't doing anything so Dusty put in Cason who stepped up. Who's the most random guy you've ever been thankful for in a game? Probably Kam Chatman. Michigan is rotating nine guys and the ninth guy was the MVP in this game. The six game stretch to finish the regular season features Michigan State as the second easiest game. Alex isn't scared of Purdue. Duke looms. 

3. Hot Takes and Hockey vs Penn State
Starts at 55:44

Takes hotter than the genius that came up with the two-man luge. Special guest, Seth daughter's Mira. Michigan takes 5 out of 6 points against Penn State, this was their first overtime that they didn't win this year. Michigan made it hard on themselves in the Friday game, Ivankovic sort of deflected a goal into their own net. These officials were fine because they degraded the game of hockey but they weren't as bad as some other guys! Penn State split their goalies but the better goalie gave Michigan a couple easy ones. Michigan has first round picks but the only one that has the sauce is Jayden Perron. You look at men's basketball and you think they could win a national championship. You look at hockey and you don't see it. Wisconsin has faded enough to not make the tournament but their forecheck also seemed like Michigan's kryptonite. If you want to win the conference you need six points against Wisconsin. You might need to win out. Michigan is still 96% to be a 1 seed. 

4. Potpourri
Starts at 1:38:22

Michigan replaces defensive tackle coach Lou Esposito with Larry Black out of Vanderbilt. He checks the recruiting boxes. He helped get Vanderbilt to respectable on defense which even Jesse Minter couldn't do. His resume is really good and still isn't as good a resume as the rest of the staff (complimentary). Women's basketball fell behind big to UCLA and got it to within one score. They're so close to the elite teams. Stickball! As of this recording baseball is 2-0 against good programs. USC and UCLA baseball hate being in the Big Ten. Softball is 7-2 overall, Alex was down after the Florida game. If you have six pitchers on the roster you have no pitchers. Brian has only watched curling. Olympic skiing discourse. Sweden pulled their goalie while up 5-2 to get the goal differential (did not get it). 

MUSIC:

"Idol"—Mind Enterprises

"YUHDONTSTOP"—De La Soul

"Brand New City"—Snocaps

“Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra

No Brian, no Sam today. Reminder to get your Dusty shirt for the Maize-Out.

Things Discussed:

Hoops vs Northwestern: Fell behind from a combination of dumbass play (Cadeau turnovers were brutal), missing bunnies, Northwestern shooting out of their minds.

Why didn't Chris Collins stick with Arrinten Page? Third coaching staff that guy's played for that clearly hates him, played 26 minutes and was killing us (especially when he hit a three).

Did the Nebraska thing to get Jayden Reid switched onto Mara, but they couldn't hit a shot in the 2nd half the way Nebraska could. Still not fixed? Or did they know Page and Martinelli are 15% shooters on contested threes and let them jack, eating bad luck in the beginning?

LJ Cason game! Thought he had some howler possessions early but got his game in order and when he calmed down we got the best game of his young career. Trading threes with Martinelli was the turning point.

Trey McKenney: Becoming a star. He's Nimari plus: great defensive anticipation, ice in his veins at the moment.

Officials allowed numerous hook and holds, only called one because Dusty challenged it, and then they undid it by giving Mara a flagrant. Fourth time this season that they've gotten Verne Harris (PSU, Nebraska, Washington), and fourth time we've had to say the uneven officiating was a major reason Michigan struggled.

Gayle: Underappreciated moment: turnover when he had the ball down low vs Reid, then they recreated it to get him a dunk.

UCLA: Cronin built the softest team and then screams at them like they're most pugilistic sonsabitches in the conference. You recruited them man! Worry us because they're going to try to play five out—their three point shooting is a random number generator. Michigan has to crush them at the rim and convert if he brings help to Mara—not a Gayle game.

WBB: Speaking of UCLA, Michigan was some made bunnies away. Third time this year they've had an opportunity to knock off a national title contender at home with their last possession. UCLA then obliterated MSU. Michigan is going to be a favorite next year, but they need to convert the easy things (free throws and shots at the rim) to take that step.

1 Hour and 31 Minutes

With David Nasternak and Alex Drain

This Podcast Has a Sponsor: Michigan Law Grad Jonathan Paul is the guy with the C you want skating next to the ref and pleading your case. He's also a good guy to sit next to at the hockey games.

Segment 1

Curling mixed doubles on the quad box, biathlon, and why speed skating is faster than it looks. Downhill skiing is insane. The Friday night 4-3 OT game was insane. The game was even early, tilted towards the Spartans late in the second. Michigan came out with their backs against the wall and their hair on fire in the third. Refs swallowed their whistles and missed some egregious calls. Barnett's goal sent Yost back to the Old Yost days. Frustration about roster decisions and puck management but Moldenhauer and Perron have become consistent scorers. This game was what the rivalry is all about. 
 
Segment 2

Well, let's talk about the second game. The press box at Little Caesars Arena causes vertigo and lower box hockey tickets are a scam. Michigan came out flat, sloppy, and chasing the game almost immediately. Dave spotted Ivankovic in the press box and then on the ice moments later... because it was the 4th string goalie who looks just like him. Michigan's top-end talent vanished as they gave up a 4-0 lead, the first goal was especially ugly. Perron and Moldenhauer gave some hope but a power play that couldn't enter the zone ended all hope. Michigan looks like the best team in the country on Fridays and deeply mortal on Saturdays. The Hage-Horkoff line goes quiet when Michigan needs them most. Too many statement weekends turn into split-series shrugs.

MUSIC

NHL on ESPN Theme

"The Kids Are Alright" -- Barns Courtney

Ice Hockey (NES) theme

2 hours and 23 minutes

The Sponsors

Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com.

Our associate sponsors are: Peak Wealth Management, Matt Demorest - Realtor and Lender, Ann Arbor Elder Law, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, Sharon's Heating & Air Conditioning, The Sklars Brothers, Champions Circle, Winewood Organics, Community Pest Solutions, Venue by 4M where record this, and Introducing this season: Radecki Oral Surgery, and Long Road Distillers.

1. Men's Basketball vs Penn State and Ohio State
Starts at 0:51

Usually there's a segment for each basketball but that would just be silly. Michigan annihilates a short-handed Penn State team featuring two thunderous Mark Davis Kiwi dunks and a season high from Nimari Burnett. Is there anything else to say about this game? Michigan only had eight turnovers against Ohio State. Oddly they missed a lot of bunnies. Michigan is rounding into the elite offensive and defensive rebounding team we were hoping they would be. Nice to see Yaxel get to the rim, he doesn't do it enough. Another nice game from Trey McKenney. The balance of this team is insane. We're looking forward to what Mick Cronin says after Aday Mara stuffs him in a locker. A few more easy games before a brutal close to the season. Michigan State did Michigan a solid by beating Illinois. 

[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP] 

2. Hockey vs Michigan State
Starts at 25:16

Game one was one of the best college hockey games we’ve ever seen. Old Yost was dark and full of discontented engineers who just learned to swear. It was absolute hell for opponents and it’s just not that anymore in most games. Friday night felt like Old Yost. Michigan played great when they had their backs against the wall but you can’t just rally from down 4-0. Michigan could be the second best team in the country and still just not be as good as State. Michigan’s 4th string goalie looks just like Ivankovic and confused Dave in the press box. Why was Ivankovic suddenly ready on Saturday? Yost got HOT in the third period on Friday because of the missed calls. Michigan can still absolutely win a regular season title. Biggest concern in the NCAA tournament is also Michigan State, but the college hockey playoffs are weird. Has the modern era of college football reached hockey? 

3. Hot Takes and Offensive Recruiting Class With Steve Lorenz
Starts at 53:24

Takes hotter than Brian's face watching Seth come up with something that's hot. Usually we would do this on signing day but now nobody can remember when that is. Salesi Moa signed and enrolled at Utah and still ended up at Michigan. Brady Smigiel is one of your QBs but he's coming in injured, which probably effected his recruiting stock. He's a classic pocket guy, but Whittingham likes mobile QBs. QB Tommy Carr has Tate Forcier comparisons. Savion Hiter comes in as the most talented running back in this class, as well as the last few classes. What do you think Fred Jackson would call him? Jonathan Brown comes in as a generic three star RB but there's not much being said compared to Hiter. We'll count Salesi Moa in this class, he could play receiver and safety. He might actually be able to contribute in year one. WR Travis Johnson is just outside the top 100 but was very adamant about sticking to Michigan even after everything went down. WR Jaylen Pile also didn't waver but so far seems like just a guy, but with more scholarships available sure, bring him in. TE Mason Bonner comes in from Denver, might take a little time to develop. Should be athletic enough down the road. OT Malakai Lee comes in from Honolulu and might be the most excited about the coaching change. Comparisons to Mike Onwenu. Marky Walbridge is a late riser and offensive lineman late risers are often encouraging. Adrian Hamilton projects to center and centers don't rank highly usually. Tommy Fraumann is big enough to not care about rankings, born right after the 2008 Michigan Utah in which Kyle Whittingham beat Michigan. 

4. Defensive Recruiting Class
Starts at 1:45:41

Carter Meadows is a five star defensive end we're all excited about. He's not allowed to enroll early so he'll probably be a year two star. DE McHale Blade is one of the coolest names in this cycle. He has all the athletic traits, could be the sleeper of the defensive side. DE Tariq Boney is your Josh Uche, just let him go after the QB. Alister Vallejo looks like Mason Graham on the field and the kid from the Sandlot in his profile. DT Titan Davis is a Kris Jenkins guy, could be an anchor DE but will more likely fill in DT needs. Linebacker is where the excitement falls off. Nobody is anywhere near four star status. CB Jamarion Vincent is a developmental guy, expect him in year three. He was previously playing QB. CB Ernest Nunley is a former Cal commit and will probably be a safety. S Jordan Deck could me a sleeper, boring safety. Overall not a big fan of the back seven but it is the transfer portal era. It could be okay but it's sketchy.
 

MUSIC:

"Bazooka"—Miami XO

"Baby Steps"—Olivia Dean

"Phish Pepsi"—Wednesday

“Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra