So I decided to focus more on the positive of the past decade. I've re-written this part of the series like four times!
 |
| Perry Knotts/NFL |
Best Schadenfreude
As I've said, a lot of bad things have happened to the sports teams of Michigan and Detroit. But sometimes bad things happen to rival teams, and those things are funny and make you forget your own unfathomable sadness! Let's revisit some of the best.
- Bears trade up for Trubisky: Chicago traded up in the 2017 NFL Draft for a quarterback they could have had at No. 3, and that quarterback was Mitch Trubisky.
- Big Ten/Notre Dame CFP Embarrassments: Michigan hasn't made a College Football Playoff yet, but outside of Ohio State's 2014 National Championship, at least their rivals haven't fared well. Ohio State, Michigan State and Notre Dame have lost their CFP games since 2015 by a combined margin of 128-32
- Cowboys/Packers Karma Train of 2014-15: After the Lions lost a heartbreaker to the Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, the Cowboys lost in the divisional round because of the Calvin Johnson Rule, and then the Packers lost to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship in one of the funniest games I've ever seen.
- No. 15 MTSU 90, No. 2 MSU 81: One of the biggest upsets in college basketball history. MTSU shot 57.9 percent(!!!!) from three.
- No. 11 Syracuse 55, No. 3 MSU 53: ONE YEAR LATER, future Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo plays Ben Carter for 23 minutes instead of eventual lottery pick Jaren Jackson Jr. (15 minutes).
Winner: Trubisky Trade
The best kind of schadenfreude is the kind that keeps on giving. Tom Izzo's two worst losses of his career are hilarious (BEN CARTER FOR 23 MINUTES), but the other three options here involved continuing joy for fans.
As much as I liked seeing Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer and Mark Dantonio get whooped in the college playoff, those games all had such a reminder of the continued underachieving of the Wolverines. Especially for the 2016 season, when it should have been Michigan getting its butt handed to it by Clemson.
The karmic justice of the Cowboys losing to the Packers because of the Calvin Johnson Rule, of all things, was so cathartic. And the Packers losing late to the Seahawks because of trick plays and onside kicks rules.
But the Trubisky trade is one that has produced several years of schadenfreude. The Bears had the third pick in the draft, and gave up that pick, their third-round pick, fourth-round pick and a future third-rounder to move up one spot and take a quarterback that would have been there anyway.
They took Trubisky, a middling-at-best quarterback who barely throws past the line of scrimmage, over Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, both top-10 quarterbacks in the league.
You could point out in return that Mitch Trubisky still swept the Lions in 2019. I do not care. It's still funny.
 |
| NBA.com |
Hope for the Future Award
Most of the Detroit sports teams are barren of talent at the moment, but there are some players who have promising futures. Honorable mentions: Victor Reyes, Luke Kennard, Tracy Walker
- Tyler Bertuzzi (24 years old): Rising star for the Red Wings, 107 career points, 2020 NHL All-Star
- Sekou Doumbouya (19): Former 15th pick in the NBA draft is the Pistons' highest-ceiling player in years.
- Kenny Golladay (26): 163 career receptions, 2730 receiving yards, 19 touchdowns, led NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2019, 2019 Pro Bowler
- Dylan Larkin (23): One of the better young pieces for the Red Wings, 249 career points, 2016 NHL All-Star, finished 5th in Calder Award (rookie of the year) voting in 2016
- Casey Mize (22): Former No. 1 overall pick hasn't even played AAA ball, but could be Tigers' future ace.
Winner: Sekou Doumbouya
This was the biggest change in opinion I've had as I've re-written this column multiple times in the past month. Initially Doumbouya wasn't even included on the list, and Luke Kennard was included as a final nominee. Then I added him as an honorable mention. Then Kennard got hurt and Sekou got some playing time. Now he's easily my pick for the award.
There were really two ways to look at this. I could've either gone with a young talent that's already proven himself but could have more great things ahead of him. Larkin and Bertuzzi are both good young players who are head-and-shoulders the two best players on a very bad Red Wings team. Kenny Golladay in three seasons has gone from the Lions' promising third option to the team's WR1 and a Pro Bowler. Golladay was my initial pick for this award because of his rapid growth already and potential to be one of the premier receivers in the next 4-5 years of his prime.
On the other hand, you have two players who have done little if anything in the pros, but have all the potential in the world. Casey Mize hasn't even had a stint for the Toledo Mud Hens, much less touched a major league mound. But he's the seventh-ranked prospect in all of baseball, and the first-ranked right-handed pitcher. The Tigers seem to be ready to take the next step on their rebuild, and Mize and fellow prospect Matt Manning look to be a big part of that.
But man, Sekou.
Tristan Thompson had a family. Doumbouya has a long way to go. He's still getting it all together in his rookie season. You can see the wheels turning though, and he should only get better with more playing time. Luckily, the Pistons are dead in the water for the season and he should have plenty of opportunities to show what he can do. Sekou's still raw right now, but he's the youngest player in the league. Give it a few years; he could be special.
 |
| Daryl Marshke/Michigan Athletics |
Best Coach
For all the bad coaches we've seen in the past decade, there are a handful of good ones! Some are even great!
- John Beilein (2007-2019): From start of 2009-10 season - 247-114 record (.684), 112-70 in Big Ten play (.615), two Big Ten regular season titles, two Big Ten Tournament titles, eight NCAA Tournament berths, five Sweet 16s, 3 Elite Eights, 2 Final Fours
- Jim Caldwell (2014-2017): 36-28 in regular season (.563), 0-2 in two playoff berths
- Jim Harbaugh (2015-present): 47-18 record (.723), 32-12 in Big Ten (.727), 1 Big Ten East title
- Carol Hutchins (1985-present): Since 2010 - 486-113-1 record (.811), 194-26 in Big Ten (.881), nine Big Ten regular season titles, two Big Ten tournament titles, ten NCAA Tournament berths, three College World Series appearances, 2015 World Series Runner-Up, too many awards to count
- Jim Leyland (2006-2013): From 2010-2013 - 357-291 (.551), three AL Central titles, 2012 ALCS,
Winner: Carol Hutchins
I initially considered Mike Babcock as a candidate. He had a winning record in his final seasons even as the Wings were declining and about to lose the playoff streak, but he seems like Not A Very Nice Person after getting fired in disgrace from the Maple Leafs. I also considered Erik Bakich and Red Berenson here as well.
Leyland was a great manager for the Tigers and gave us one of the greatest baseball gifs of all time. He may have never won the big one with those immensely talented team, but playoff baseball is a cruel mistress, but he only coached a few years into the decade.
Jim Caldwell is greatest Lions head coach in the past 50 years, though that isn't saying much. He seemed to hit his ceiling after a few years and he was fired for it. We have regrets.
Harbaugh has been very successful for the Wolverines since he took over the team. Unfortunately he's 0-5 against Ohio State, 1-4 in Bowl games, hasn't won a Big Ten championship and hasn't made the College Football Playoff. He has yet to coach a Michigan team ranked higher than 10th at the end of the season.
John Beilein might get fired from the Cavs after only one season as head coach, but he's one of the best college coaches of the 21st century. He turned an irrelevant Michigan basketball program into a titan, winning multiple Big Ten titles and going to the national championship game twice. Beilein developed several unheralded talents into NBA players.
But Carol Hutchins is the winningest coach in Division I college softball history. She won the Big Ten in all but one year this past decade. She's won tons of coaching awards and made several College World Series runs. And she doesn't seem to be slowing down even after 35 years. You really can't beat that.
Leyland was a great manager for the Tigers and gave us one of the greatest baseball gifs of all time. He may have never won the big one with those immensely talented team, but playoff baseball is a cruel mistress, but he only coached a few years into the decade.
Jim Caldwell is greatest Lions head coach in the past 50 years, though that isn't saying much. He seemed to hit his ceiling after a few years and he was fired for it. We have regrets.
Harbaugh has been very successful for the Wolverines since he took over the team. Unfortunately he's 0-5 against Ohio State, 1-4 in Bowl games, hasn't won a Big Ten championship and hasn't made the College Football Playoff. He has yet to coach a Michigan team ranked higher than 10th at the end of the season.
John Beilein might get fired from the Cavs after only one season as head coach, but he's one of the best college coaches of the 21st century. He turned an irrelevant Michigan basketball program into a titan, winning multiple Big Ten titles and going to the national championship game twice. Beilein developed several unheralded talents into NBA players.
But Carol Hutchins is the winningest coach in Division I college softball history. She won the Big Ten in all but one year this past decade. She's won tons of coaching awards and made several College World Series runs. And she doesn't seem to be slowing down even after 35 years. You really can't beat that.
 |
| Getty |
Best Moment
We'll get to individual games and teams soon, but these are some moments that stood out as being particularly neat (individual moments in games nominated for Best Game were not included).- 3/29/13: The Shot: Trey Burke nails a three to send Michigan into overtime against Kansas, eventually winning 87-85.
- 6/30/14: Rajai Davis Ultimate Grand Slam: You don't need to see an actual video of the Grand Slam because Dan Dickerson painted the picture.
- 1/16/15: "We Just Form A F***ing Wall": On the Josh Smith-less Pistons' short-lived hot streak, Stan Van Gundy has a hot mic and creates a catch phrase.
- 1/13/18: Nick Ward Had A Family: There are a lot of good Michigan/MSU moments but my goodness this is just filthy.
- 3/17/18: The... Other Shot: Jordan Poole nails a three to beat Houston and move into Sweet 16.
Winner: The Shot.
Honorable mention goes to Charles Matthews laughing in Nick Ward's face. 2018 was a great year.
The SVG wall thing was a fun meme for a little bit while the Pistons went on a fun hot streak that ended with a rough Brandon Jennings injury a little bit later. It's pretty trivial, but I think a lot of people got caught up in the hype at the time that SVG could turn the Pistons around. I'll take as many feel-good Pistons things as I can get. They were a rarity in the 2010s.
The Davis walk-off grand slam is here entirely because of that call. Dickerson is radio magic, and that call gives me chills every time I hear it. But as cool as an ultimate grand slam is, it's still just the finish to a June regular season MLB game.
Wagner decimating Nick Ward's ankles is one of my favorite moments of 2018, but it's not even the best moment from that season on the list.
That brings us to the Trey Burke Shot vs. the Jordan Poole Shot. I've seen it debated on Michigan Twitter before as to which one was better, and I don't think there's necessarily a right or wrong answer.
For my money, I'll go with Burke. The difference-maker for me is that the Poole shot felt like luck. The 2017-18 Wolverines were obviously a great team, but they also did catch a few breaks, particularly in that tournament. That team played some absolutely ugly games, including that Houston matchup.
Meanwhile, the Burke shot was the biggest moment in a turning-point season for the Wolverines. It was Michigan's biggest statement of "We belong here" as a basketball powerhouse. It was the National Player of the Year going against a blue blood like Kansas and refusing to go down. Monumental moment.
Meanwhile, the Burke shot was the biggest moment in a turning-point season for the Wolverines. It was Michigan's biggest statement of "We belong here" as a basketball powerhouse. It was the National Player of the Year going against a blue blood like Kansas and refusing to go down. Monumental moment.
 |
| John T. Greilick/Detroit News |
Best Game
- 5/7/11: Tigers 9, Blue Jays 0: Verlander's second no-hitter.
- 9/10/11: Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31: Under the Lights I. One of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen.
- 10/29/13: Lions 31, Cowboys 30: One of Stafford's best comebacks (and an all-time great Mic'd Up performance)
- 1/25/14: Michigan 80, Michigan State 75: "Win the Game." Kisses to the Breslin Center.
- 3/10/17: Michigan 74, Purdue 70 (OT): i still can't breathe
Winner: Under the Lights.
Some really difficult decisions here. The Verlander no-hitter is certainly special. I remember it happening the day of my nephew's birthday party and one of the guests making an off-handed remark about JV looking good and predicting a no-hitter. And I know everybody makes comments like that, but when the prediction actually comes true it stands out. Especially when it's something like a no-hitter.
The Lions have a lot of thrilling comebacks in the last decade, but the Cowboys game really sticks out to me as the best. Maybe it's because I've watched the Mic'd Up video a thousand times. But the Cowboys were a good team (and we know that those two will meet up again later...) and the winning play having Stafford fake a spike only to jump over the Cowboys' line? Hoo-boy.
Both Michigan hoops options were classics. Two games against great opponents. The first is a road upset against the No. 3 team in the nation with several memorable moments in the closing minutes and aftermath. The second is a hugely tense Big Ten Tournament tournament win with two coaches whose matchups always seemed like chess matches, and it happened in the immediate aftermath of what could have been a serious accident.
But Under the Lights I is special for so many reasons. Sure, the Brady Hoke era turned out poorly. That Michigan team ended up in a Sugar Bowl game many thought they had no business being in (they won). That Notre Dame team ended up 8-5 on the season.
That doesn't matter. The first night game in the history of Michigan Stadium. A win over a rival. A huge comeback with no time left on the clock. Denard. Robinson.
Michigan has been a disappointment for a lot of people in the past decade. That night, however, fans remembered why we love this stupid sport.
 |
| USA Today |
Best Team
- 2012-13 Michigan basketball: 31-8, 12-6 in Big Ten, NCAA Tournament Runner-up
- 2013 Detroit Tigers: 93-69, AL Central Champions, lost in ALCS
- 2014 Detroit Lions: 11-5, lost in Wild Card playoffs
- 2016 Michigan football: 10-3, 7-2 in Big Ten, lost in Orange Bowl
- 2017-18 Michigan basketball: 33-8, 13-5 in Big Ten, Big Ten Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament Runner-up
Winner: 2012-13 Michigan basketball
Let's just break down all the teams a little bit further.
It's hard to pick between the 2012 and 2013 Tigers for even a runner-up spot. The 2012 squad made it to the World Series, had the two AL strikeout leaders in Justin Verlander (second in Cy Young voting) and Max Scherzer, had Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown season.
The 2013 Tigers, though. They won more games in the regular season and even if they didn't make it to the World Series, they at least went down giving more of a fight than the previous season. That team had the AL MVP and Cy Young in Cabrera and Scherzer. Jose Iglesias finished second in Rookie of the Year voting). Six All-Stars: Cabrera, Scherzer, Verlander, Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, Jhonny Peralta. People on the team that didn't make the All-Star Game? Iglesias, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Victor Martinez, Omar Infante, Rick Porcello, Drew Smyly, Joaquin Benoit, Austin Jackson, and Mr. Heart and Hustle Don Kelly Baby. LOADED. How did this team not win a World Series? I hate you, Big Papi.
The 2014 Lions were only a Wild Card team, but it should've been the team to give the Lions their first playoff win in over 20 years. The team had five players make the Pro Bowl: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Glover Quin and Ndamukong Suh (with DeAndre Levy getting famously snubbed). Suh, Quin and Levy were named All-Pro. Also on the team: Matt Prater, Reggie Bush, Ziggy Ansah, Nick Fairley, Stephen Tulloch and a young Darius Slay. The team was third in defensive DVOA. If they had a capable offensive coordinator and not Joe Lombardi, the team could have been even better.
Another sore spot, the 2016 Michigan Wolverines, who were the victim of Kinnick Stadium Iowa and The Spot, preventing a playoff run. Instead they got Dalvin Cooked in the Orange Bowl. But what a team. 24 players got at least honorable mention in All-Big Ten voting. Jabrill Peppers, Joudan Lewis and Jake Butt were consensus All-Americans. Peppers won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a Heisman finalist. I'm not going to count all the NFL picks on the team, but there were a lot. J.T. was short.
Both Michigan National Runner-up teams have good cases. The 17-18 team had a slightly better record and a Big Ten title. Moritz Wagner was second-team All-Big Ten and Duncan Robinson was the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Wagner and Jordan Poole are the team's two NBA draft picks so far, though Robinson has become a solid starter for the Heat after going undrafted. Zak Irvin, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Derrick Walton have seen G League action, while Charles Matthews has unfortunately dealt with injuries since declaring for the draft. Isaiah Livers, Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske are still with Michigan, so their futures are up in the air.
That 2012-13 team's starting lineup (Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Tim Hardaway Jr., Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary) all got drafted within two years. Four of them went in the first round, Burke and Stauskas being lottery picks. Caris LeVert got drafted in the first round in 2016. Jordan Morgan went undrafted and plays in Europe. Spike Albrecht eventually went to Purdue as a grad transfer and never went pro, but he should be mentioned considering his great Final Four performance.
Burke, of course, was unanimously voted National Player of the Year. Burke and Hardaway were both first team All-Big Ten selections, with Robinson named an honorable mention. Stauskas went on to win Big Ten Player of the Year the next season. Jordan Morgan was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive team by coaches.
Comparing the two teams, 2013 Michigan was the No. 4 team on KenPom overall with the No. 1 offense and No. 37 defense. 2018 Michigan was No. 7 overall with the No. 35 offense and No. 3 defense. Very opposite teams.
Comparing their tournament runs, 2013 Michigan beat the teams ranked 96, 18, 8, 2, and 9 on KenPom, losing to the No. 1 team in a close game (the block was clean). 2018 Michigan beat the teams ranked 72, 18, 29, 27, and 31 before getting destroyed by the No. 1 team. They did, however, beat No. 5 Purdue and No. 6 Michigan State in their Big Ten Tournament run.
But I think the overall talent level and resume of the 2013 team edges out the 2018 run. Both special teams, but the Fresh Five team was next-level.
Let's just break down all the teams a little bit further.
It's hard to pick between the 2012 and 2013 Tigers for even a runner-up spot. The 2012 squad made it to the World Series, had the two AL strikeout leaders in Justin Verlander (second in Cy Young voting) and Max Scherzer, had Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown season.
The 2013 Tigers, though. They won more games in the regular season and even if they didn't make it to the World Series, they at least went down giving more of a fight than the previous season. That team had the AL MVP and Cy Young in Cabrera and Scherzer. Jose Iglesias finished second in Rookie of the Year voting). Six All-Stars: Cabrera, Scherzer, Verlander, Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, Jhonny Peralta. People on the team that didn't make the All-Star Game? Iglesias, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Victor Martinez, Omar Infante, Rick Porcello, Drew Smyly, Joaquin Benoit, Austin Jackson, and Mr. Heart and Hustle Don Kelly Baby. LOADED. How did this team not win a World Series? I hate you, Big Papi.
The 2014 Lions were only a Wild Card team, but it should've been the team to give the Lions their first playoff win in over 20 years. The team had five players make the Pro Bowl: Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Glover Quin and Ndamukong Suh (with DeAndre Levy getting famously snubbed). Suh, Quin and Levy were named All-Pro. Also on the team: Matt Prater, Reggie Bush, Ziggy Ansah, Nick Fairley, Stephen Tulloch and a young Darius Slay. The team was third in defensive DVOA. If they had a capable offensive coordinator and not Joe Lombardi, the team could have been even better.
Another sore spot, the 2016 Michigan Wolverines, who were the victim of Kinnick Stadium Iowa and The Spot, preventing a playoff run. Instead they got Dalvin Cooked in the Orange Bowl. But what a team. 24 players got at least honorable mention in All-Big Ten voting. Jabrill Peppers, Joudan Lewis and Jake Butt were consensus All-Americans. Peppers won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a Heisman finalist. I'm not going to count all the NFL picks on the team, but there were a lot. J.T. was short.
Both Michigan National Runner-up teams have good cases. The 17-18 team had a slightly better record and a Big Ten title. Moritz Wagner was second-team All-Big Ten and Duncan Robinson was the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Wagner and Jordan Poole are the team's two NBA draft picks so far, though Robinson has become a solid starter for the Heat after going undrafted. Zak Irvin, Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Derrick Walton have seen G League action, while Charles Matthews has unfortunately dealt with injuries since declaring for the draft. Isaiah Livers, Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske are still with Michigan, so their futures are up in the air.
That 2012-13 team's starting lineup (Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Tim Hardaway Jr., Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary) all got drafted within two years. Four of them went in the first round, Burke and Stauskas being lottery picks. Caris LeVert got drafted in the first round in 2016. Jordan Morgan went undrafted and plays in Europe. Spike Albrecht eventually went to Purdue as a grad transfer and never went pro, but he should be mentioned considering his great Final Four performance.
Burke, of course, was unanimously voted National Player of the Year. Burke and Hardaway were both first team All-Big Ten selections, with Robinson named an honorable mention. Stauskas went on to win Big Ten Player of the Year the next season. Jordan Morgan was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive team by coaches.
Comparing the two teams, 2013 Michigan was the No. 4 team on KenPom overall with the No. 1 offense and No. 37 defense. 2018 Michigan was No. 7 overall with the No. 35 offense and No. 3 defense. Very opposite teams.
Comparing their tournament runs, 2013 Michigan beat the teams ranked 96, 18, 8, 2, and 9 on KenPom, losing to the No. 1 team in a close game (the block was clean). 2018 Michigan beat the teams ranked 72, 18, 29, 27, and 31 before getting destroyed by the No. 1 team. They did, however, beat No. 5 Purdue and No. 6 Michigan State in their Big Ten Tournament run.
But I think the overall talent level and resume of the 2013 team edges out the 2018 run. Both special teams, but the Fresh Five team was next-level.
No comments:
Post a Comment