Bleacher Report - Articles by J Mack

If I Were the NCAA Basketball Committee

J Mack — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:41:04 -0400

My dream job has always been to be on the NCAA selection committee. Since I've been 12 years old I've sat down every "Selection Sunday" and chosen the Field of 65.(Of course it used to be 64) On two different occasions I've missed only one. Someday before I die I'm hoping to nail all 65 of them. This would be my latest attempt. I try to weigh everything the committee would weigh and I try to foul the same rules that they may in seeding. My last four teams in were Creighton, St. Mary's, Auburn, and Texas A & M. My last four out were Boston College, Dayton, Tulsa, and Penn State.

Begin Slideshow

Michigan Must Pull the Plug on Rich Rodriguez Before It's Too Late

J Mack — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:33:59 -0400

We have seen top programs become irrelevant. Maybe you recognize the programs formerly known as Nebraska, Notre Dame, Miami, and Florida State—just a few of the programs who for the most part have experienced a fall from grace.

Could Michigan be next?

One losing season could be considered a hiccup and may not cause much concern. Consecutive losing seasons could spell doom for the Big Ten's most revered program.

Michigan is going to have a losing season. Let's not delude ourselves. Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan State will beat Michigan. That will give them at least seven losses. They may lose all of their remaining games.

This team looks beaten. This team looks ready to quit. And the coaching staff doesn't seem to have many answers.

The most common response from the coaching staff when asked about the problems with the anemic offense is, "I don't know what's wrong with the offense."

This is a great program. Make no mistake. These players expected to be a part of a great program. These changes were supposed to make them elite. These changes were supposed to bring championships.

We've been told, "Be patient, it's a new system, a new offense." The problem is you don't have to worry about the fans' patience. You need to worry about the players' patience.

Many of these players have experienced success in the past. What they did in the past was successful. This is not working. Once you lose the players, you have lost.

Rich Rodriguez is a good coach. He was very successful at West Virginia. Sometimes, though, a coach has to have the right fit.

Rodriguez may have had that at West Virginia. It takes a different type of coach to win at West Virginia than it does to win at Michigan. This isn't a knock on West Virginia—it's just different.

Tyrone Willingham was not a good fit at Notre Dame. John L. Smith was not a good fit at Michigan State. Ron Zook was not a good fit at Florida. All of these coaches have had other successes, but they just didn't fit one or more of the stops on their resumes.

Rodriguez also has other factors working against him. He is not a "Michigan Man," which means he will have very little support in the community and in traditional recruiting hotbeds.

He has already alienated some of the other Big Ten programs with his questionable recruiting tactics. He hasn't really embraced tradition and has already put his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion with regard to program traditions.

The players he recruited at West Virginia are not the same players he will recruit at Michigan.

Right now the University of Michigan recruits itself. It is arguably one of the top five programs of all time. It won't recruit itself forever.

The spread has never been successful in the Big Ten for any extended period of time. Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan State all showed one or two good seasons with it, but they couldn't sustain greatness. Rodriguez's spread will be no different.

The University of Michigan should act quickly. Next season will not be any easier. Rodriguez may lose more players that were recruited by Carr. Some of his own recruits or those who chose to stay, like a Sam McGuffie, may start to doubt him.

The players he brings in next year will still be "learning a new system." Two losing seasons could be detrimental.

Even if Rodriguez recovers to have a great season in season number three, what happens if he loses four games in season four?

He won't survive it.

The University of Michigan won't survive it.

Mark Dantonio, Michigan State Spartans Face Defining Game

J Mack — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:30:39 -0400

Mark Dantonio's Spartans have a chance to reach 3-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2003 this weekend when they visit the Northwestern Wildcats.

But more importantly, Michigan State has an opportunity for a program-defining win. Spartan football has been defined by mediocrity for the last quarter-century.

They will occasionally show promise with a huge upset victory over a top team. One week later, they find disaster lurking around the corner, and they will gift-wrap a game for a below-average opponent.

If Michigan State can knock off the Wildcats on Saturday at Ryan Field, it will mark a giant leap in the right direction. It will mean the program is on the verge of arriving on the national scene.

The arrival is a process. They may win this weekend and still finish the year 7-5. That is entirely possible; however, it will show critics and prospects that MSU is capable of winning the games it's supposed to.

If Michigan State can win the games it's supposed to, it could annually finish in the upper tier of the Big Ten. Dantonio is bringing in what many experts feel is a top 15 recruiting class, which features some of the top skill position prospects in the Midwest.

Winning games you're supposed to will allow you to gain some consistency, not only on the field, but also on the recruiting trail.

Combine that with a University of Michigan program that currently has a lot of questions, and there is a small window of time for the Spartans to establish themselves as a nationally prominent program.

The task for the Spartans will be difficult. Northwestern is a skilled offensive team with a surprisingly effective defense. The Wildcats have put up huge offensive numbers the last two years against the Spartans, scoring 89 points.

The MSU secondary was torched by CJ Bacher and Co. a year ago, and unfortunately for defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, the Spartans may be headed into the game without starting safety Otis Wiley.

Spartan fans will be holding their collective breath this weekend watching things unfold in Evanston.

Michigan State is a sleeping giant that may be waking from a 40-year slumber. A win Saturday will put the rest of the conference on notice that these are not the same old Spartans.

They will have a chance to go to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 1989-90. And Mark Dantonio will have a chance to become a legend in East Lansing.

Purdue Could Be Big Ten's Best Hope

J Mack — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:55:27 -0400

Let’s admit it, the Big Ten is down.

I love Big Ten basketball as much as the next guy and there is no other conference I would rather see do well in this tournament. But take a look at the matchups the Big Ten finds itself facing.

Michigan State, who may be the country's least consistent team, finds itself in a nightmare situation should it survive its first round match-up with Temple. The Spartans will not be able to handle the inside game of Pittsburgh.

Indiana, who may be the country's most dysfunctional team, also has a bit of a problem awaiting it in North Carolina should they be able to pick up the pieces against Arkansas. Wisconsin, who is the class of the league, got thrown into what many consider to be the tournament’s toughest bracket, and will have to survive tough matchups with two very good teams in USC and Georgetown just to get to the Elite 8.

That leaves Purdue, who is the conference’s most surprising and maybe least intimidating team. Purdue has looked like the best team in the conference at times this year, and at other times, has looked like the young team that it is.

The Boilers finished 18th in the final AP poll, but only received a six seed. Purdue is not as physical a defensive presence as some of the other Big Ten teams, but it does create a lot of turnovers and can defend the 3-point shot.

Purdue is the one team in the Big Ten who has a pretty good draw. It plays a team in Baylor who comes in struggling, losing seven of its last 12. Baylor is sometimes prone to turnovers, and lives and dies by the 3-pointer.

Then Purdue could find itself in a match up with the weakest of the No. 3 seeds in Xavier. Xavier has struggled lately because of injuries and would be another team that Purdue matches up nicely with. If the Boilers survive that game, look for them to challenge Duke as they will have nothing to lose.

Purdue's loss in the Big Ten tournament first round may worry some. Now the Boilermakers have had time to refocus and set new goals.

After a tough loss to Ohio State on the road in overtime, the young Boilers seemed to be upset about letting a Big Ten title get away. Hopefully they will return to the court a more determined team, and will realize that this is their chance to make up for lost opportunities.

Izzo's Reputation "Officially" Dooms Spartans

J Mack — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:38:19 -0400

The Michigan State Spartans looked to be in control on Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers. Then the officials really started to "blow-it"; the whistle that is. The Spartans had four players disqualified due to fouls were unable to put a line-up on the floor for the closing minutes that could match Wisconsin's size and strength. This is not the first time the Spartans have had fouls stop them in their tracks.

The Spartans lost to Iowa on the road January 12th when they committed 25 personal fouls. The Hawkeyes only committed 10. The Hawkeyes went to the foul line 29 times converting on 16 attempts and totaled only 43 points. MSU meanwhile made 1 of their lofty 4 attempts that game.

At Penn State a little less than a month later things would get worse. Penn State would shoot 51 free throws to MSU's 21. The Nittany Lions made 34 and ended with 85 points. The Spartans lost the game by nine. Izzo criticism of the officials following the game probably should have cost him a fine. But maybe there was good reason for him to be upset.

On Saturday, Wisconsin made 26 of 37 attempts while the Spartans shot only 19. Many times when a team consistently fails to get to the free throw line it is because they don't attack the basket. However, Wisconsin took more three pointers than MSU in this game and attempted 4 fewer shots from inside the arc.

It may be time that the Big Ten Conference asks why its most dominant team over the last decade seems to be playing 5 on 8 some nights. Izzo has built his program with a focus on tough nosed defense and rebounding. These often force them to be more physical. But isn't the Big Ten known as a physical conference? Izzo's reputation seems to be hurting his team. Referee's and opposing coaches seem to be focused in on the Spartans' physicality. On the road it seems that these factors are too much a focus for the officials. Wisconsin is every bit as physical, tough, and plodding as MSU. You have to wonder why this doesn't seem to be noticed by the men in stripes.