Radio recap (3/18): Dissecting a banner weekend and looking ahead to the Big Dance
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A week ago today, I certainly didn’t think I’d be talking about Michigan earning itself another banner during my next weekly appearance on The Michigan Insider with Sam Webb and Ira Weintraub over on WTKA in Ann Arbor. But that’s exactly how I spent my Monday after Michigan’s improbable Big Ten Tournament run that included three straight wins over Kenpom top 20 teams: Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin.
Along with celebrating that feat, though, there’s also the temptation to bemoan Michigan’s tournament draw — one of the most unfortunate of all 68 qualifying schools.
We touched on all of that and more on Monday. And you can find the audio — along with a timestamped topic guide that covers what was discussed and when — in the section below.
Before we get to that, though, I want to make sure everyone is aware of the March Madness bracket contests I’ll be running in this space. There are two separate competitions — one for premium subscribers that includes a $50 cash prize for the winner, and one for all subscribers that includes premium subscriptions as awards. You can find all the information for those contests HERE.
Listen (Mar. 17)
Topic guide:
0:00-0:30: Ad
0:30-2:20: Small talk
2:20-6:15: On Michigan’s surprising run to a Big Ten Tournament title and just how improbable it was given the way the regular season ended
6:15-11:05: On Michigan’s recent major improvement on the defensive end of the court (ad from 7:05-8:20)
11:05-14:30: On the tournament turnaround being a product of improvement from both the coaching and the player sides of things
14:30-17:45: Quick thoughts on Michigan’s seeding and subsequent tournament draw (ads from 14:55-16:10)
1745-end: Wrapping things up