Every once in a while you attend a sports event that is so enjoyable that the memory will stay with you for years.  SU had that experience over the past 3 days with the Big Ten Tournament here in New York.  SU was at MSG for the last 3 games to see Michigan play along with a number of members of the SU intergalactic subscriber base including B. Levine, J. Silver, A. Cohen, S. Fink and A. Weissman.

Aside from the fact that it was stupid for the Big Ten to hold its tournament a week early just to play in New York, for Michigan fans, of which there are thousands in NY, it was an opportunity to see your team play up close and personal.  SU’s observations:

• John Beilein makes his teams play the right way.  SU views any season as a journey.  What you see in December is not what you will see come March.  Players develop, some regress, others go through slumps and the style of play evolves over time.  That is the joy in watching a team sport.  Basketball is not a one-on-one sport despite what you often see in the NBA.  It’s about running, cutting, screening and every player touching the ball on every possession.  It’s not four guys standing on the 3-point line while one player holds the ball and jab steps.  Beilein doesn’t recruit the one and done players.  Michigan does have some guys leave after their sophomore year (see Trey Burke, Nik Stauskus, Glen Robinson III) but the majority stay at least through their junior year and as we all know, that is the joy in college hoops.  Watching players develop, get better and take on more of  a leadership role over time.
• Beilein had 3 players leave last year and had to restock.  To win the Big Ten Tournament in back-to-back years with so many guys playing more important roles is a great achievement.  Also, if you are a top point guard in high school, how do you not want to play for him?  He gives the point guard so much control and accountability – you have to want to be here.
• The Garden was electric Saturday when Michigan played Michigan State.  Very loud, sold out and a great atmosphere.  Tom Izzo trolled the sideline which is an appropriate way to describe that.  If you have ever listened to one of his post-game press conferences, it’s never his fault.  “We had a great scouting report and game plan but didn’t execute parts of it.”  Hey, he has two lottery picks on this team (Miles Bridges and Jarren Jackson Jr. who by the way, is going to be special in the NBA.  Izzo has not developed his game but he is a future star and the Knicks should pay attention here) and they had a great record this year but their style of play is choppy, not fluid and so far, they have under-achieved given the talent.  Now, they may find it later this month but talent-wise, they are one of the top teams in the country.
• Big Ten refs are just bad.  Gene Steratore reffed the Friday and Saturday games and he just sees fouls from across the court that refs who are much closer to the play let go.
• SU has thoroughly enjoyed Michigan’s season.  This team can be very frustrating and if they don’t shoot well from 3, well they will and do lose.  They now have a long break before the NCAAs start and that may hurt them.  On the other hand, they could make a deep run but for SU, unimportant.  This tournament was special and a great achievement for this team.  Whatever happens from here on out is icing on the cake.

By the way, LeBron has it right: let the high school kids play in the G-League right away and skip playing in college.  The one and done players make it a joke.  You go to classes for one semester and then take the 2nd one off to prepare for the combines and the workouts before the draft.  It’s stupid.  Go directly to the G-League and get paid.  I would much rather watch kids who want to be there in college and will stay a few years.

SU caught a few innings of the Yankees yesterday.  I don’t know if it’s because I am transitioning from the action of basketball to baseball, but the pace of play is a big-time issue.  Soooooo many strikeouts.  So many shifts.  Greg Bird is way under .100 so far and while it’s only early March, you worry a bit about him.  They continue to shift against him and if he doesn’t learn to go the other way, he will turn into Mark Texeira.