Michigan's Mitch McGary: "We're soft right now"

After a humbling 79-69 loss to Duke in the Big Ten/ACC challenge, Michigan's Mitch McGary said the team was frustrated with their performance at Cameron Indoor Stadium after being beaten by an undersized Duke team.  

McGary then told ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman that the Wolverines were "soft right now".

“We’re soft,” McGary said following the 79-69 loss that wasn’t quite as close as the score indicated. “We’re soft right now. That’s it.” 

The Wolverines dropped their third game this season and maybe frustration is starting to mount early in the season. They were outrebounded and out hustled by a Duke team that has been rather mediocre on the glass despite the team's star power. Also the disappearance of Glenn Robinson III didn't help matters either. GRIII scored 8 points, looked out of sync, and was a non factor against the Blue Devils. McGary finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds, but most of his damage was done with the outcome decided.

Sharp shooter Nik Stauskas had four points all from the free throw line as Duke concentrated their defensive effort on taking Stauskas out of the game. Sophomore Caris LeVert had 24 points in the losing effort but he showed toughness and heart throughout the night.

The problem is that the team is still looking for the guy to take over games like Trey Burke did last season. Burke was the unquestioned go to guy when the team needed someone to step up. They can't replicate what Burke was but others need to step up.

Stauskas is trying become that guy and LeVert to a certain extent. McGary is still trying to play himself into shape so I'll give him a mulligan. The biggest culprit to the team's 5-3 start might be Robinson. I thought he would be the one to try and take over when the team needed a scoring presence. Instead it looks like he has NBA dreams in his head and is content to take a backseat to Stauskas, LeVert, or McGary in crunch time. If Michigan is to be successful, Robinson needs to take it up a few notches.

“We were rattled and didn’t have the same poise we had last year,” McGary said.

That's true. While the team is young, they are battle tested and should respond better when the heat is on.

 “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” McGary said.

Rome wasn't built in a day and I look for John Beilein to get this team back on track. It better happen fast because second ranked Arizona is coming to Ann Arbor in two weeks. If the Wolverines can't get it together things could get a little ugly.

SEC commissioner hoping for a Michigan State win Saturday

As it stands, the Ohio State Buckeyes are locked into the number two ranking which means they'd be facing the Florida State Seminoles for the BCS national title, barring a massive collapse against Duke in the ACC championship game.

That would leave one loss Auburn or Missouri on the outside looking in. Also being left out would be one loss Alabama, which I don't see leapfrogging anyone right now.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive is hoping that he can still get one of his teams in the championship game. He's taken to openly rooting for Michigan State to knock off Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game so the Auburn-Missouri winner could possibly claim a spot to represent the SEC against Florida State.      

“I’m planning on wearing a green tie (to the SEC title game),” Slive told FoxSports.com writer Clay Travis. “I’ll be a Spartan for a day.”

My guess is that a one loss SEC school will most likely play for the title if the Buckeyes lose. If not, they can thank Auburn for breaking the conference stranglehold on the championship.

Tom Izzo says he's 'ticked off' at Duke's success against Michigan State

Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo coaches as if his life depends on it. The Spartans have made six Final Fours on his watch. He's firmly entrenched as the Spartans' head coach until he retires but that hasn't stopped him from having some kind of motivation for his team.

His latest factor for motivation. Michigan State's 1-7 record against Mike Krzyzewski and Duke.

At a coaching clinic Izzo mentioned that  Krzyzewski is the best coach he's ever coached against since the Blue Devils have the Spartans number. He also mentioned that it ticks him off to lose to the same guy so much.

Izzo let this be known during the Michigan Elite 25 coaching clinic Tuesday when he told event co-founder Tim McCormick and the rest of the crowd that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is the best coach he's faced head-to-head.

"Krzyzewski's probably still the guy because we're (1-7) against him, so anybody who beats us that much I've got to say is the best coach," Izzo said. "And it really ticks me off, to be honest with you. You know, that's what drives you a little bit, too."

Izzo also mentioned that he'd like to leave a lasting legacy at Michigan State.

Considering that Izzo has turned down two NBA jobs (Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers) I think his legacy is pretty secure. I would still like to see him capture at least two more national championships before we mention him with the all time greats.

The program has his stamp on it and when you think of Michigan State you think of a well coached, hard nosed team and Tom Izzo.  

Bobby Hurley hired to coach Buffalo basketball

The University of Buffalo has hired Bobby Hurley to lead the basketball team in a new direction.

Hurley was introduced as the new coach today after cutting his teeth with his brother, Danny, at Wagner and Rhode Island where Danny was the head coach and Bobby was an assistant.

He'll be taking over for the recently ousted Reggie Witherspoon, who had a small bit of success but was never able to get the team to the NCAA tournament in a pretty wide open MAC conference.

"The appointment of coach Hurley sends a clear statement that the University at Buffalo is committed to bringing big-time college athletics to the western New York community and the state at large," athletic director Danny White said. "I'm confident after our discussions that he is the right leader to take our program to the next level."

Most know Hurley from his days as a national championship winning point guard at Duke, which should get Buffalo some name recognition. Before anyone thinks this is a Clyde Drexler (Houston) or Isiah Thomas (Florida International) gimmick hiring, you must remember that basketball runs in the Hurley family blood.

Bob Hurley Sr. coaches the famed St. Anthony's high school program in New Jersey and has compiled more than 1000 wins. Dan played at Seton Hall and Bobby played in the NBA after his Duke career.

I don't know what this will do for recruiting and getting fans in the seats but knowing the leader that Hurley was at Duke, I believe the Bulls made a good hire. Hopefully for the fans there, it will translate into a winning program.

Former Duke center, Brian Zoubek to open a cream puff shop

The last memory of former Duke center, Brian Zoubek, was of him celebrating a national championship victory over Butler. After that he kind of vanished. Not that it's a bad thing some people excel outside of the sports world and Zoubek is putting his Duke education to good use.

Zoubek will be opening a cream puff pastry shop in his hometown of Haddonfield, New Jersey. Cream puffs have been a lifelong favorite of Zoubek's and now he aims to turn his love of them into a successful business.


"I love to make cream puffs," he said. I'm just a fat kid, at heart. I've loved cream puffs my whole life. When I was growing up, I used to get therm from another place in town."  


Zoubek’s store will be called Cream Puff Creations, amended from “Heavenly Cream Puff Creations,” after that name didn’t align with city code that requires signs to have no more than three words. Zoubek won't be making the pastries himself.

This isn't the big man's first time around in the entrepreneurial arena as he and a few of his college buddies started a technology store in New York City so he does have some knowledge in running a business.

North Carolina wanted to cut down the nets at Duke

The Duke-North Carolina rivalry is the best rivalry in college basketball. No doubt about it. I'm not crazy about either one but you can't deny that fact.

In the 2011-2012 season Duke beat the Tar Heels in a thriller in Chapel Hill. Carolina went down to Durham and returned the favor. After the game in Durham the rivalry nearly went into another stratosphere. Tar Heel players wanted to cut down the nets at Cameron Indoor Stadium. And coach Roy Williams nearly allowed it.

During the Tar Heel Tour, which is a Carolina media blitz, Williams answered questions and brought up the issue of cutting down the nets.


Williams called this past season “hard”. Despite the 32-6 record, Williams said the team never “had the chance to celebrate” aside from the victory over Duke to end the season.


However, the team thought about cutting down the nets in Cameron Indoor Stadium, but Williams thought it “might cause a scene.”

Cause a scene? It would've caused a riot. Although I probably would've taken great joy in seeing that happen. That would've been worse than the Ohio State football players tearing down the "Go Blue" banner before the Michigan game in 1973.

N.C. State players happy about Duke's loss

Time after time, players from rival schools always snicker and cheer when one of them loses. So when Duke lost to Lehigh in a second round tournament shocker there were a few North Carolina State players who enjoyed the moment, even though they were trying to downplay the moment.


“I was very happy,” Richard Howell said.


“I’m with Rich,” C.J. Leslie said.


Given the fact that N.C. State has always been looked down upon by Duke and North Carolina I can understand your joy. On the other hand Wolfpack players and fans alike should worry about elevating their program before taking joy in others' misery.



 

Duke Football Player Arrested For Drug Trafficking

When you think of Duke, you think of academic excellence, their highly successful basketball program, and scores of graduates that have tasted success in the real world. You normally don't think of their football program and when you do think of it, it brings me the thought a sad sack team usually getting crushed in the ACC. But their players are probably the boss at a Fortune 500 company so their not bothered by it. Go ahead Duke fans rip me if you want, I can take it.

Duke linebacker Tyree Glover tried his hardest to get rid of the Duke image as a goody two shoes university. There's nothing wrong with being what I just labeled them, I only said that because Glover was arrested and charged for trafficking in cocaine. Hardly what you think of when you think of Duke.  

The 6-foot-1, 255-pound sophomore linebacker from Crescent City, Fla., was being held in the Durham County jail Thursday in lieu of $750,000 bond ...



[Police spokesperson Kammie] Michael said police then obtained a search warrant and searched his dorm room on the Duke campus where they found marijuana.


Michael said police confiscated 29.6 grams of powder cocaine and 72.4 grams of marijuana.

Naturally he was kicked off the team by head coach David Cutcliffe "for conduct unbecoming of a member of the program". Translation: Tyree f'd up bad.

Nice way of trying to dispel the Duke stereotype Mr. Glover. Duke is one of the most prestigious universites in America and you go there trying to be Nino Brown. What's with college football players trying to be the dopeman these days.