The Building Process

First of all, Go Blue.

Secondly, I am in the process of creating my own Michigan Athletics blog, and am very excited about it. I am going to take my time building this site before I start posting actual content. I plan to have it up and running officially by the time Michigan Football conference play begins. For now, I have posted a few of my own writings from my personal blog page I created about a year ago.

Right now I am a contributing writer for The Big House Report, a blogging site that is taking off. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but am now looking to start something of my own. Be patient with me, and I promise this site will not be a waste of your time.

But for now,

Hail.

*Test Two* Another from my old blog.

You see it in articles everywhere. It has been since the Fab Five days that Michigan has been considered a “Basketball” school. In 2009 and 2011 the Wolverines advanced to the Round of 32, but how meaningful is that when Mid-Major’s do the same year after year? Even during the Fab Five era, they were only “Second Best”. You have to go back a few years earlier to 1989 to find Michigan’s last and only NCAA Championship team.

Want an idea on how long ago that was? Two current Wolverines, Corey Person and Josh Bartelstein, were born later that same year.  The rest of the team; born between ’90 and ’94. This means all five of Michigan’s tournament starters were infants during the Fab Five era, or, yet to be born. So essentially, if you are a college student, or younger, this is the first time you have seen the Michigan Wolverines make a deep tournament run.

Then again, this weekend’s Final Four in Atlanta is historic no matter what age you are as a Michigan fan. Ever since the first Michigan Basketball team played in 1908, the Wolverines have only advanced to the Final Four seven times, including this year (1964, 1965, 1976, 1989, 1992*, 1993*, 2013).  So unless your date of birth is in the mid to late 50’s, which is still a wide range of Michigan faithful, you don’t have much experience watching the Wolverines boast NCAA Tournament success.  And even though the Wolverines have advanced five out of the six prior Final Fours, they only have the one National Championship banner to brag about. How many teams, other then the Fab Five, are remembered nationally for being a runner-up? Not many. The team today is very similar to the Fab Five, especially being the youngest team in the tournament field. However, in order to be remembered nationally, they will need to at least advance to the championship game.  Of course, winning it all will cement them in history forever.

Sure, with today’s technology you can revisit the past, and get excited about the Wolverines 20+ years ago. You can even tune in to the Big Ten Network and catch the 1989 championship game against Seton Hall this week. But unless you were old enough to remember it, you weren’t able to experience it live.

That is what makes this weekend that much MORE special. Of course it is historic, as it is the first Final Four for the Wolverines in 20 years, but it is much more then that. It is the very first time that a huge percent of the Michigan fan base will actually get to witness their team make history, and possibly go down as one of the best teams of all time. So as you tune in this weekend, and hopefully for a Championship Monday night, be very thankful. This is just as historic for the oldest generation of Michigan fans, as it is for the younger generation. It's another chance to watch Michigan once again be a "Basketball" school

Hail.

Follow @Devine_SBS on Twitter.

*Test Post*

I immerse myself in Michigan related sports articles on an hourly basis. I usually don’t complain, as these articles are full of great information and respectable insight, but lately I have been bothered. Now obviously it is extremely early to think and write about the 2013-2014 Michigan Men’s Basketball season, but posting these “way to early” previews is how writers make their money and keep interest in fans. So here is my “way to early” response.

What bothers me about these articles is the fact that Spike Albrecht is barely mentioned, if mentioned at all. I recognize that even after loosing Burke and Hardaway Jr., Michigan is still loaded. McGary and Robinson III have decided to return, even though they could have both gone first round in the NBA draft, which is huge. I also am aware that all three new recruits are rated in the top 86 of the ESPN top 100: Mark Donnal (86), Derrick Walton (35), and Zak Irvin (24). Stocks can still drop and rise, but after seeing the last Michigan class, I trust that Beilein and staff are bringing in quality recruits. Nik Stauskas and Caris Levert are also often mentioned along with Jordan Morgan who has played a significant role throughout his career, and I am glad to read about their potential impact on next season as well. But where is the love for Albrecht?

I am aware of his stats for the season, and even how little of an impact he seemed to have on the court at times, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a huge season ahead of him. Spike averaged 2.2 points a game and fewer than one assist per game, but he also backed up the best player in the nation. The games where he saw the most time were usually when Burke was in foul trouble or having a rough start. When he did step on the court, and was given a chance, he came through. He was never a go-to-guy, but he was never expected to be. He was brought in to hold it down, and keep pace, and he always did just that. He even played the same role in the tournament, and again, he did his job.  He kept his poise, balanced his confidence, and was not afraid to take a big shot. From the Sweet 16, all the way to the National title game, he made 9 three-pointers, only missing on one attempt. He took smart, yet big shots, and made them. He exploded on the big stage, when the National Player of the year was stuck in foul trouble, sitting on the pine. He didn’t only fill the spot, as he did all season, but he tool charge and led the team. He blew up Twitter timelines, and became about as famous as a backup point guard can become in a matter of a few hours.

But now it all seems so short lived. He is all of the sudden back to being the barley mentioned “backup.” I understand that Walton is going to develop into a prime and reliable point guard, but I think leaving Spike Albrecht out of the equation is a mistake. If anything, Michigan is even deeper with him in the lineup. Don’t expect Mr. Albrecht to take the backseat to an incoming freshman. He will fight for the starting job, and do everything he can to prove that he deserves to be a big part of the conversation. Spike will be happy no matter what his role is next season; that is just the type of kid he is. His interest is in the team, and loving up on the new basketball brotherhood he is apart of. I don’t know him personally, but it is obvious that he is a kid that will work as hard as he can; no matter what role he is given.

In my opinion, you can't overlook a kid who you know will work his tail off all year, and give his best efforts at all times during the 2013-2014 season. Give credit where credit is due. Spike Albrecht is becoming the definition of a true Michigan Man.