Michigan Hoops: Almost There or Another Lost Season?

What do you make of the term "most improved?" While it should probably be fairly honorable, it just calls attention to the fact that you used to suck really bad and while you still suck, it's now to a lesser degree. It reminds me of tee ball when everybody used to get awards and they had to make up shit ones for the really crappy kids.In a nutshell, that's how I feel about Michigan Hoops this season. The Wolverines are a legitimate threat to win every time out and in my estimation and have to be considered the most improved team in the NCAA. Still, it's still pretty tough to stomach another collapse in which, by most accounts, they will not make the NCAA Tournament yet again.Don't get me wrong, this season has shown marked improvement and most importantly cemented John Beilein's job for the foreseeable future. Hell, it's even caused the "o" word to be bantered about with regard to the future: optimism.On the other hand, god damn it you idiot mother bleep bleep bleep stupid bleep bleep. How could you blow it again? I can't believe we're going back to the bleep bleep NIT tournament again you bleep bleep piece of bleep.Catch my drift? It's tough to be a Michigan fan these days. With four games to go and a 500% record in the Big Ten, they just blew a four point lead in the final one minute on Sunday against Iowa (at home) and went on to lose by ten points in overtime. For some reason, Beilein benched Manny Harris during all of this. Interesting strategy to say the least coach, but I'm still with ya. Harris didn't have it on Sunday, so I'd say that is the kind of call a good coach makes. You just hope the outcome backs the guts, which in this case backfired collosally.So where are we now? The Wolverines face the steaming hot #16 Boilermakers on Thursday, followed by road games at Wisconsin (also steaming) and Minnesota. Perhaps a three game win streak and a decent Big Ten tournament gets the Wolverines back in tournament contention, but the odds are pretty bleak given the 8th place Big Ten standing and poor showing down the stretch as of late.So, when we look back on this season, there is a fair chance that it will be with disappointment, yet coming off a 10-22 season without even an invite to the bunk dance (NIT) last season, the pieces are coming together and the reign of terror might finally be over. We beat Duke, beat UCLA, played UConn to the wire, gave MSU a good run, and competed in the Big Ten, so if nothing else, the season pointed this program back in the right direction with some momentum to keep moving. So tournament or not; not all is lost.Subscribe to us