The Victors: Project OSPREY
(№ 2) Indiana 72-71 Michigan (№ 7)
25-6, Big Ten 12-6

We suffered our first home loss of the year not because both Trey Burke (sophomore, guard) & Jordan Morgan (red shirt sophomore, forward) missed that last-second shot, but because we failed to make our free throws in the clutch. (Curses!) In the final minute, we made one of four free throw attempts. Two of the misses we the front half of one-&-ones, meaning we had the potential to score as many as six points. A quick check at the top of the page indicates that we lost the game by a single point, having left five easy points on the court at the line. (Foiled again!) One could say that we put up a good fight against an Indiana club that brutalized us on their own home court, but, with apologies, Pollyanna, we here at The Secret Base are in no mood to play the glad game. We had a five-point lead with fifty-two seconds left to play. We choked. We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. It will serve us right if Penn State knocks us out in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

If Burke returns for his junior season, forgoing the N.B.A., the valiant Wolverines should be a formidable club next season, but this year they've shown an uncanny ability not to rise to the occasion. Whatever it is that separates good clubs from great clubs, we don't have it.

Next: Penn State on Thursday, the not élite round the Big Ten Tournament. The single-elimination phase of the season is upon us & with it is gone any margin for error. Win or go home. To redeem themselves & win the league tournament, the valiant Wolverines will have to win four games in four days, first against Penn State & then over Wisconsin, & after that cloudy the future is. I would love to be proved wrong in my analysis of our club as good but not great.

Go Blue!

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Andy Partridge, "I Wonder Why the Wonderfalls" (the theme from Wonderfalls) via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)