Tuesday Morning Brews: Crushing on Michigan Athletics

Happy Tuesday, folks. For those of you with significant others, just a reminder that today is Valentine’s Day - because we all know that you forgot to make plans. Alas, you can’t snag any last minute tickets to a Michigan game and pretend it was your date night plan all along, unless you want to fly to Puerto Rico to watch the Women’s golf team play in the Puerto Rico Classic - in which case, more power to you. For those wondering, I don’t think a printout of Tuesday Morning Brews qualifies as a Valentine’s Day present. You’re stuck going the old fashioned route of hoping the local flower shop still has something in stock by time you get there.

Let’s hit the links:

Women’s basketball extended their winning streak with a 75-66 win over Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. The victory moved Michigan to 21-5 (10-2) on the year, their best record in school history through 26 games. The Wolverines were led by Katelynn Flaherty, who dropped an insane 35 points on the Badgers. Nicole Munger contributed a double-double in the victory (12 pts., 10 rebs.), and Hallie Thome chipped in with 13 points. Kim Barnes Arico’s squad next heads to Indiana, where they will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday. The game is a 6 PM tip, and will be televised on BTN.

Men’s basketball went into the unfriendly confines of Assembly Hall on Sunday and emerged victorious, 75-63. The victory give John Beilein’s crew their first sweep of Indiana since the 1994-1995 season and only their second win in Assembly Hall in their last eighteen tries. Derrick Walton, who’s practically assured of making history the next time he steps on the floor, led the Wolverines with a strong 25 pts., 5 rebs., and 4 assts. Also figuring in prominently was DJ Wilson, with 13 pts., 3 blocks, and 3 steals, and Mo Wagner, who turned in a double-double (11 pts., 10 rebs.). Wagner, hearing that Jim Harbaugh was holding tryouts for the football team, also did his best Ben Gedeon impression near the end of the first half when he truck-sticked Tom Crean after dropping a silky smooth trey. John Beilein’s team next welcomes Wisconsin to the Crisler Center for a 7 PM tip on Thursday night. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Michigan softball started their season this past weekend with five games at the Wilson-Demarini Tournament hosted by the University of South Florida. The #6 Wolverines traveled down to Tampa with designs on adding to the great success the team has enjoyed over the past two years. After starting off the weekend with two victories (7-0 vs Delaware, 4-2 vs Illinois St.), the Wolverines struggled on Saturday - dropping close contests to #4 Florida (2-1) and #24 USF (6-4). Michigan rebounded on Sunday, and took out some frustration on a hapless St. John’s squad, topping the Red Storm 12-2. Michigan will return to play with four games next weekend in the ACC/B1G challenge.

According to Brice Marich at Scout ($), Michigan is slated to get visits from two big-time recruits in the 2018 cycle. Brevin Jordan, the #3 TE and #70 overall player in the 247Composite, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the #4 Dual-Threat QB and #55 overall player in the 247Composite, will be visiting campus in April. The two dynamic athletes attend Bishop Gorman, an athletics powerhouse in Las Vegas. If Michigan were to find a way to bag these two recruits, the foothold at Bishop Gorman would surely pay dividends - much like Michigan’s recent recruiting hold on Paramus Catholic. Michigan leads in CB predictions for Thompson-Robinson, but has some ground to make up for Brevin Jordan. It will be the latter’s first visit to campus.

Just because it’s the off-season doesn’t mean that the training stops. Channing Stribling tweeted out this photo on Saturday with him and five of his favorite workout buddies, all of whom look to be making solid gains in the weight room. Stribling is in the center of the photo, Taco Charlton is the large man on the left, (I think) Erik Magnuson is behind Charlton, Ben Gedeon is the gentleman who looks ready to burst a blood vessel, Jake Butt is in the orange, and Ryan Glasgow is down in front. We here at MnB certainly wish these guys the best in the coming NFL Draft and training camps that follow, and we thank them for their years on the field for Michigan.

Oliver Martin, who announced his commitment to Michigan with a quick dip in a pool, went out and won a state championship in swimming on Friday. Martin, who has a sister who looks to be a future Olympian for the USA Women’s team, won the 50-yard freestyle for his high school - Iowa City West. The championship was Martin’s eighth in the pool, and his first individual title (the other seven were relay medals).

We’re just 60 days away from the Spring Game. Go Blue.