John Beilein accepts the Little Brown Jug A great second half comeback over Minnesota to make a strong case for the tournament.  Like I’ve done a few times this season, I pretty much conceded that it wasn’t going to happen and then, thanks to a few quick baskets by LLP midway through the half, there was some light.   That was enough Harris, Peedi and the crew to bring it home. Knowing this team, they’ll lose in the first round of the Big Ten tournament and leave us on pins and needles on Selection Sunday. Related: Bill Martin, Don’t Get any Ideas

Yikes: The Horror: Related: Get Some!  Michigan beats Minnesota

Check out this postcard commemorating the October 19, 1907 game against Wabash College played in Indianapolis. Bidding started at $24.99 and had 1 bid at the time of this post.  Here's a look:

So the common thing people want to know is what it will take for Michigan to get in.   I think the consensus right now is Michigan will need to beat Minnesota (given) and also win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to put themselves in position.  From there it’ll depend on what happens in the conference tournaments. I asked Pete Tiernan of the great bracketscience.com for his take.  Recall from my interview with Tiernan earlier this year that his dad ‘Boom Boom’ Tiernan played Michigan hoops in the 1950s.   Here’s what he emailed me earlier this week: “They must beat Minnesota and they must win at least their first tourney game…and maybe their second, which could be against MSU.” “If they lose to Minnesota, they’ll have to get to the Big Ten finals.” “I don’t think there’s any way they get in with a Minnesota win and no Big Ten win. Despite our three good wins and nice UConn loss, an 18-13 record, sub-.500 conference record (including a tourney loss), and all the other bubble teams would seem to me to crowd UM out. Too bad they just couldn’t get it done versus Wisconsin.”

Just an excellent call by Red Berenson into Jeff DeFran’s version of the ‘The Big Show’ on WTKA. I don’t care if you think hockey is lame, you’ve got to enjoy listening to this man. [display_podcast] He discusses: His recent contract extension When he’ll know it’s time to retire (and he hopes it’s not next year) On the struggles and doubts he faced during his first few years at the helm in Ann Arbor On the Cold War II game and how exciting it is for the coaches and players, especially for him as a guy who grew up on the ponds in Canada. On how proud he is of so many of his former players, on what they are doing now and the importance of completing and continuing their education.

Michigan State signed on today to participate in the hockey game to be held December 11, 2010 in Ann Arbor. This of course will be a blast. Memo to Marty Bodnar: Reward your loyal hockey season ticket holders with choice seats–that shouldn’t be a big burden. Somewhere up in Michigan football’s Valhalla, Don Canham and Fielding Yost are smiling.

Check out Jim Carty’s blog Paper Tiger No More this morning for a real gem.   JC received his share of nice emails (and the occasional call if you recall our interview) when he was a columnist for the Ann Arbor News.  Of course most of that was friendly (at least local) fire from Wolverine fans. Well, although Carty has hung ’em up at the News for quite a while now apparently he still gets the love.   Today he posts an absolute beauty of an email he recently received, blasting him for his sweet 2002 ‘Green Giant’ column (predicting Tommy Amaker’s rise).   Jim openly admits how horrible the column was and of course Carty later became one of Amaker’s harshest critics, to the point where he was advised by News brass to tone it down. The email from reader Ben starts off with “Hey Queer,” and rocks out from there.  Don’t mess with a blogger, man!