January 11, 2023
by Josh Taubman and Spencer Raines
Good morning,
New year, new newsletter?
That’s right, The Maynard Street Blitz is back and this time we’re sending two. No, not blitzing linebackers … newsletter writers of course!
That means the email you’ll be receiving every Wednesday will be the brainchild of Daily Sports Editors Spencer Raines and Josh Taubman, friends, colleagues, roommates and now the latest people tasked with keeping you informed with everything Michigan sports.
Between the two of us, we have eight-ish years of college experience, we’ve covered every sports beat at The Michigan Daily — except baseball, but who cares — and are fresh off a week of learning TCU’s 3-3-5 and sweating out articles in the Arizona Desert. Unfortunately, we — The Michigan Daily — came up six points short of playing a highly-anticipated media TopGolf tournament at the College Football Playoff National Championship in Los Angeles.
We will say that coming up six points short is much better than — just picking a random number here — 58 points short. So there’s that, we suppose. Maybe, if Michigan had two newsletter writers on the team, it would’ve been them getting blown out in LA by Georgia instead of a private school in Fort Worth, Texas, but we digress.
And OK, we know what you’re thinking: Why do we possibly need two newsletter writers?
Well, we don’t need two. But, more the merrier, right? Just look at the Michigan football team and its two offensive coordinators.
“It’s really a blessing for us to have (two coordinators),” Co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss said August 7. “It’s another Jim Harbaugh stroke of genius. He somehow found a way where he got two where everybody else has one.”
Whether or not the other strokes of Harbaugh’s genius that Weiss referred to were Harbaugh allegedly buying recruits burgers at the Brown Jug or lying about said burgers to the NCAA is neither here nor there. But the sentiment is clear:
Two is better than one.
So let’s get into it, shall we? Welcome back to the Maynard Street Blitz.
Emma Mati/Daily. Buy this photo.
Michigan loses nail-biter at Michigan State, 59-53
Well, the Michigan men’s basketball team’s quest towards mediocrity is right on schedule!
Of course, that’s not the Wolverines’ actual goal, but after an uninspired effort in East Lansing on Saturday, that seems to be where they are.
After winning two conference games in a row following an unbelievable home loss to Central Michigan on Dec. 29, Michigan appeared to be gaining momentum heading into Saturday’s rivalry matchup with Michigan State. But, all that momentum appeared to be lost after a woeful offensive showing in the first half against the Spartans.
Michigan tried to mount a second half comeback but it failed to overcome the deficit and was sent home in an all too familiar fashion:
“With their heads down and the deafening sea of green and white celebrating yet another win over their in-state rivals.”
Senior sports editor Jack Glanville’s final words from his game story encapsulated yet another mediocre effort from Michigan in East Lansing.
Mistakes flashed throughout season cost Michigan in loss to Iowa
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark had a relatively pedestrian game by her standards on Saturday. Holding Clark to 28 points — which believe it or not is roughly her season average — presented Michigan with a major opportunity to come away with a victory.
Instead, numerous mistakes compounded and the Wolverines walked off their home court with a deflating, 94-85 loss. Shaky defense, a lack of offensive execution and giving up seven offensive rebounds provided too many chances for a dangerous Hawkeyes offense to take advantage of.
Michigan knew this was its only shot to beat Iowa, and it didn’t want to walk away feeling like it left anything on the table.
But Daily Sports Writer Taylor Daniels put it best: “As the final seconds ticked down in Crisler Center toward a loss, Michigan’s mistakes led to plenty of regrets.”
In an uber-competitive Big Ten — one that currently features six ranked teams — this loss makes Michigan’s road to an elusive conference title that much more difficult.
Jeremy Weine/Daily. Buy this photo.
Blake Corum to return to Michigan for senior season
He’s baaaaack.
On Monday, the Wolverines’ star running back Blake Corum announced that he will return to Michigan for his senior season. Corum’s return to Michigan will be a major boon for the Wolverines’ offense in 2023, but it does come as a bit of a surprise considering that many predicted he would declare for the NFL Draft after his ultra-successful, albeit injury-shortened, 2022 season.
As Daily Sports Writer Jared Greenspan said:
“The Wolverines’ identity — a smashmouth football team predicated on running the football — revolves around Corum. And while Michigan will have to rebuild most of its offensive line, Corum’s return solidifies what should be one of the nation’s best backfields in 2023, with Corum and Donovan Edwards sharing snaps.”
Corum won’t be able to take the Wolverines’ to the Big Ten’s mountain top for the third-straight year all on his own, but his return reaffirms that Michigan should, once again, be the team to beat in the conference.
Michigan dominates No. 25 Cal Poly en route to first dual victory of 2023
Michigan wins first meet, beats Greenville and Simpson
Michigan shuts out CSU Bakersfield as Big Ten season looms
Michigan finishes second in competitive Super 16 meet
Julianne Yoon/Daily. Buy this photo.
You never know when your opportunity might arise.
Brendan Miles, a freshman defenseman who had yet to make the Michigan hockey team’s lineup through the first 19 weeks, was starting to lose faith that an opportunity for playing time would ever come.
But on Friday, with many of the Wolverines’ starters still at World Juniors, Miles was thrust into the starting lineup for an exhibition match against the US National Team Development Program.
And he relished in the moment.
“Watching these games as a little kid and then being able to come out here and do it myself, it was unreal,” Miles said. “And (I) hope to be back out there.”
Miles is a Farmington Hills native and a former Detroit Free Press High School Hockey Player of the Year, so playing hockey at Michigan has always loomed in the back of his mind. But even once he joined the program, the journey to actually suiting up for a game at Yost still proved to be mountainous.
Now, though, that childhood dream is finally a reality. Managing Sports Editor Connor Earegood has more on the inspiring progress of Miles’ journey.
In a hostile environment at Breslin Center on Saturday, Michigan coach Juwan Howard searched for answers. But, as is becoming an all too familiar theme for the Wolverines in East Lansing, he couldn’t find any.
Chef’s Corner: What bets are Josh and Spencer cooking up?
Each week, we’ll lay out our best bets, a la carte. We’ve been in the kitchen, trying to figure out the best recipe that’ll help us bankrupt Vegas. Here’s what we came up with:
This Week’s Menu
Appetizer (A bite-sized bet to cleanse the pallet of last week’s losses)
Arkansas ML -110 home against Alabama
Now that college football is officially over, it’s time to turn our attention to the hardwood. And if you want your wallet to gain a few winter pounds, it’s time to listen up.
Your road to gambling glory begins Wednesday night in a top-15 matchup between Alabama and Arkansas in Fayetteville. It’s Razorbacks vs. Crimson Tide, Nate Oats vs. Eric Musselman, good vs. evil — need we say more? A lot of smart money is on the Razorbacks; they’ve got home court advantage, a heck of a lot of talent and a coach — in Musselman — with an utterly ridiculous name to go along with it.
Wooo pig!
Main Course (Our meatiest — and most confident — bet)
Michigan +5 at Iowa
Look, we’re not sure if Michigan is gonna win, but if this team is good at one thing, it’s heartbreaking losses. So take the +5 and see which way the Wolverines blow this one.
Dessert (Not everyone has room for it, but if you have the appetite the results could be sweet)
Rutgers +600 to win the Big Ten
It’s a down year for the Big Ten, but one team is up big. That’s right, we are a pro-Rutgers newsletter and we intend to ride this wagon until the wheels fall off. They did stumble against Iowa, but the Scarlet Knights are still fresh off beating No. 1 Purdue on the road. If they can do that, then they are capable of beating any team in the conference.
Grab this value now and watch the tickets cash come March.
Niche references both from Ann Arbor and beyond, we’ve got words for you, up, down and on both sides. That is right. A The Michigan Daily Crossword! Thanks to our Web Team, The Daily has got you covered with an accessible, biweekly puzzle to keep you, and sometimes your friends, spelling words O-U-T.
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