2018-19 penn state #1

This show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan nobody would get our jokes. Our other sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Peak Wealth Management, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, the University of Michigan Alumni Association, Michigan Law Grad,Human Element, and Lantana Hummus

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1. The Brandon Johns Game: Indiana

starts at 1:00

Hey there Brandon Johns. Do we like him better than Davis? M offense devolved to a lot of heroball when he was in. Poole showing off his 19- and 20-foot game, and the thing he did to McBob.

2. The Jordan Poole Game: Penn State

starts at 1:00

Turnover fest was always going to be Michigan’s once they could get a run, and they did it with transition and a lot more help defense. Zavier Simpson kept their efficient PG to 44(!) ORtg.

3. Seth's Ace's Hockey Podcast

starts at 1:00

It was a long goal. A very long goal.

4. Around the Big Ten with Alex Cook

starts at 1:00

State spent the week without Langford, proved they’re right with Michigan on top of the league, plausible one seed. Minnesota-Wisconsin out-Big Ten’d Michigan-Penn State. Happ taken out of the game. Wisconsin doesn’t have the role players to complement Trice and Happ. Iowa plays you up to them, still can’t play defense, won an urgent game vs. Nebraska, who was just as desperate. Illinois is terrible, but are they really Rutgers-terrible?

MUSIC

• "Candy (Drippin' Like Water)"—Snoop Dogg et al.
• "Squid Song"—Rathergood
• "Fear of Heights"—Apollo Sunshine
• “Across 110th Street”

THE USUAL LINKS

• Helpful iTunes subscribe link
• General podcast feed link
• Direct download link (right-click/save-as)
• What's with the theme music?

I like the fact that I'm not the guy who sounds like a cynical dick anymore

1/3/2019 – Michigan 68, Penn State 55 – 14-0, 3-0 Big Ten

The most concerning portion of the long December lull was the sudden permeability of the defense. Some weird guys hit some weird shots, sure, but the overall aura was ominous. It didn't feel like the same unit that caused a Yosemite Sam version of Roy Williams to resort to a hockey line change in the second half. It wasn't exactly bad, but the comedown from HELLO WE ARE MONGOLS AND THIS IS OUR HORDE was real.

Genghis and friends roared back with a 0.76 points per possession performance featuring 18 TOs and zero three pointers that didn't bank in. The tense, ugly first half gave way to the opening five minutes of the second when Michigan swarmed PSU for a number of turnovers and the ensuing transition buckets, opening up the 13 point cushion they'd finish with.

Michigan isn't a high pressure team that gets a ton of steals but they're pretty decent (100th) despite having a rock bottom foul rate; in this game everyone who played 10 minutes had at least one. They were locked in a slog of their own until their defense opened it up for them.

Michigan basketball: good. Also weird.

hello i must destroy you [Campredon]

Shorts: in them. Rasir Bolton's been a bit of a revelation for Penn State this year; with a quick release and some ability to drive he's been their most efficient player. Here: 0/3 from three and seven turnovers for an ORTG of 44. Zavier Simpson ate his lunch.

Michigan also drove Lamar Stevens to another high-usage, poor efficiency game: 17 points on 19 shot equivalents and three turnovers. Michigan doubled Stevens a lot early, which was weird to me and led to an easy look at the rim for their backup C. They must of thought he was the kind of black hole you can double with impunity. They weren't quite right about that but they weren't too far off: Stevens had just one other assist.

[After THE JUMP: some yelling, Jordan Poole doing Things]

Things discussed:

• Pro rasslin' back when it was regional
• Basketball ramping back up—but are they? Tired of playing zone teams.
• Is the free throw jumper a good shot? Ira & Brian vs. Craig and Beilein. M went 4/27 from there.
• If you're making half of them you're…alright? You're at 1 PPP.
• Michigan is going to see more zone until it looks like they like it more.
• Penn State: doesn't have a point guard, turns it over a lot, have some good defenders, heaping offensive responsibility on guys who can't handle it.
• Around the Big Ten: Reminds us of 2014, when the league was so good: 11/14 teams are tourney-caliber
• Will there be a 1 seed? If Michigan goes 15-5 in this league they're a 1 seed.
• Indiana preview: Top 20 defensive team with a lottery pick in Langford who can't shoot the 3.
• Wisconsin: the 6'11" guy at WKU shut down Happ. If Teske can repeat that at the Trohl Center we're in business.
• Craig talks about Eastern Michigan for a minute for some reason
• Is Michigan shaky? Downgrading the Nova and UNC wins, Purdue is still a big win, worry about this team declining?
• Worry about opponents who play some zone and M can't shoot. Not worried about D, rebounds, turnovers. Most Big Ten teams are man teams so if they go zone they're getting out of their wheelhouses.
• Poole is at 60% on NBA threes—that's how you shoot out of a zone.
• Are we going to talk about the Peach Bowl ever?

You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream on Podbean.

Segment two is here. Segment three is here.

THE USUAL LINKS

• Helpful iTunes subscribe link
• General podcast feed link
• Direct download link
• What's with the theme music?

Yeah, I'll put on Penn State-Rutgers; that could be interesting.