they're good; not at all unbeatable.
March 19th, 2017 at 10:22 PM ^
...would've beaten Oregon, IMO. I think Oklahoma State would have as well. If we play like we have been I think this may be the easiest game so far. May this not be a jinx...
Lots of turnovers. Sloppy defensive work. Pretty uninspired. Like a team playing without their best player. Love our chances
Boucher was the centerpiece of their defense. Their guards would gamble a lot with him back to protect the rim. They're not the same defensively without him.
March 19th, 2017 at 10:57 PM ^
he was only playing about half of their minutes though. And while he is an effective rim protector, they have another one in Kavell-Williams.
Their best defensive player (and DPOY in the PAC12) is Jordan Bell.
The Boucher loss hurts but he wasn't even one of their top three players and there isn't a big dropoff to his replacement.
March 19th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^
Going from two rim protectors to one is a significant change though. Get the other guy in foul trouble and you're in business.
March 19th, 2017 at 11:45 PM ^
At this point, given what we've seen from Johnny B's crew, how couldn't you?
we should be fine. Our defense can stop them
but you get the idea. pull!
March 19th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
Yeah, wrong sport, I know. But every time I think of Oregon, I think of 2003, and then of that "game" against them in 2007, too -- the game after The Horror.
March 19th, 2017 at 10:03 PM ^
March 19th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^
Get yer memes loaded!
Serve it up!
Dillon Brooks flopping all over the place and drawing fouls. Feel good in a straight up match though.
I think Irvin will be up to the task defensively.
When will we know date and tip off?
No time though. Guessing that will come after the games finish tonight. I hope you're right on Irvin, I forsee myself getting upset at the zebras again.
I looked around on my TV guide and no Sweet Sixteen game will begin earlier than 7pm on Thursday.
Employers around the country rejoice.
March 20th, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
Around the country doesn't include the 5 states in the Pacific Time Zone, lol.
It's pretty shocking to me that they put Oregon at the earliest slot given all of their fans are out here. Wish we would've been the 9PM slot.
March 19th, 2017 at 11:32 PM ^
check him a lot. They've been going small lately with Bell as the only big and Brooks as a stretch 4. But that'll mean we'll be able to go small too, and put Irvin on him if we want. Or Irvin will guard him when they go big. Either way, I like our changes of making him work for everything. I'm almost more worried about Dorsey. I think MAAR will get that assignment and it'll be a tough one.
Michigan has faced an NCAA 3 seed just two times in history, and is 2-0 against them.
Both came in years where we played for a National Championship.
1989 vs Seton Hall in the National Championship
2013 vs Florida in the Elite Eight
Michigan's last win over a Pac-12 team was also against Oregon in November 2014.
Michigan and Oregon have met four times in history with the Wolverines winning all four matchups against the Ducks.
...still doesn't make up for 2003 and 2007 in football, tho. ;-)
March 19th, 2017 at 10:05 PM ^
Can't argue with science.
I live in Oregon and my wife's family are duck fans. Should be a great game! Go BLUE!
Way M playing...not concerned.
DUCK season.. WABBIT season... DUCK season...
One thing we know. Michigan will come out and play the way they have for the last dozen or so. Run the offense, hustle on D and expect two or three guys to step up big. Could be anyone in the starting 5 or even Robinson.
Oregon will have to play a GREAT game to beat us. Hopefully, they will beat themselves like louisville did today. ;)
GO BLUE!!
My initial impression is that I didn't see too much from Oregon that I think is too worrisome for Michigan, but I still think that game could be rather interesting regardless.
I am actually liking the idea of possibly taking out a 2 and a 3-seed on the road to a potential Elite Eight matchup.
I'm admittedly a fairweather basketball fan, so I haven't seen much of this team prior to the tournament. A question, though, for more avid followers:
Why are we so bad at rebounding on the defensive end? Are our big men just inept at boxing out? Are our big men physically overmatched? Does our defensive scheme put us in poor position to rebound missed shots? With about five minutes to go today, Louisville had more offensive rebounds than we did defensive rebounds--unthinkable based on my experience. OSU accomplished the same feat for the duration of the game Friday. What gives?
If we could rebound at just at average rate on the defensive end, we would be a juggernaut.
March 19th, 2017 at 10:04 PM ^
March 19th, 2017 at 10:05 PM ^
March 19th, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^
March 19th, 2017 at 10:13 PM ^
No, he's asking about rebounding on the defensive end. Obviously, we want to grab defensive boards.
I agree with others that it's a combination of our posts having to help out a lot on drives and also due to them being pretty slender and having trouble holding their ground.
March 19th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^
Has to do with dribble penetration. Quick guards get in the paint and our bigs help, leaving us vulnerable on the glass. That's how Jawun Evans could go 10/23 and still wreak havoc with "Kobe asssists".
It's a bit by design. I don't think our perimeter defenders are bad or slow, but our defense is designed to prevent 3 point shots at all costs...doing that AND stopping penetration AND cleaning the glass is quite tough these days, especially with the new foul rules.
March 19th, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
Beilien values basketball skill over all else. Therefore you see us have big men like Wilson and Wagner who can face up, shoot 3's and dribble-drive penetrate to the hole. What we DON'T have is a bunch of football players playing basketball who rebound like crazy and never shoot from more than 3 feet away from the basket. AKA we have no Rick Mahorns. Guys with tons of offensive skill tend to be leaner and less bulky--therefore they get pushed around a bit more. Obviously there are exceptions, but those guys don't stick around in college long these days.
Now, you can obivously WIN with Rick Mahorn. It just isn't the way Belien does things. He wants everyone on the floor to be an offensive weapon from any location. And let's face it--Rick Mahorn was only an offensive weapon when he was offensive rebounding or dunking.
Personally I wouldn't mind Beilien bringing in a bruiser or two to play D and rebound. Minnesota has a full team of them. But that just hasn't been the way he has ever done things.