Anonymous coaches break down the Final Four teams

Jinx you owe me a soda.

Before someone says this was Izzo, let me remind you that Izzo could never compliment this team. For Michigan's strengths, Izzo would probably say "they can bank it crazy 3's sometimes for weird guys" after Duncan misses wide open great looks.

It was Kelvin Sampson. He seems bitter and Michigan beat every BIG team this year so I am not sure any BIG coach would say Loyola would "beat our asses".

Or maybe red with anger...

Who could it be?

I enjoyed reading that, but not sure if I agree with the author.

Most important player he implies is Wagner... but is that really the case anymore?  This is a true team and I cannot say its any one player. Look, when Wagner was finishing his freshman year I said he is our most key player going forward, so don't think I'm down on Wagner now... but every player seems most valuable now.   One can argue Matthews...another could say MAAR... even X and his D..... 

And he mentions Poole as the X-factor?  Again, I don't know...Poole made a season saving shot but hasn't been a factor, really.... why not Duncan and his 3s... or X and his defense and very underreported driving ability, or Teske, too... when hes been in he has been outstanding.

Man, I love this team... truly....  I realized it in late February, just a great group of players.

This is mostly terrible analysis, so I'm guessing it didn't come from a coach who, you know, beat Michigan, despite their glaring weaknesses and constant grabbiness and whatnot.

I do agree that Loyola isn't a great matchup for Michigan.  Robinson is a better post defender than these coaches give him credit for, but he's not a great perimeter defender, so their 4 may get some looks.  However, Wagner creates the same problem for their 5.  Michigan is, and should be, favored, but it's certainly possible for Loyola to win.  But, uh.. if it happens, it's mostly likely to be by perimeter shooting.

Actually, wait a second.  We've all now put more time into this than the anonymous coaches did. :)

it would not be a shock, but ahhhh this take is salty af

i don't know... 

Z on Custer? I'll take Z every time.... Matthews will erase the next top scorer - or guy that the offense moves through.

FSU must have blocked 6 balls right at the cup, not to mention 6 or so wide open clean looks from 3 Michigan had...

Neither of those things happen versus Loyola.

I honestly think the game will be convincing victory by Michigan.

Kelvin Sampson, probably interviewed because his team came the closest to beating Michigan.  So he would have good insight, right?  I'm pretty sure tha is how a reporter would think of it.  Anyway, I'll disagree with him - Wagner is not the most important piece.  They've won plenty of games when he's missing virtually everything.  And he doesn't avoid the post, he hits plenty of shots in the low post.  But the offense takes advantage of his ability to get outside and wreak havoc.

X-factor would be Simpson.  He's going to wipe out whoever is handling the ball for the opponent, without the opponent understanding that he's been wiped out.  And yes, I'll say it here - Zavier Simpson will wipe out Jalen Brunson, should they play against each other.

And I think they will.

'...yeah, I'm still unguardable...'

Jordan Poole is great.  He's not our X-Factor.  Maybe our Y or Z Factor. 
 

Duncan Robinson is our X-Factor.  If he is ON, and I mean ON, this team is unbeatable.  He hasn't been on in a ton of games this year.  But when he is getting good looks and shooting well, Michigan has one too many people to guard. 

Sarturday and tried three immediate post-up attempts before abandoning the inside game based on 1 for 3 scoring.  They then settled for drives and mid-range jumpers and scored fewer points than they managed in the first half. And with two minutes left they trailed by 10, cutting the margin to four by game's end with their survival on the line.

The point is, Michigan was never challenged on the interior even with supposed susceptible interior defenders such as Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Livers.

The author of the scouting report on Michigan is clearly not a Big Ten coach because he would have known in advance how Michigan plays defensively and that it's "handsy." Not sure what the point of that comment was, whether is was meant to suggest Michigan gets away with lot of uncalled fouls or whether it leads to a lot of transition opportunities off deflections.

If mirroring of Michigan by Loyola with its style and pieces is their advantage, how come it didn't work when other teams tried that and commitment to fulltime ball-screen switching against other opponents including Purdue and MSU. All teams have done that against Michigan.

This coach has viewed Michigan through the prism of his own experience and games in this tournament, whoever it is. I just think Michigan has five-out shooters who can do what other teams can't offensively, wihich is read and react off the defense and play a stubborn defense that leads to more scoring opportunities especially with the TO rates of Loyola's starting five, something this coach didn't even consider.

has to prepare.  I've been quoting the Tim Hardaway Jr. line all tournament. 

Has Loyola had to match up against a guy like Wagner?  They play four guards and a center who is 6'9" .  I don't know how the coach who was questioned can say they can beat our asses.  

Matthews on Ben Davidson.  And I see Simpson shutting down their PG. 

That Michigan analysis is just dripping with sour grapes. Sorry you lost, loser.

Meh, everyone is entitled to their opinion. This coach will be glad he is annonymous when we win by 12 pts Saturday.

Salty Sampson doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. Not a thing he said was accurate.

that picked msu to win it all.  NONSENSE.