How Would Michigan Matchup Against Gonzaga?
I've been watch Gonzaga v Loyola Marymount and the Zags don't look too scary. But I know nothing about them otherwise. Anybody want to weigh in?
February 27th, 2021 at 11:26 PM ^
Haven’t looked at the schedules but believe the only way at this point would be in the championship game of the NCAA tourney.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:29 PM ^
Good point. I guess the Final Four is a possibility, and either one of these possibilities (Final Four or championship) has a chance given the dominance of Michigan, Gonzaga, and Baylor so far this year.
February 28th, 2021 at 7:27 AM ^
This assumes Gonzaga loses on day one of the Big Ten tourney doesn’t it?
February 28th, 2021 at 1:30 PM ^
It seems unlikely that Gonzaga will even qualify to play in the Big Ten tourney.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:28 PM ^
I’m watching them for the first time and they look scary to me. They have been the beneficiaries of some awful calls but they are still a great team. That transition attempt that ended up with a flagrant on LMU was pure sex
Edit-Michigan absolutely can beat them but it would be a hell of a game
February 27th, 2021 at 11:30 PM ^
They seem weak at the center position, and perhaps could be dominated by Dickinson and Wagner?
February 27th, 2021 at 11:33 PM ^
That’s my hope, but I don’t know if LMU’s bigs are all that skilled. Maybe they are but haven’t seen much from them (just have the game on in the background)
February 27th, 2021 at 11:34 PM ^
Yeah, they'd have a problem with our length. They're talented up front but not very physical.
Suggs would be a problem for UM.
February 28th, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
I agree about Suggs. That's the matchup I don't like. I was really impressed with OSU's backcourt and we managed against them. So we'll see.
Garza put up 30 against Gonzaga. Dickinson should have a field day, and Davis should do well off the bench. I think they are a little weak on defense. I really like our front court vs. theirs
But in the tourney I worry about ticky tack fouls which would favor them.
It could go either way. No way do I think they are head and shoulders better than we are. I don't see that at all.
February 28th, 2021 at 3:32 AM ^
Drew Timme plays C or PF? I haven't seen Gonzaga all year, but he's a national player of the year candidate I believe. He definitely is to Kenpom at least.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:18 AM ^
I vaguely recall that name, Beilein going after him. Maybe I'm thinking of the new Tamme.
At the very least, I think the difference would be Johns and Brown giving them fits when their subs are in.
I think Dickinson would have his way.
February 28th, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
I’m with you on Dickinson, but Johns? Really? He’s been an absentee this season.
February 28th, 2021 at 6:05 AM ^
I don't know if they are weak in that area, I believe they score most of their points in the paint.
February 28th, 2021 at 9:53 AM ^
I have only really seen Gonzaga play once-against Virginia early in the season. They were spectacularly dominant. They made Virginia look like a junior high team...so non-competitive that it was embarrassing and difficult to watch.
Michigan has ascended to the point of being able to play fearlessly against any college team in the nation. In a best of five, Michigan wins against anyone...likely never have to play a four game series-they are that good and well-coached. This Michigan team does not believe they can be beaten-and they may be correct. And I don't believe this is hyperbole-though it may well be.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:32 PM ^
The Zags are legit(itmately not as good as Michigan).
February 28th, 2021 at 6:26 AM ^
Gonzaga has done a lot of great things. They are the first team to beat 4 AP top 20 teams in their first 7 games, all by double digits. They scored 98 on Virginia, the most they've given up in a long time, over a decade. They are currently on a steak of 21 straight games of besting their opponent by double digits, the most since UCLAs' 71-72 squad that went 30-0 and won the national championship. They score a ton of points in the paint, 51 ppg, the highest average nationally. I know they play in the WCC, but even just talking about their games against the top 20 teams they played, they averaged 52.8 ppg, which is even higher than their average. Yet they still only take 14.2 seconds on average to score, the third shortest in the country. They have the highest Adj. efficiency and score the most ppg of any Div 1 team as well; the last team to have a top ten tempo with the highest Adj Eff was 08-09 North Carolina, which won the national championship.
I got all this information off ESPN based on an article by Jared Berson and Zach Pereles
February 28th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Impressive- the Zags are legit(itmately not as good as Michigan).
February 28th, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
Exactly! People hone in on the fact they play in the WCC all the time and act like that’s the only people they play. Their non conference schedule is brutal and that’s teams they actively go out and try to schedule. In all of those games they dominated, including kicking Iowa’s butt after a covid shut down.
Gonzaga is a legit contender. Could Michigan beat them? Sure they could, but this whole “Gonzaga is not deserving of being ranked high” is a trash take and not actually paying attention to them this year.
February 28th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
People are focusing on that non-con schedule. They are focusing on it because that was nearly 3 months ago, which is the point. They looked awesome way back then and continued on to beat up on the WCC, so would they look that good if they played against good teams all year long? Their tournament resume the last 20 years would suggest they wouldn’t
February 27th, 2021 at 11:33 PM ^
Suggs looks like a very good player, that's for sure.
I'd like to see how Eli would play him... I think all the other matchups are pretty even. Hunter/Tillie, Livers/Kispert...Franz/Watson/Ayayi? Looks like they play quite a bit of small ball
Honestly, I am not too sure...hard to tell, as LMU is not a very good team based on Kenpom (106)... Michigan sleepwalked past Indiana on the road who is 37th and spanked #6 Iowa.
February 28th, 2021 at 4:29 AM ^
Franz would get the Kispert match up.
February 28th, 2021 at 8:00 AM ^
I'll take that - as good as Franz has been offensively, his defense has been better. Can't say he's in Charles Mathews' league as a defender, but even when beat he can effect a drive with his Gumby arms. And nobody is getting a 3 over him. He'd affect Kispert's offense more than Kispert would affect his. I'll take that trade...
(Grammar note: Did I use effect/affect correctly? Why are they so alike??)
February 28th, 2021 at 8:08 AM ^
No unfortunately you did not. Effect (noun) would be the result of a change. Affect (verb) would be to change/impact something else. So in this case affect would be the appropriate word.
February 28th, 2021 at 8:31 AM ^
Dammit!
So not only is the Squirrel a very good 'crootin guy, he's also an English professor. Dude is accomplished...
February 28th, 2021 at 10:08 AM ^
There is also a verb form of effect, by the way, as in to effect (influence or bring about) change.
Affect can also be a noun, as in a physical affect (manifestation) of a psychological issue.
Neither is a particularly common usage, although they exist.
Themoreyouknow.gif
February 27th, 2021 at 11:34 PM ^
They are fast and pass the ball well, so they make the tomato cans they play look inept. Michigan would mix up their defensive looks, play them much tighter on the perimeter, and maybe toss in that 3/4 press to discombobulate them. Hard to tell on one viewing, but I think Gonzaga would have more trouble with our defense then we would with theirs.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:48 PM ^
Their game against Loyola (LMU) has a similar feel to our game against Indiana. But Indiana is #53 in the Net Stat rankings, while LMU is #98. I guess that our having competed against better competition will give us an edge.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:36 PM ^
Gonzaga is good. They’ve beat a couple good teams. However their SOS overall is absolute garbage. If they play a Big Ten schedule I guarantee you they have would have at least three losses
February 28th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
No. Just no.
Okay, more than just 'no'. They are a great team, truly deserving of the number one spot. I would forward they'd stand a better chance of being undefeated in the Big Ten than having three loses. They are an excellent offensive team: Dropped 102 on Kansas, 90 on Auburn, 87 on West Virginia, 99 on Iowa, 98 on Virginia. That's pretty good, I don't think we could do that. Defensively, they are ranked 23rd in the nation. Now they do play in the WCC, which inflates that stat. Against the same teams above they allowed 90,67,82,88, and 75, but they beat them all by double digits. They are not run and gun, but they are athletic. They are Iowa with a better offense and a better defense; that's not the kind of team that would have at least three loses in the Big Ten.
February 28th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
Numbers say/said there is no team with a better offense than Iowa. I would also like to point out that Michigan beat Gonzaga last year and they did it with a lot less offensive fire power.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:39 PM ^
I don’t see Timme at 235lbs being able to handle Hunter. I see Livers and Kispert as an even. Suggs would have an advantage over Brooks. I see Wagner better than Ayayi and Smith would be fine with Watson. They don’t have a Brown off the bench and he could help Brooks wear Suggs down over the course of the game. I don’t think they have an answer for Wagner on their team. We beat them by 18 last year and three of their starters played on that team. I think as long as we don’t turn it over a ton and don’t allow Kispert to reign threes we would win the game.
February 28th, 2021 at 12:30 AM ^
Great analysis, totally agree.
Brown and Franz can check Suggs and Kispert a lot to mitigate them.
Franz would be a nightmare for them and I haven't even mentioned Livers or Hunter.
February 28th, 2021 at 7:31 AM ^
Kispert reigning while raining threes?
February 28th, 2021 at 8:00 AM ^
The Michigan Difference
February 28th, 2021 at 8:09 AM ^
Commenting on spelling errors/wrong words is a bit sketchy these days. Autocorrect has completely changed that game. Did he not know the difference between the two words (reign/rain), and how they're used? Or did autocorrect change it for him without him noticing?
Sometimes, the joke just has to be made either way (I think this was one of those times), but you do risk looking like an ass. This is why I hate autocorrect - it makes it hard to know when to point out the obvious joke without being a total asshat!
East Quad - not picking on you here, I think you handled it quite well! Just a general comment... If we all could turn off autocorrect, it would be much more fun to point these comically gold mistakes!
February 28th, 2021 at 9:02 AM ^
I am a pedant and proud of it. I try not to be harsh and sometimes I succeed. Hopefully, some get a chuckle out of the corrections.
February 28th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
I was using the intransitive verb form of the word reign. If I misused that then my bad. My 5 year old daughter sings about it raining tacos all of the time so I feel as if I am pretty well versed on the usage of the word rain.
February 28th, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
Just wait until she sings about it raining men! Halleluia!
February 28th, 2021 at 2:10 PM ^
A recent attempt by a man to reign in the US was foiled.
February 28th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
Hopefully M's D would rein him in.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^
Didn't we beat them without Franz last year. Think he was still on the DL.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:39 PM ^
Suggs looks scary, but I don't think they have an answer for Dickenson. Their defense looks shitty too.
February 28th, 2021 at 8:53 AM ^
KenPom has Gonzaga as a top 10 defense but I don’t see it. It looked worse than Iowa’s defense last night honestly. I don’t think they’d have any answers for a Wagner and Dickinson front court
The Hillbilly translation of Dickenson is "Dickinson ".
February 27th, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
Michigan matches up well with any team in the country.
Top 6 offense and Top 6 defense - only team in the top 10 of both in the country.
Can play a fast transition game, can play a grind it out game.
Depth and versatility. Ability to switch on defense.
Two bigs that play great defense , great perimeter defense by the guards and small forwards.
Shoot the 3 ball well and shoot free throws well.
Get offensive production in the post down low.
Obviously, anything can happen in the tourney, but this is a complete team that reminds me of the Nova team that rolled us in the championship game a few years back.
The most important thing is that this team remains loose in the tourney. Stay loose, have fun, knock down the shots they've been hitting all year, and they are as good or better than any team in the country.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:43 PM ^
I believe, of all teams, Gonzaga would be more concerned with us more than anyone else. They're a 3-man team it seems which works well for us. I think Wagner could handle Suggs and livers, kispert. They don't have much of a bench. If necessary we can put Wagner and livers on timme too. Chaundee and Davis can spell up top too.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
We are better than Gonzaga.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
I think the better question is how would Gonzaga match up with Michigan?
February 27th, 2021 at 11:51 PM ^
Kispert apparently is coming off a slump but his three point stroke is as pure as Livers’ stroke. Would be an interesting battle. Suggs is elite at PG that would be a tough matchup but of course Mike Smith js crafty and if he can get back to limiting turnovers that would be huge. It seems like the fast break points were a problem for Loyola in this game. Can’t give up turnovers for touchdowns against this team. I think it would be one heck of a game and would be one for the ages. Definitely must see TV.
February 27th, 2021 at 11:55 PM ^
Very well just like the last time! We are a deep, focused, connected, basketball team. Solid at all positions. Our intensity will rattle their young guard and our length will either negate their bigs or eviscerate their whole team. As a whole I would give our coach the check mark as well. Thus, giving us our first of two Championships that Michigan will win in the first five years of coach Howard’s tenure! Go Blue!