M BB RPI at #29

is protecting his health and draft stock, not the whole being secretive thing.  That's just a game-planning advantage M is trying to get through assymetric information.

Yeah, it's a tough situation. No doubt, the chemistry issue is real, but you have to try to get around it.

This needs to be Walton's team. I don't know if that can be done with Caris in the lineup. But that's what Beilein gets paid for; I bet he'll be able to do it.

Interesting that someone seems to have disagreed with you. It really doesn't require discussion. Chemistry concerns? Please. These guys have played together for a long time now. We need Caris back, and with the improved play from so many players while he's been out, this team is dangerous. 

Exactly. Dakich actually plays during non-garbage time, for pete's sake.  Let's all think about that for a minute. That's usually when the other team goes on a nice little run to cut a 10 point lead in half.  Michigan needs LaVert back as soon as possible.

but the difference isn't that great.  if caris plays, M has the advantage at home.  forbes won't be able to guard anyone.

Shilling barely plays and is mostly terrible anyway.  Deyonta Davis is their "other" big and he's having a very good freshman season. He will present some matchup problems and it'll be interesting to see what we do when both he and Costello are on the floor (which happens often). Irvin will have to guard one of them or we'll have to play more Chatman or Wilson or Wagner at the four - all three of whom scare me.

I'd say Donnal is much better but Doyle is still a butterfingers... Costello/Schilling combo is still better. However, if we hit 3s at a high % against any team, we will be in the game.

With Nairn out, who is the penetrator that scares you? Forbes and Harris and McQuaid are mostly spot up guys that can be guarded unless we have to leave them to help down low or we let Valentine drive on us.

If you are correct that they aren't that strong down low, then we wouldn't have to worry about helping the post, but I think you're wrong about that. Costello isn't great and can probably be kept in check by Donnal but then who guards Davis? Irvin is probably too short and Robinson - yikes - that'd be a nightmare.  If Donnal checks Davis, that's probably adavantage MSU still and frees up Costello to use his size against Robinson or Irvin.

The challenge is going to be how we guard the MSU frontcournt of Davis, Valentine and Costello. Irvin can only take one of them, preferably Valentine.  I think the best hopes are that Robinson is enough of a mismatch for Davis or Costello on our end of the floor that it makes up for the mismatch on their end, or that Wilson or Chatman or one of the other bigs can step up enough defensively to be able to live without Robinson on the floor.

MSU guards are only a concern if we can't match up with the MSU frontcourt (including Valentine as a point forward). And even if they have Nairn, Walton will be able to play 10 feet off him so penetration there shouldn't be a big concern either.

Definitely need to rest Robinson more - his scoring output really drops in the second half of games. Hopefully having Caris back will allow for this and to also to be able to go with the hot hand.