Men's Basketball vs LSU Maui Invitational Open Thread

Submitted by goblue16 on

Late start today at 11:00pm on ESPNU. Hoping the team continues to improve. GO BLUE!! BEAT OSU!!

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Basketball

Occam's Razor

November 21st, 2017 at 1:52 AM ^

Huh? 

Charles Mathews ring a bell? The dude almost scored 30 points today and he's not even playing at his best yet. 

Think about that for a second. 

Team will be fine. 

Beat Chaminade/Cal and then focus on UNC and UCLA. If we can steal one of those games, this season will look a hell of a lot better going into B1G play. 

Joined: 10/23/2017

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J.

November 21st, 2017 at 1:54 AM ^

You say that based on the fourth game of the season?

Seriously?

North Carolina opened ACC play with a loss at KenPom #77 Georgia Tech last year.  Villanova lost a home game to KP #44 Providence in 2016.  Duke started 2-2 in the ACC in 2015.  UConn lost to #132 Houston in 2014.  Michigan lost at #161 Penn State in 2013.

All of those teams won the National Championship (non-hooker and blow division).

Michigan started 6-4 in 2014, including a loss to Charlotte in Puerto Rico, and won the Big Ten by three games.  It's way too early to panic.

Joined: 03/11/2012

MGoPoints: 13057

J.

November 21st, 2017 at 1:48 AM ^

LSU is not nearly as bad as KenPom's preseason numbers look.  That kid Waters is an example of how much difference one player can make to a basketball team.  They're not a great team, by any means, but this isn't an inexplicable loss.

That said, once again I come away from a game convinced that either the officails or I have no idea what a foul is.  Hats off to LSU, who won tihs game with lights out shooting -- 20/29 from inside the arc.

Charles Matthews is a beast, though.  Michigan actually came down with 40% of their misses, in large part thanks to his play.  (LSU had 39%)

The first half and second half looked like two different sports.  The two teams each scored 46 second half points on approximately 33 possessions.  (First half was 31-29 on 30 possessions).  There were stretches of the second half where it seemed Michigan's only chance on defense was for LSU to turn the ball over, since the few lucky shots they were missing seemed to wind up as offensive boards.

Michigan's defense looked quite improved for the first 15 minutes and then got eviscerated after that, and not all of it was LSU bounce luck.  Sure, there's not much you can do about insane Albrecht/MAAR type layups, but there were far too many putbacks and easy shots around the rim.

Just a bit of perspective, though -- we've all seen this story before (remember UNC Charlotte in the Bahamas?)  The question will be what Michigan improve on from here.  I mean, put it another way -- Robinson had 3 points, the starting point guard didn't take a shot, and Michigan still scored about 1.2 points per possession.  There's a lot of potential in this team; here's hoping Beilein is able to harness it like he has in the past.

Joined: 03/11/2012

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M-Dog

November 21st, 2017 at 1:53 AM ^

LSU is not nearly as bad as KenPom's preseason numbers look.  That kid Waters is an example of how much difference one player can make to a basketball team.

This is true.  LSU would have lost by 15 without him playing.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

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MGoDubs

November 21st, 2017 at 1:49 AM ^

Pulling Matthews just before the under 4 timeout to put in a cold on the bench almost all half Simpson is a head scratcher. And then to not call a timeout when Rahk is in obvious trouble is puzzling as well. I know the players have to call it but the coaches need to be screaming to the players to get a timeout there. We can't take the timeout with us, and having one of the best offensive minded coaches on the sideline we need to set something up there to give us the best chance to win. Hopefully the team learns from this loss and can build on it

Joined: 01/20/2010

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umchicago

November 21st, 2017 at 1:57 AM ^

is probably the best guy to have the ball there.  he just screwed up going to the sideline.  you have to go to the middle where you can drive or kick it for a 3.  there are no real plays to set up with just 5 seconds left; unless you're bryce drew.

Joined: 02/05/2009

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MGoDubs

November 21st, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^

They had a trap set up with two players. Would have been very difficult to go up the middle and most likely a turnover. I don't disagree with who had the ball or anything about it. I'm just saying when it was obvious he was going to the corner with no where to go and double team we got to get a timeout there. If he obviously has a lane or a good look I'm fine with no timeout but that wasn't the case and should be a good learning moment on film for both the players and coaches to get a timeout in a bad situation and draw something up.

Joined: 01/20/2010

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JamieH

November 21st, 2017 at 6:22 PM ^

The clock in his head probably told him he was out of time, but he had 2 seconds left.  If he realizes he had two seconds left, he knows he still has time to drive to the hoop and try to pick up a foul or get a better shot.

But knowing to relax and not rush in that situation is almost impossible.  Very few players have that kind of presence. 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

MGoDubs

November 21st, 2017 at 6:04 PM ^

I was not looking at it as him experimenting with the line up there. I was looking at it as if he was fatigued and that it was so close to an under 4 time out that he should have either called a timeout before the under 4 and get him rest or in this case stretches and water, rather than to throw in a cold Simpson who couldn't guard Waters in the first half. It's all hindsight at this point but just a tough for me to see Matthews go out in a crucial point when he was clearly one of the best players on the floor and we had timeouts and an under 4 approaching.

Joined: 01/20/2010

MGoPoints: 391

Occam's Razor

November 21st, 2017 at 1:49 AM ^

Honestly, I'm not that frustrated about this loss. 

Just gotta get our shit together by February. However, I would like to see Michigan win one of the games against UNC and UCLA early in the season. 

That would be a great sign of things coming together. 

 

Joined: 10/23/2017

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gobluefan474

November 21st, 2017 at 1:49 AM ^

I noticed a lot of positives from this game. It won't look good in the W & L column but a lot to build on. Feel like this team could be dangerous in the B1G.

Good impersonation of the John O'Korn choke by the boys however.

Joined: 09/27/2009

MGoPoints: 101357

Ramblin

November 21st, 2017 at 1:50 AM ^

but I think LSU is a good team, regardless of their record last year.  Fun game to watch.

I still like the parts, they just aren't all together yet.  There were moments of brilliance here and there.  Mathews looks rusty, but his athleticism is unlike anything we've seen a while. 

Also, where the hell did that Waters kid come from?  Electric towards the end there.  Reminded me of Burke.  

Joined: 01/09/2011

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Ramblin

November 21st, 2017 at 2:02 AM ^

but I think we might be pretty damn good.  Not gonna win it, but I think if they all jell they are going to suprise some people.  Really, really, really early.  I just liked a lot of what I saw.  Gotta make more shots.  Freshman have to get better...  That should happen though.

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 1275

Maizen

November 21st, 2017 at 2:03 AM ^

Michigan just let a 10 win team shoot 60% from the field and 20/29 from 2. They have been in dogfights with every opponent this year and the competition is only going to get better. Looks like a typical Beilein team, play like shit early, become a bubble team late, then lose a close game to a 2 or 3 seed in the 2nd round and we can rinse and repeat for next year.

Joined: 08/15/2015

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WorldwideTJRob

November 21st, 2017 at 2:08 AM ^

Except this year LSU is being led by an NBA caliber point guard, both teams will be good this year. If they got blown off the floor tonight, then I would say that things look bad. However, they faced a P5 team and loss by 2. If they finish the tourney going 2-1 all will be good.

Joined: 07/05/2010

MGoPoints: 31150

Dylan

November 21st, 2017 at 6:09 AM ^

You’re seriously going to nitpick over the sponsorship name change to Gatorade league over developmental league AND say that it is part of the NBA just because it’s the minor league of the NBA? Cool. Burke was awesome here, but it has proven he is not an NBA player.

Joined: 01/22/2013

MGoPoints: 6187

Michifornia

November 21st, 2017 at 1:58 AM ^

Plays just like Zak Irvin except totally different.  Natural scorer and shooter.  Unbelievable pick up.  If we can get someone to step up at PG by midseason, this team should be pretty fun.

GO BLUE!!

Joined: 10/03/2013

MGoPoints: 13813

SDCran

November 21st, 2017 at 2:00 AM ^

These tourneys are the only time coaches get to really tinker against other p5 teams. It’s curious that B chose Brooks. Neither of the other guys has done it down the stretch in a game for UM.

Does that mean he sees Brooks taking over this year?

Joined: 01/27/2010

MGoPoints: 4702

GordonG

November 21st, 2017 at 2:23 AM ^

should have been done against the cupcakes..

these tourneys are used for NCAA big dance seeding,

how many teams make it from each conference and strength of conferences...

.don't down play their importance

Joined: 11/13/2016

MGoPoints: 2969

TrueBlue2003

November 21st, 2017 at 2:32 AM ^

he played the best PG tonight at the end (Brooks).  Simpson was atrocious while in the game and Simmons is still struggling to get comfortable and he's not a good defender (not that any of the three are).

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 38075

remdog

November 21st, 2017 at 2:43 AM ^

and leave your 2 most proven and experienced ballhandlers/playmakers on the bench in the last few minutes of a competitive game early in the season. It's just not done. Unless you want to throw the game away. As the end to the game proved. Sinpson is an above average defender, by the way. And he wasn't "atrocious." The ending was atrocious, almost a sure win just thrown away.

Joined: 05/14/2009

MGoPoints: 3083

SDCran

November 21st, 2017 at 2:51 AM ^

Go look at who he played in the final minutes vs. Villanova a few years ago. Freshman Mark D had the key FT miss to cost them a win vs a top 10 opponent. He wanted to see what he had, and he gave the guys a chance to make plays. If you were coach, you would do it differently. JB and others do it this way.

Joined: 01/27/2010

MGoPoints: 4702

WorldwideTJRob

November 21st, 2017 at 2:01 AM ^

I like what I saw tonight, was down for most of the game, took the lead and battled to the finish. Late game FT shooting cost us, but that will hopefully be a one-off thing. I like seeing the leaders on this team emerge with Mo and Charles stepping up when needed. Beilein always seems to coach the squad up and has them playing above their collective talent. 

Joined: 07/05/2010

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