Rutgers game thread
I don't know how meaningful the +/- stat is but all of our starters are in the plus and the bench players in the minus. The late three brought Joey from -8 to -5. Rutger is opposite - their bench is in the plus.
Joey !!! One free throw for Michigan in the first half. Need more there. Glad HD made it though.
With all of the attention Hunter is drawing, somebody else needs to take advantage of being open. Baker 3 is a good start.
Kobe seems tentative and confused except for an early drive. Hunter better be in shape because he’s not coming out much in the second half.
and that was a very difficult contested drive
Definitely. Let’s see more of it!
Huge 5-0 run to end the half. Would be nice to start the second with a nice run and keep this game from being a nail biter.
Given Rutgers'lack of size, this probably isn't the game to go with two bigs, but I'd still like to see Reed get some time at the 4. Instead of matching up, cause Rutgers problems with their matchup.
Last contest vs Rutgers Reed/Dickinson played the final 10 minutes together and Rutgers scored 7 points the remainder of the game. 2 being on a layup as time expired.
This is Rutgers, so I'm not sure 7 points in 10 minutes is that bad.
Lord, it must be unpleasant to be a Rutgers fan, even when they're halfway-decent.
i would prefer to play reed and absolutely crush them on the boards
Halftime is a great time to make your CFB Risk move and attack any OSU (gray) territories. It’s a beautiful day to battle a buckeye in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and South Beach.
If you want a specific attack/defend order aligned with Michigan’s current battle plan go to Michigan Risk Central Command.
Beat Rutger! F*^% Ohio!
Need to come up with a counter punch to dumping down to Hunter. Four combined points by the starting guards will not get it done in the 2nd Half.
Please Juwan stop playing TWill and Tschetter and keep the two bigs in. It was the difference in the last game vs Rutgers.
My guess is he doesn't go to the 2 big look in the first half because he's afraid of foul trouble. But Dickinson and Reed each only have 1 foul, he's got to go to that more often in the 2nd half
Alternate between Baker/Reed at the 4 and roll with your starters at the other spots
I heard a guy on the radio say betting Michigan-Rutgers to go to Overtime is a good prop bet. If there ever was a team who does everything in its power to keep a game close it's Michigan and Juwan.
Turned it on when we were up 18-11 and did not like what I saw.
First, Hunter just did not offer any help on a drive and layup by Spencer. Next play he does help but of course can't effect the shot and his guy gets the tip in. It's just lose-lose with him on help defense.
Then no one picks up the ball on a fast break (Jett).
Fumbled a great pass from Kobe.
Rutgers has ten (!!!!) OREBs to Michigan's three and Rutgers only has 3 turnovers to Michigan's 7. Rutgers has attempted and insane 12 more shot equivalents. We are extremely lucky that they shot poorly.
Gotta rebound and protect the ball much better in the second half if we want to hang onto this one.
10 offensive rebounds given up in the first half. Losing the turnover battle 1-7. That’s how you end up only up 3 with a 20% fg advantage.
Hunter dominates in the post and out on a clinic for ~12 minutes and then fails to pass back out of the post when they send 4 to collapse on him.
Then the turnover when they doubled him in the post. Absolutely refusing to rebound. No reason for 10 offensive rebounds to our 16 total rebounds.
I don’t even want to get started on TWill.
edit: 3 turnovers to 7
I don't understand jumping out on Simpson when he's averaging 6 PPG and he's 2-9 today. Gotta trust Dug and Kobe to handle him one on one.
This game has been consistent with many of their season-long themes - build a comfortable lead, then slowly cough it up by halftime. If this game is going to be close, then the question once again will be what can they do in the final 5 minutes. Hopefully they'll rebuild a comfortable lead in 2H, but I won't feel truly comfortable until there are zero's on the game clock and we have at least 1 more point than Rutgers.
Bufkin block!
And great defense on the inbounds
Wasted possession
Howard starting Tschetter again, why, the world may never know.
Need to eat it before it gets moldy? All I can think of.
Imagine how tough it must be being a good big man, being wrestled on every possession
Howard you're an idiot, get Tschetter out, he can't even get a rebound.
Our far and away best 4 has played what? 3 minutes in a must win game?
32-29 R at 17:00
This team looks so bad.
Embarassing
Man, Jett is just so lost out there. Doesn't play defense, doesn't rebound, can't dribble. We are worse with him in the lineup.
Yet he has more points than anyone but Hunter. If you take him out, you're just replacing him with someone who is worse.
Reed is not perfect but he's much better option at the 4 than Tschetter and TWill especially against Rutgers. You would Juwan would have a sense of urgency for once.
I’m a huge Reed fan and love what he brings to the table. We need what he brings. I’m just not sure about his conditioning and ability to stay out of foul trouble
Will can't play in this game or we lose
Why is Tschetter in the game, why are you initiating any offense with Jett, he should a be catch and shoot guy?
I just don't understand the coaching of this team.
Juwan sees something that literally no one else watching this team sees. No idea what it is
Tschetter has to lead the world in "almost-rebounds".
Usually ending up on his hands and knees and not getting back on D.
34-29 R @ 16:00. Michigan time-out.
Thank you for posting these, can't watch and the gamethread always makes me think we're down way more than we are lol
Triple teaming HD is working. Shouldn't be hard to break that.
We meed a counter punch. Even a kickout and return pasd. Something.
unbelievable. the let's just stand around on offense and watch hunter. pathetic.
1 point this half after 4 minutes. Rutger up 5. Hunter is getting collapsed on but no one is flashing open for him.
Reed has only played like 3 minutes and he hasn't played with Dickinson in a must win game.
More to do with Rutgers…they basically have 4 guards out there around Omoruyi. Don’t want him or Hunter chasing someone on the perimeter. Bottom line is this roster is pretty awful.
Please sub in Tarris
Going to settle in here and win this game. Keep going to Dickinson. He will pull this out.
Howard has done such a poor job with this team, its insane how unprepared they looked.
Even our match ups on defense are bad. Why is Jett guarding Simpson or Cam Rutgers 2 best ball handlers?
What value does Joanne Howard bring to this program? Very little halftime adjustments