Vegas says Michigan -3 over Houston, but...

Submitted by FauxMo on

Kenpom says Michigan +2, at least according to the simulator I use. I watched Houston last night, and that Gray kid is legit. I know nothing about SDSU, but unless their defense is really bad, someone is going to need a great job on D on him for us to win this game. I think we pull it out late in a close one, something like 72-69...

EDIT: Someone correctly pointed out below that we are actually 2 point faves on KenPom. I was looking at his simulator as an away game, not a neutral site game. My bad, homies. Regardless, it's gonna be close either way... 

lhglrkwg

March 16th, 2018 at 12:02 PM ^

I think from Houston's perspective, I'd be worried about this game. You're going up against a top 10 team that just played a really off game. What are the odds they lay two eggs in a row? Not good. I'd be feeling like Michigan was probably going to have an above average game next because that seems to be how the world works. I think we win somewhat comfortably

FreddieMercuryHayes

March 16th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^

Exactly.  Regression to the mean favors UM here I think.  Plus generally weird/bad game all around from UM.  What's the chances UM wins the tip, has their best offensive player trip over his own feet unforced and turn the ball over thus losing the possesion arrow all in the first three seconds happen a second time?

superstringer

March 16th, 2018 at 12:28 PM ^

In 1984 and 1985, we wntered the tourney as a high seed. Laid an egg in each first game but thought welp, got that out of our system, will improve the next game. And laid eggs in both second round games for early trips home. (Yes yes, Villanova / team of destiny / cocaine fueled, I know I know).

So dont assume a bad game begrts a good one.

Blue in PA

March 16th, 2018 at 12:05 PM ^

After he totally coughed up the conf. championship game, he was due for a career performance.  

 

I'm guessing he shot his loaf last night.  Tomorrow he will likely be unleavened.

 

Blue 88  bun-boi and fellow cougars 68

FreddieMercuryHayes

March 16th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^

I mean, he's real good.  And Houston is a real good team.  They can definitly beat UM.  But good god, that was an heroic individual effort that resulted in a 2 pt win against a team in the same range as Maryland.  When I look at things like this, I tend to think about sustainability and regression to the mean.  He's a 35% 3 shooter who went 4-6 in that game.  He took 25 shots and finished above his average in 2pt shooting.  Is that going to sustain?  Against Simpson and UM's defense?  It could, but probably not.  At the same time, I don't think their 43% 3pt shooter will go 0-5 either.  But UMs really good at running people off the line and he is totally Just A Shooter.

brmarsh07

March 16th, 2018 at 12:21 PM ^

From what I watched last night, that is a one man team. The rest of the team is hot garbage! Z and/or MAAR need to check him and let someone else try and beat them. I don’t think it happens. 72-59 good guys!

GotBlueOnMyMind

March 16th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^

Watching the Houston game last night put my mind at ease. SDSU was getting good looks on nearly every possession, but simply couldn’t convert. Sure, Michigan could lay another egg offensively, but that seems unlikely given the past two months. Plus, a team centered around one guy offensively just does not scare me that much, provided that one guy isn’t a world beater like D Rose was in college, something Gray is not.

FreddieMercuryHayes

March 16th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^

The parallels are uncanny.  UM won by 15 in an uninspiried game where Trey Burke stunk against a KenPom team in the 90's.  The next game was against the 18 ranked Kenpom team that everyone loved but was a bad match up against UM...

This year, UM wins by 14 against a Kenpom 70's team in an uninspired game then face the 18 ranked Kenpom team that everyone seems to love but is probably a bad match up against UM...

shoes

March 16th, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^

I mean stay out of foul trouble. Simmons was very helpful with his drives in the first half, but defensively it is no comparison and Brooks is probably not as good as Simmons on D. Eli's one basket di come at a good time though.

Eng1980

March 16th, 2018 at 12:48 PM ^

It seemed like the SDSU offense missed some makable 3's as well as drives to the basket near the end of the game.  I was thinking that the Wolverines would be playing SDSU tomorrow night when there was about 10 minutes left in the game.

I definitely agree with the above sentiment.  Fouls on Z and maybe Moe are the biggest concerns.  Maybe cold shooting by M overall.  Otherwise, I expect Beilein to direct a solid game plan.

DetroitBlue

March 16th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^

i’m not really worried about Houston. they’re good but from what little i’ve seen of them (cinci and sd state) i think its a good matchup for us. not saying we’ll blow them out or anything but i see it as a fairly comfortable win

RobSk

March 16th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^

Let me see if I've got the sense of mgoblog from yesterday:

Michigan beats Montana by 14, and it was a horrible game that they were lucky to win.

Houston barely escapes against the national powerhouse "SDSU", and could have lost the game on a final shot, and they are unbeatable.

I'm not seeing the logic, somehow.

       Rob

RobSk

March 16th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^

Let me see if I've got the sense of mgoblog from yesterday:

Michigan beats Montana by 14, and it was a horrible game that they were lucky to win.

Houston barely escapes against the national powerhouse "SDSU", and could have lost the game on a final shot, and they are unbeatable.

I'm not seeing the logic, somehow.

       Rob

blueday

March 16th, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^

number one threat.  Problem is ... we have many threats that need to perform after getting the kinks out last night.

SouthOfHeaven

March 16th, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^

M should be fine if they can keep Z out there. Montana's guards couldn't get any penetration once he was put back into the game. 

 

If they some open looks, keep doin' their thing defensively, and stop throwing the ball to the other team on fast breaks, and Houston shouldn't be much of a problem. 

ThatTCGuy

March 16th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^

I have a feeling that X is going to be matched up with manbun basically all game (and X will hold him to 12 points on 5/11 shooting). I think our offense will find its rhythm again as the Montana game was sort of a perfect storm there. I'm taking Michigan -3 easy.