Inside Michigan Basketball Episode 7
Episode covers the mens games against Indiana and Purdue. Also covers the womens games against minnesota and nebraska. Enjoy
February 4th, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^
February 4th, 2014 at 8:13 AM ^
Buuuuttt... if a team has quick/athletic enough guards to face guard him off the ball, Stauskas is going to have to make penetration count at a much better rate off of ball screens to get him away from Ferrell/Craft type defenders. If the trend of best on ball defender on Stauskas becomes a theme from here on out, teams with more than one athlete on peremiter or wing can simply follow Crean's template and just switch on ball screens in the half court if Stauskas is bringing the ball up the court.
Sure, Stauskas can easily make a bigger and slower guy pay on a switch, but if the drop off in size or speed is not gaping in advantage, he probably will have to 'rely' on popping behind screens for the bomb more often than not. He lit up Breslin like this, but State tried to fight over a lot of our screening having to rely on Harris/Appling (mostly harris) all night to chase Stauskas over the ball screen. With absent athleticism of Dawson (Mostly his peremiter D) and after seeing Crean's model work so well, the more athletic peremiter teams may have no problem, or even more success with Nik bringing it up the court and penetrating in the halfcourt whether it be over a screen or just straight iso.
Burning the Johnson brothers (eye roll) of Purdue, Nebraska, illinois or even some of Iowa's peremiter guys in iso or Crean's template may be one thing, but as long as D's with multiple peremiter athletes put their best guy on Nik on or off the ball and just switch our ball screens, we're going to have to keep banking on his red hot stroke behind solid screens mixed in with complimentary dribble drive as a nice occasional element, OR hope teams don't/can't copy Crean's screen switching and daylight for Stauskas to pop or attack are more like the first half of the B1G.
I agree with you on Pick 'n' roll, but longer/more athletic D's (Like Indiana) have easier times staying under those transfers forcing a really narrow cut/roll window. Mcgary would be sweet to have for that 'Handoff' threat because he would be a good shield for Stauskas' lethal rythmn jumpers, he seemed to always be getting free on quick cuts for dunks, and he would be a legit worry of dropping off for silky smooth mid rangers as Stauskas would definitely draw help a lot in that scenario. Ohhhhh well I guess, and this is all just IMHO, so would love to hear more opinion. I'm totally with you on the frustration with a legit baller and deadly shooter not having a chance to at least be a factor in such a close conference race... Keep the faith! Trust in the cerebral and adaptive Beilein to always adjust perfectly and hang another banner!! Go Blue!!!!!
February 4th, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^
I agree with it though. McGary always seemed to just kill poor defenders. Morgan/Horford didn't seem to create much space, but maybe that's because Yogi Ferrell sold his soul to the devil that night and was just phasing in and out of this dimension through the screens. His "on-ball" defense was mostly clean, but still enough holding arm/jersey diving and impeding to make Stauskas just give up on trying to beat him. That's when we need LeVert/Walton to play point guard and run the offense. We absolutely cannot win in Assembly Hall, ugh!
February 4th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
Himself may determine a galluping conquest for Crisler Arena's finest Assistant Coach blood after a great conference championship victory a bit much, but yogi sold his soul EVERY night he plays for that drama princess. Annywhoo, yes, McGary would put us over the edge given how this coach has mixed together some moderately above average lemons into a smooth summer ale, per his usual work. He uses McGary masterfully within the annual winter symphony of harmonious Beilein over-achievement.
Mr. Underdog would probably have East Lansing accepting him as a perservering and gutsy blue-collar project capable of some real banging and gritty boarding just in time to kiss the S on "Look what Izzo did with all these otherwise hopeless 4 year Senior Projects Day" McGary would NEVER be the Bull in a Princeton (or northwestern) Shop that the real X's and O's man of Michigan has harnassed and unleashed onto the B1G in the form of Mitch McGary.
Yeah, you're proabably in the right and reasonable shades with Levert and Walton absorbing most guard/penetrating duties in half court and to some extent in transition/fast break situations. Using Stauskas' athleticism more as apart of a dual threat element in the half court with screens, weaving etc seems to be the most potent combo in my opinion, just from my subjective viewing thus far. I think they'll win 6 or 7 of the rest regardless of who "quarterbacks" and penetrates just based on superior talent and superior cohesive team play in a pretty top heavy league that is still somehow, in quite resounding fashion, skimming off an inflated reputation from recent years' legit supremacy. Maybe relative weakness of other leagues is the reason, or maybe I'll be proven a fool by a deep league run in the Spring.
Something still tells me (especially if only 6 of last 9) will still be good only for second place; maybe even 7 of 9. This will be the last year in awhile Izzo convinces the drooling masses and pundit sheep that he pulled together his ragtag coralle of elite, but wastefully underachieving talent to somehow snatch the B1G Championship. It will be his last banner in awhile based on his record with "weird" guys that will likely frustrate him into retirement or aneurism in next few seasons. Regardless of whether he edges us or we grab 2nd again, this team will be dangerous and probably seem more potent against the fresh and clean canvous of March. Non-league, un-suspecting, surprisingly overmatched and unfamiliar opponents could be outclassed in last years fashion barring any Bobcat crossings... It'll be refreshing enough to make the grimy B1G sludge a foggy memory.
-Go Blue!
(Yeah I like to type when I get on the MGoBlog, and it looks like I've done it again... So what!!)
February 4th, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^
Staukas didnt look right. Maybe he has a littke bit of flu or a little tired from the tough strech of games theyve played in last 2 weeks..