Mini-Preview & Open Thread: Indiana
The Essentials
| WHAT | Michigan v. Indiana |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Ann Arbor, MI |
| WHEN |
4:00 PM EST February 12th, 2011 |
| THE LINE | Michigan -6.5 |
| TELEVISION | BTN |
If Michigan wants to make the tournament, this game is a must win. Hell, if they want to make the NIT, it's probably a must-win. Take care of business today, and you can worry about bigger goals later. Enough said.
Tempo-Free Breakdown
With a few games under each team's belt, it's finally reasonable to look at the stats. If you need an explanation of the stats, check out Ken Pomeroy.
| Michigan v. Indiana: National Ranks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Michigan Rank | Indiana Rank | Advantage |
| Mich eFG% v. IU Def eFG% | 59 | 117 | M |
| Mich Def eFG% v. IU eFG% | 179 | 40 | II |
| Mich TO% v. IU Def TO% | 25 | 134 | MM |
| Mich Def TO% v. IU TO% | 236 | 178 | I |
| Mich OReb% v. IU DReb% | 308 | 118 | II |
| Mich DReb% v. IU OReb% | 42 | 135 | M |
| Mich FTR v. IU Opp FTR | 344 | 329 | I |
| Mich Opp FTR v. IU FTR | 61 | 199 | MM |
| Mich AdjO v. IU AdjD | 45 | 91 | M |
| Mich AdjD v. IU AdjO | 76 | 56 | I |
The Wolverines are having a much better season than the Hoosiers, but the stats are nearly even. Part of that is a tougher schedule for the Wolverines. Though Michigan went down in Bloomington in embarrassing fashion, Indiana has yet to win a game on the road this season.
The Wolverines are playing some of their best ball of the season right now, whereas IU lost to Iowa last week... at home. Two of their most important contributors, Maurice Creek and Christian Watford, are injured and likely to miss today's game.
Predictions
Pomeroy likes Michigan, 68-63, but I'm a little more optimistic, especially with IU's injury situation. I think Michigan comes away with a 65-53 victory in Crisler.
Elsewhere
UMHoops and The Crimson Quarry preview the game. Inside the Hall brings a preview from IU assistant Steve McClain.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:06 PM ^
Now I have to like Wisconsin .
February 12th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
wtf Tim Doyle
February 12th, 2011 at 5:08 PM ^
Apparently Doyle is going to shave on-air? Or at the very least give the impression that he is, on with the Barbosal!
February 12th, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
I love how Jim Jackson had to sit there, smile, and eat the shit sandwich while they talked about how WIsconsin beat Ohio State.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
It might just be me, but Jim Jackson is IMO probably the best analyst they have on the BTN.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
We've looked better the last three possessions than most of the latter part of the first half. Keep pressing defensively and this should be in the bag.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:21 PM ^
The shooting seems to be coming back, which is always nice to see.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:23 PM ^
Great job of Beilein to rally the troops during halftime
February 12th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
who is the tall thin recruit at the game?
February 12th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
We look absolutely unstoppable. Deadly from three, and unyielding on defense. If we could take these three, four minute bursts and just extend them, we'd be challenging for the B1G title.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
Hardaway should see LOTS of looks with a 5'9" guy on him.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
Hardaway is on a mission once again
February 12th, 2011 at 5:44 PM ^
We are watching a star being born.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:44 PM ^
Man, I REALLY wish this team could have played OSU/Kansas now instead of weeks ago. This will probably still end in an NIT bid, but man would this team scare me if I was a 5-6-7 seed.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
Hardaway Jr is on fire.
Michigan up 61-42 with 7:06 left.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
I totally watch basketball for the dudes in the striped shirts! Soooo many fouls.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^
I am become Tim Hardaway Jr. Destroyer of Worlds.
February 12th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^
Remember when Indiana used to be good at this basketball thing?
February 12th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
Who here finds themself in a state of euphoria whenever thinking about the future of Michigan basketball?
February 12th, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
I cannot take Matt Shepard saying Evan "Smots-rits" anymore. Someone please ask him to go back to calling Detroit Shock games (i.e. moving to Tulsa).
February 12th, 2011 at 5:58 PM ^
40 fouls. This game has been like a CD with scratches all over it.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
of another team that goes from looking like world beaters to looking really confused as quickly or as often as this team. But man, when they get it figured out for good they will be something special
February 12th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
The easiest explaination to me would be that there are a lot of really talented but raw and young guys on the team. But my pirated stream cut out around halftime, so I am talking right out of my ass.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
Here we go again with the late game run by the other team. I don't think it will cost us this game, but if this continues sooner or later we will lose some of these. Either way i'm very pleased with how the team is improving as the season goes on. Also I think Hardaway is going to be a stud for us, great pickup by JB on signing him.
Edit: I hope I didn't speak to soon and curse them. MAKE A FUCKING FREE THROW!! DAMN.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
Can we FINISH a game please?
Also... I can haz free throws, Darius?
/old man bitchin'
February 12th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
JB has to get this fixed if we want to make a serious run at the bubble.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^
I think we can blame both teams inconsistent play on the refs. 44 fouls? Come on!
February 12th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
what the hell
February 12th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
69-65 good guys.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
The last 30 seconds have taken 10 minutes
February 12th, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
i am ready to jump through the tv
February 12th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
why morris gets the ball so much in this situation, can't buy a free throw
February 12th, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^
a) He's the best ball-handler on the team.
2) He's a 73% free throw shooter
d) When NO ONE can make a free throw, does it really matter?
February 12th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
Novak is an 85% shooter, I know he missed one, but I would like to see us run inbound plays for him late in the game. He is our best FT shooter, and you get the surprise of running the play for him and not morris or hardaway, should catch teams off guard.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
Novak is marginally better than Morris. But again, when you're facing a trap, you want the ball in your best ball handlers' hands. Those hands may or may not belong to your best free throw shooter. I'll take the one extra miss every ten free throws in exchange for the ball security of a guy like Morris.
I think the biggest problem was simply OH MY GOD WHY CAN NO ONE MAKE A FREE THROW FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...
February 12th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
Morris had missed something like 6-8 before his last 4 attempts, at that point you have to get someone else the ball. FT's are just as much mental as they are physical, sometimes you have to make an adjustment and get someone else a chance.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
Now I can finally breath easy.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
This team needs to spend a whole practice shooting free throws, this is unreal.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
This team is phsyched out of their mind, no one can make a damn free throw!
February 12th, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^
First we blow huge leads near the end of both halfs, and miss a stagering amount of freebies
February 12th, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^
Root canal without novacaine.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
That was horrible, as happy as I am Michigan won at the end Indian deserved it more, but it's who has more points at the end!
February 12th, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^
the last 8 or 9 minutes of the game doesn't equate to deserving it more. It was alarming that we couldn't make a free throw near the end of both halves, but Indiana was still throughouly outplayed for most of the game.
We have been a solid free throw shooting team most of the season, I doubt this is anything more than a one game anamoly from the free throw line.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
I think it is far more impressive that UM built a 20-point lead for most of the game than IU getting hot for a couple of minutes and making it close.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^
*heaves big sigh of relief*
Now there's time to get unpuckered for the hockey game.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^
Going into the next game with Illinois I can see a lot of free throw shooting and a lot of trying to handle the press during practice. Free throws were simply terrible, but you better believe Illinois saw how we handled the press and they might just try to do that all game. A win is a win, just looked ugly those last few minutes. Let's go get Illinois!
February 12th, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
We kept repeating the same mistake. Throw to the corner, slow recognition or ugh, 1 dribble in place by the recipient. At least they brought Novak up to be that corner guy at the end. He is pretty steady from the line.
Reversing the ball quickly and flashing to the middle usually rips the thing apart. We just don't see a lot of it throughout the season. This was good for us. That next one at Illinois is a classic trap game for young team that has been on a roll. If we win that, bar the door shut cuz' here comes Michigan.
This is becoming fun to watch however it ends.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^
February 12th, 2011 at 6:35 PM ^
says a lot, Douglass Hardaway and Morris combined for 11-24. This kind of feels like a loss, which I like because that means these guys are improving, but at the same time if we don't learn how to close out games we won't be able to make the NCAA's this year.
February 12th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
met or exceeded most people's expectations. I don' think people should be overly worried about style points or having one uncharacteristic free throw line performance. I am proud of the way this team has played. Making the NCAA's would be gravy, at this point.
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