Michigan has fallen off a cliff defensively this year, going from 4th in kenpom last year to 71st (!!!).

They lost several elite defenders in Brown, Wagner and Livers but there's been discussion about whether that explains it or if there's something schematic so I did a defensive "UFR" of sorts on MSU's first quarter (I charted the whole first half but this takes a while so I'm taking a break after a quarter, ha) scoring possessions out of curiosity. 

Many of the possessions I've captured with picture pages here.  I don't have many MSU misses because I'm working off the highlight reel from YouTube user "Matthew Loves Ball".

First score of the game is a post up hook from Bingham on Hunter.  Tip of the cap mostly, but should be noted that he's only scoring a very bad 0.7 points per possession in the post.  Hunter's lack of lift certainly makes this an easier play.

Second score is the rebound that Houstan tips in for them.  Facepalm.

Third score is when the Pick and Roll cracks start to show.  The announcers mentioned that Izzo wanted to get Hunter in as many PnRs as possible. So they set it up with Walker (defended by Brooks):

Hunter is hedging here which means he must stop the ball. Instead he lets Walker get inside of him with just a reach in attempt:

And it's 4 on 2 with Hunter hunched over flatfooted:

Houstan has to either try to help and leave Brown or just make a fake help stab and chooses the latter:

Jones tries to contest at the rim but he's not a rim protector and it's 6-4:

The next score is almost identical with Hoggard the ball handler:

 

Except this time Hunter lets him go around him to the outside while he stabs flat footed.  Again, the point of hedging is to stop the ball handler.  He has a screener to one side and a sideline to the other here.  It's hard to get beat this badly:

And again, it's 4 on 3.  Moussa and Houstan could maybe get there in time to force a pass at best:

Moussa makes an attempt but nothing really he can do (8-6 MSU):

On the next score, Hunter gambles on the press to try to make a steal:

But he's late:

And it's 3 on 2.  Jones has to take the ball which leaves Christie wide open for the three (14-11 M):

On the next score Hoggard makes a savvy play to use Dickinson as essentially a screener as he pushes it upcourt to get by Jones:

Eli steps up and appears to be there but they call the block and he makes one FT (14-12 M):

Hunter takes a quick break and we get to see Moussa defend the pick the roll.

Note how he's playing this to the wrong side (Eli is forcing the other way). MSU did a clever thing where it looked like Bingham was setting it from one direction and then he'd square up and let the ball handler go either way.  Moussa needs to watch where Eli is forcing here:

But he's so athletic that he recovers to force a long two and blocks it!

The next score is another PnR with Dickinson off the court so it's Williams on the ball handler and Johns on the screener:

They're both switchable defenders so they switch it to put Johns on Christie:

Christie tries to drive but Johns beats him to the spot with excellent defense:

He forces a difficult fadeaway that Christie hits.  Really, really good defense but better offense (16-14 M).

The next score Walker passes to Hauser and screens away on Christie's man (Williams):

But Williams gets caught ball watching and totally falls asleep.  He needs to see his man and the ball at all times and be what's called "up the line, on the line" (i.e. halfway between your man and the ball) when more than one pass away.  He should be on Walkers inside hip here (and Frankie needs to be yelling screen, screen!):

But he's way late and it's a four point play:

I'm pausing there at 18-18.  Hopefully will have time to finish the half later tonight and maybe get into the horror show of the second half tomorrow.

Takeaway so far:

• Really poor effort and focus from Hunter and he really struggled with pick and roll.  Not sure why they had him hedging either.  I can't imagine drop coverage would have gone worse.
• MSU wanted to push the ball and put pressure on Michigan's lack of rim protection and it worked wonders for them.