Article breaking down Michigan basketball's defensive struggles

It appears to me that Michigan tries to guard high screen and roll situations like they have an "anchor" that will prevent easy baskets in the paint.  In theory they do, but Dickinson's lack of lift and mobility renders him almost useless on defense. 

It is puzzling to me because Dickinson was very disruptive as a freshman on defense.  It has completely disappeared the last two years.  Another feature that has disappeared is Dickinson thunder-dunking on fools while screaming in their face.  Hunter is still a good college player but he is not the player it looked like he was going to be as a freshman.  Every year he looks slower and less explosive.

Its pretty simple, they cannot defend easy baskets and they cannot make easy baskets. How many times do you see a clean layup? I get that Hunter is your main scoring target in the paint, but mid range/3s are what the team live by outside of Hunter. 

JH's approach is borrowed from NBA. His lack of coaching experience at the college level is evident. He needs to shuffle his coach staff bringing in a couple of specialists with good college experience.  Luke Yaklich needs to come back.  He has a losing record at UIC but was a great defensive coach.

Opponents take advantage of Hunter’s lack of mobility and put them at an advantage on the court.  I’ve seen times watching 〽️ play with Reed and Hunter on the flour they looks better on defense because of Reed’s size and mobility.  
 

This team has no identity on offense and defense. 
 

Please see if John Beilein is ready to come back, I miss everything about his coaching and him as person. 

Pretty simple breakdown:

Clip 1: Dug should have switched the 2nd screen, lack of communication or court awareness.

Clip 2: Hunter actually did what he was supposed to do, help and recover back to his man, Dug going flying by on the shot fake instead of being under control led to the bucket.

Clip 3: doubled the ball screen, Tschetter does his job of taking the screener and forcing the pass out, poor close-out, leads to the easy bucket.

There seems to be a lot of talent on the squad - however, I wonder how fundamentally sound they are "across the roster", and their familiarity with the defensive scheme (switching, etc.).

The issue may be youth - it may be coaching - it may be matchups - etc.

Hoping the team "does what it has to" - to elevate their game.

Go Blue!

Lemme guess, before I read it (cuz I'm can't help myself and I'm gonna read it).

The gist of it is: bad defense.

Did I guess right? Do I win a prize?

To top

off a crappy season , we get to hear Martelli always bring up when talking to Sam webb how they are out on a recruit if he comes out and asked about NIL . That eliminates many big dogs right there . It’s exactly why we don’t make top lists of many studs or local great kids we need 

I don't need a breakdown, it's simple....we suck. We also need to quit recruiting 5'8 players as they get abused game after game on both ends. We also need anyone capable of shooting the damn.

Yeah. The breakdown aspect of it is interesting because a lot of it feels like a lack of consistent effort. The hammering they took on the boards from CMU stands out. If you get in a defensive stance, fight hard on screens, communicate and box out, you can be at least average on defense. I can think of a lot of examples of guys not seeing man and ball, getting screened too easily and failing to communicate. When I played in high school, these were all things we were hammered on daily. Defense isn't all that fun. I get it, but these are high major players, and I don't think they are truly working and communicating. 

That said, you are right that Reed comes in and things look much better. There are some functional limitations with foot speed for Hunter and TWILL and Joey Baker, but Duncan Robinson was able to play adequate D in the league for a bit. Like, it is possible.