Fear of taller, more accurate 3 point shooting FSU
Like many a Michigan fan, I was concerned about our little guards going against an FSU squad that is taller and has a better 3 points shooting % than LSU.
I think a great lesson can be learned by watching Georgia Tech's two mini-mite guards take them down in the ACC championship game. The key to a tall team that is focused on stealing entry passes and blocking shots is penetration and then passing to open players in the shifting defense. Their tall defenders are relatively easy to pass and then the passing lanes open. I saw the same thing in Virginia's loss (That game FSU was on fire from 3) but tiny Clark ate them up penetrating and getting easy layups (Ok sometimes difficult layups with a blocker challenging).
Video
Win the game.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
FEAR NO ONE.
Brian, Ace, and Seth's quick preview in the latest podcast was a nice little look at FSU and their style.
FSU relies heavily on transition buckets and their offense is much less effective in the half-court because of spacing issues.
Defensively, they try to block everything so offensive rebounds should be available for Dickinson, Johns, Wagner, and Brown.
Make the extra pass and move the ball around. That's the key
Your assessment is accurate but it is very hard to prevent transition points AND get offensive rebounds.
looking back at the beilein era we were elite at stopping transition teams because we were also one of the worst offensive rebounding teams. You gotta choose whether to crash the boards or get back and run. I hope Juwan chooses to get back in this game.
I think there can be a fine line. Michigan is in the top half of the country in offensive rebounding, yet they've also been great with transition defense.
Not all offensive rebounds are a result of having everyone crash the boards. If you have Johns and Dickinson down low while everyone else is getting back, that works.
Especially since FSU's struggle at defensive rebounding is due to them trying to block everything. There could be some easy tip-ins or Kobe assists in this one.
Agree with the “fine line” notion. I was saying it yesterday watching the women; all you have to do is get back and slow the ball down, giving your team time to get back and set and find their man. So, 2 or 3 can easily get back and cut off the dribble/take away passing lanes and cause the transition to stall. It’s similar in soccer and hockey; counterattacks need to be mitigated by increasing the time of the attack and decreasing the options within the attack. Keep transition opportunities out of the middle of the court, push to an off hand or sideline, and mostly just stay in front of your man and contain him. Let him make the mistake
Extra pass leads to open shot leads to made basket (mostly) leads to less opposition transition opportunities as long as we minimize live-ball turnovers.
Don't need ORB when you make a shot.
I also hope Martelli* chooses to get back on D
March 24th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
Two crash the boards, 3 drop back on D. As an example.
If the crashers include Chaundee or Franz, they get inbound duty too to slow the ballhandler.
"Make the extra pass and move the ball around. That's the key."
If that's the key, this game is already won. All year long Michigan has been making 'the extra pass' - often too extra! Open-enough shooters have often given up the shot for one more toss down the line to a guy that's even more open. If there's one thing I know this team will do, it's pass the ball to find an open shot.
It definitely works to Michigan's advantage. They still gotta go out and execute though lol
One of the most beautiful things about this team is the way the ball moves on O. They ALWAYS make the extra pass, and many times over the last weeks with conference tourneys and the NCAA tourney I have watched other teams NOT do that, and it does not end well, typically.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
This is where missing Livers really hurts I think. I remember last time UM played them, and like three guys would go for a blocked shot. I was constantly yelling through the first half that someone has to be open with such unsound defense, pass the ball. It sounds like they do something similar still. With that length and attempts to block shots, need to get into the lane to collapse the defense and kick out for open jumpers. It would be super nice to have a 40+% 3pt shooter with height for this game.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:59 AM ^
So, Johns?
March 24th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
Pump fake, drive to the basket, draw a foul. Rinse. Repeat. Brown, Wagner, Johns all match up size and ability wise to do this. Brandon is turning into a fearless foul magnet.
We probably won't get many OREBs because we simply don't go for them, especially against a team like this to whom we won't want to give transition opportunities.
The more likely way to take advantage of this is by getting into the lane and kicking for threes when they collapse on the driver. Smith, Brooks and Franz should be all over this. And then, per usual, Dickinson kick outs if they double.
LSU came in with awful defensive rebounding numbers and people thought we could exploit that but we didn't even try (and that was smart because of how good they are in transition). Michigan only rebounded 19% of LSU misses which is the third lowest rate for Michigan all season. That tells you that Michigan's ability to get OREBs is more about their willingness to try than the opponents ability to prevent them from doing it.
Michigan will probably try more against FSU because FSU's size means that they're not all getting out and running. But just get good shots and then get back on defense.
It's refreshing to read a hot take that doesn't claim our next opponent is the national champion-in-waiting, best team since the Dream Team.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:12 AM ^
THANK YOU! I have been a crusade against these scairdy cat Michigan fans. Each opponent we face is is the new jordans bulls. Meanwhile, Michigan program has racked up the most program wins since 2013 - at 20 - out of ANY program. 4 straight sweet 16s and folks act like we are YMCA caliber after each win. Hunter and Franz are a better duo than the vast majority of teams - even those still in the tourney!! Eli and Smith are an exceptionally experienced back court. Chaundee and Davis are high level contributors off the bench and all people wanna panic about is FSU length. Jesus...people need to leave that football energy at the door.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:35 AM ^
According to ESPN, that’s been Gonzaga for the last 5 years. According to Duck Vitale, it always has been and always will be Duke.
*Duke Vitale
March 24th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
I don't think this qualifies as a hot take . . . just a take.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^
Yeah, this game is going to transpire quite similarly to the 2018 matchup. I'm more concerned about facing Alabama, which is way better than Texas A&M was that year.
sweep the legs!
No, but I do have an irrational fear of sock puppets
Just let Chaundee ball out and we’ll be fine.
March 24th, 2021 at 11:00 AM ^
UM is a different team when he hits corner 3's as they are pretty much always available.
We're going to have to be rude to Polite at the 3 point line.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
Agreed, Polite scores mostly on wide-open threes....Brown & Wagner need to be in his grill all game.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
Walker isn't bad at shooting the 3 ball either. If we can defend the three point line on those two we should be ok.
FSU fans come Sunday.
I mean, that dude has a PhD from Michigan, but point taken.
Yes. And he was smart enough to bring a book to the game beforehand so that he wouldn't get bored.
March 24th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
The Michigan difference.
I'm pretty much concerned about every team we play after Livers went down.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:14 AM ^
Lol sad way to be a fan!
March 24th, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
That comes when we face teams like Alabama and Gonzaga not necessarily FSU.
Based on OP's title, I was expecting a concern troll thread. Surprisingly, no. Thanks for the highlights.
After his poor game against LSU - I think Mike Smith comes back and takes control of the court.
Not too concerned about our defense against FSU. On offense, it's going to be a rude awakening going against FSU (for both players and fans) after LSU. You're not going to have an easier time on offense all year than what we got against LSU.
FSU is a game where Livers height and shooting ability would have been key. He can spread the floor and at 6'8, still wouldn't have a problem shooting over anybody for FSU. Johns inability to spread the floor is just going to be killer.
March 24th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
I noticed that when Williams first entered the game he was hanging around the perimeter and LSU was totally lagging off of him, which basically meant the LSU was playing 5 on 4, unafraid of Williams' outside shooting. The next time Williams went in, he was no longer standing on the perimeter for long. As soon as his defender lagged off, he would slash towards the basket. He got one easy bucket that way. It was only a few plays, but a perfect example of how Coach Howard can quickly adjust. In many cases the adjustment doesn't have to be super obvious and lead to 10 points. Sometimes it only takes one or two good looks to throw off the defense and allow you back into your offense.
I'll label this "OT" but...
It is very likely that I am the shortest person to ever play HS basketball in the state of Michigan. I never played against anyone who was not at least 4 inches taller than me. So, for obvious reasons, these discussions about height differences always pique my interest.
There are most certainly some advantages/disadvantages with regard to height. However, on the offensive end a shorter player can very easily prey upon human nature and work the perceived disadvantage into a significant advantage. (Here, FSU's reported love of shot-blocking makes me smile.) Every player on the court was looking to block my shot-and not a single player on the court could ever resist the opportunity. But I was, also, never defended by a player who could stop me from penetrating-never. My penetration invariably dragged an additional defender or two with/toward me-looking for that highlight-reel block. Drive after drive, game after game and year after year I either drew a foul or was offered an excellent assist opportunity-against even the best coached teams in the conference. One game I shot 18 free throws AT undefeated, #1 ranked Leslie. BTW, I averaged 10 free throws per game.
There are two sides to these stories. I was most fortunate to play for a great coach...Juwan Howard and his staff are elite. Where there is challenge there is opportunity :) Go Blue!
Now this is an outside the box take. Well done.
March 24th, 2021 at 11:04 AM ^
The best penetration is always IN the box.
March 24th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
As a height challenged person, I prefer to think of it as "under the radar".
There's a reason Juwan seems to be heavily recruiting shorter PG (Mike Smith, Frankie Collins, Dug Mcdaniel, ect.)and I believe it is because he believes they can breakdown a defense.
March 24th, 2021 at 11:00 AM ^
Muggsy approves.
Now we need to know -- just how short are you???
I was honorable-mention all-state my sophomore year...all 5'1" 120 soaking wet pounds of me. By my senior year I had shot up to 5'2" :) ...and here at 68, if I stand as tall as possible, I can honestly say I'm still very nearly 5'2".
(Unfortunately, I got injured playing football as a junior year and I basically lost a year of basketball. I was a fearless competitor-it didn't always serve me well.)
Haa!! I was a basketballer at ~5'-3" in grade school (& 9th grade, the freshmen team). Not much of a shooter, but I could handle okay and got plenty of assists. I was better on defense - nobody could drive on me. And outside shooting at those ages isn't high percentage, so I was a stopper! Alas, that's all I got. Cool story, bruh!!