MBB vs. Indiana Open Thread

Submitted by MGoShoe on

Go Blue, beat IU!

Storylines:

  • Michigan attempts to end its three game losing streak
  • Novak and Douglass return to their home state

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After beginning the season 9-2, Tom Crean’s Indiana squad has since hit a slide, dropping its last six contests. After two tough losses at the Las Vegas Classic to Northern Iowa (67-61) and Colorado (78-69), the Hoosiers have lost each of their fi rst four Big Ten contests to Penn State (69-60), Ohio State (85-67), Minnesota (67-63) and Northwestern (93-81). Indiana holds a 9-8 overall record (0-4 Big Ten).

Under John Beilein, the Wolverines are 2-2 against the Hoosiers, with the teams splitting their matchups last season. In 2009-10, Michigan fell at Assembly Hall in their Big Ten opener, 71-65 (Dec. 31), but came away victorious in Ann Arbor, 69-45 (Jan. 14). This season, the Hoosiers are led by sophomore Christian Watford, who leads Indiana with 16.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

  • Michigan will play three of its next four games, and expanding further fi ve of its next seven, on the road, starting with a game at Indiana (Jan. 15). Michigan had played 10 of its last 11 games in Crisler Arena, going 7-3 at home in that stretch.
  • Three of Michigan's six losses this season have come against three of top-fi ve ranked programs in the nation. U-M lost by just three to No. 4 Syracuse (53-50), lost by seven in overtime to No. 3 Kansas (67-60) and by just four to No. 2 Ohio State (68-64).
  • In conference play, Michigan is shooting a league-best 89.2 percent (33-of-37) from the free throw line in Big Ten games and is 47-of-54 (87 percent) over the last five games.
  • Overall, Michigan is second in the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (73.1 percent) and has two players in the top-10 in the conference in free-throw percentage. Tim Hardaway Jr. is eighth in the conference (81.5 percent) while Darius Morris ranks 10th in the league (76.8 percent).
  • U-M coach John Beilein needs to coach 15 more games to reach 1,000 total contests in his 33-year career. At the current pace, the 1,000th game will be the Wolverines' opening game at the 2011 Big Ten Tournament.
  • With 131 three-point fi eld goals, Stu Douglass is eighth all-time at U-M. Douglass needs four to move into seventh (Glen Rice, 135).
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Mannix

January 15th, 2011 at 9:07 PM ^

to create opportunities late in the clock seems to mirror the reliance on Harris to create late in the clock from last year.

That is a broad brush, but in this offense, I think Morris dribbles too much. If this were more like a drive and kick offense, I could definitely see Morris doing that; however, the O is quick reversals, back cuts and more reversals. Spacing is good, which allows Morris to dribble more than he ought, but their cuts and screens off the cuts is what is vexing me right now.

Their cuts serve no purpose except when they back cut off of overplays. Defenses don't really have to deny passes to our guys or overplay because when one of our guys gets the ball, other teams can keep them in front of them without the need for help.

The book is pretty easy on Michigan right now. It will get better and the book won't be as easy to read

Joined: 01/15/2009

MGoPoints: 12243

Mhpangr

January 15th, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^

Why can't we put Horford out there with McLimans or Morgan against bigger teams?  We always have 4 sprites out there with just our 1 "big".  Pathetic.

EDIT: I'm sorry I'm so fucking negative right now... it is just killing me to watch this horrible basketball for what seems like forever.  Even when we are in "close" games it seems like we don't play very well.

Joined: 01/03/2009

MGoPoints: 561

Hypnoticmoto

January 15th, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^

Is there a reason why beilein pulled Hardaway Jr. and sat him? Is there a reason why mclimans is in? Also, the lineup consisting of Morris, Douglass, Vogrich, Novak, and one of the 3 bigs is never going to work, period.

Joined: 08/25/2009

MGoPoints: 117

Blue boy johnson

January 15th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^

I can't begin to tell you how irritated I get when Morris over dribbles. Who the hell is going to go for his shoulder fake to the left. The whole world knows he is going to his right.

Joined: 03/15/2009

MGoPoints: 6656

Brewcityitalian

January 15th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^

Like i said all season

 

we have no inside game and no bangers inside

this team has no movement inside, doesn't set picks or anything inside

and settles for 3's all day

no cutting to the basket, no pick and rolls

 

I like coach B, and his fundamentals, but in regards to his inside game recruiting and skills, he has been horrible in this area since getting to Michigan !

Joined: 08/06/2009

MGoPoints: 474

BigBlue02

January 15th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^

His recruiting big men is just fine. A little bit of bad luck....combined with us being extremely young and you have a bad presence down low.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: -1003

Mannix

January 15th, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^

I don't know if most of the cuts are supposed to be flex cuts or simply fill cuts, but I think it's fairly easy to play man against this offense simply because most of the cuts aren't threatening.

WVU's offense was predicated on a ton of back cuts and flex cuts; they also had physical players who could shoot and get to where they wanted on the floor off the ball.

This really is WVU 'lite' and until Michigan gets more players who can go inside as well as be a threat on the outside, you're going to see what seems like 20 passes per possession that don't take a player closer to the basket or serve a purpose other than to simply reverse the ball to set up the next cut to the top of key.

Joined: 01/15/2009

MGoPoints: 12243

aaamichfan

January 15th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^

We're playing terrible basketball, but the refs have definitely called this game in favor of Indiana so far. Smotrycz's third foul was one of the worst calls I've seen all year, and they've called some very iffy charges as well.

Joined: 10/23/2009

MGoPoints: 14362

goody

January 15th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^

they haven't helped.  Indiana is playing aggressive defense on Morris and not getting called for the bumps and hand checking but Smotrycz has got 3 bump fouls.  Not the refs fault they can't hit a jumper but its got to be effecting how they're playing defense.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1532

A2MIKE

January 15th, 2011 at 8:52 PM ^

I am sure he is a nice guy... but this speaks to the problem with this team.  He is not a big ten caliber player.  Beilein's recruiting has lacked any post players and what do we have signed for next year and the year after ... 3 more guards.

Joined: 10/10/2009

MGoPoints: 1811

BigBlue02

January 15th, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^

Why does everyone say he hasn't recruited any post players? Morgan is going to be pretty good after, you know, his redshirt fucking freshman year, Smotrycz is going to be pretty good after, you know, his fucking true freshman year, and Benzig has played really well over seas. This shit needs to stop.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: -1003

BigBlue02

January 15th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^

You have apparently forgotten about Benzig and Cronin. For someone who has followed Michigan basketball for so long, I would think you would know about those 2. I think Beilein is trying not to get any big men though. I hear he told Amir Williams to go fuck himself because he wouldn't fit in at Michigan.  I agree though, all of our guys should be dominating as redshirt freshmen.

I also hear that true freshmen like Smotryz are not allowed to put on any weight. He will stay exactly like he is for his 4 years here.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: -1003