Opposing coaches scout UM BBall

Folks laughed at Tim Miles approach to handling Michigan, but I think he's done the best job so far given the talent he has. Essentially it was "shooters gonna shoot", "take away the inside game", "keep them in front of us". 

"He does it the right way -- clean -- and he adjust to his personnel. Before he had Burke, they didn't ball-screen a ton. They also used to play a ton of 1-3-1 defense and now he just sprinkles it in. He's a really good coach."

Just reeks of being from Izzo.

I'm always surprised how many commentators (or coaches in the article) say we lack depth. I think our team is pretty deep. 4 guys off the bench play quite a bit. I think a 9 man rotation is plenty deep and we know Bielfeldt can play too.

Who on earth called Smotrycz tough?

He's not just a shooter.

The MGoblog should make t-shirts that have Stauskas hanging on the rim that say "Not Just a Shooter". Also I don't think this team lacks toughness. The last few games, starting with the OSU game prove that. The way they have been battling on the boards, diving for loose balls, and playing better overall defense. 

Seems bizarre to say that our defense was better last year when all the stats say otherwise. The fact is that most of these types of scouting reports tend to be of the nitpicking variety, but it's always interesting to see.

I just don't understand why people think we're not that deep.  Sure, we play a 7 man rotation (Morgan, GRIII, Hardaway, Stauskas, Burke, McGary, Levert).  But Horford is working his way back into minutes, Spike plays as much as any backup to an All-American should, Max can give us minutes, and Vogrich and McLimans have each played decent sized roles on Tournament Caliber teams.  Eso is pretty good as a contingency plan as well.  Do these dummies expect us to play all 12 guys every game?  I just don't understand where the "not deep" complaint is coming from.

Also, using Smotrcyz as an example of experience and toughness last year is hilarious.  He had potential and I wish the best for him at Maryland...but does anyone actually miss him at this point?  He would have given us a different look off of the bench, but I can't see him accepting a 10-15 minute role while maintaining this chemistry (hence the transfer).  A LeVert for Evan trade seems like a win to me because I think we need that extra handle more than a stretch four this season.  

"They don't play much 1-3-1." SOMEONE NOTICED! Please tell the announcers...

“You know you're gonna be able to score, but they need that mentality on both ends of the floor. If they give it up defensively like they do offensively, they're gonna be a bitch.”



I have seen spurts of a swarming defense thus far, but seldom. The athleticism is there. If they can force the issue and create turnovers, it plays right into our offensive strength: transition. Hopefully it's a matter of gelling, but if they can develop the swagger on the defensive end as well...may god have mercy upon those that stand in their way.

Doing a player by player analysis, how do you match up against GRIII? If Burke's gonna' Burke, and you focus on perimiter defense to stop Hardaway/Stauskas, you still need a top end defender for GRIII, who is a stat filler and can do everything. What team can do all that when Michigan's 'WE ON' (as opposed to WE NOT ON vs. OSU)?

After tonight it get real, gonna' learn a lot about the salt of this team - @Indiana, OSU, @Wisc, @MSU. 

I would go with 'WE ON...later' when it came to the Ohio game.

“They have a base system to their offense, but it's a free-flowing system because they have talented players. There's a pattern and continuity to it so guys have freedom.”

I think Coach B is some sort of Zen master. He's created a strict system, and everyone has to know their part, but because the system is so regimented, once the players understand it they are actually much more free to do what needs to be done to score.

My question going into this year was whether Coach B was just a guy who could take medium-level talent and make it play over its head, or whether he was a coach who could take any talent (including high-end talent) and bring out their best. Often, the hard part is dealing with egos. Obviously, he's amazing at it. Right now, I think we have one of the best, if not the best, coaches in college basketball and football. The only difference is that Hoke hasn't yet had the opportunity to coach the type of players he ideally would like (MANBAWL!). If he can do what Beilein has done, I will be a happy alum.

"“I wonder if for long stretches, they can blue collar it up defensively. I don't know if toughness is the right word. You know you're gonna be able to score, but they need that mentality on both ends of the floor. If they give it up defensively like they do offensively, they're gonna be a bitch.” - some coach regarding Michigan

I have to wonder, as others do, what some of these guys are looking at as well, althugh regarding defense, I did find this quote amusing. It has been pointed out, but statistically, we are better than last year on defense. We're keeping opponents to 41.9% effective FG% as opposed to 46.8% last year, and we've gone from 176th to 51st in overall defensive efficiency. We've also cut about three points off the average opponent points per game too when compared to last year, which I would think is evidence of improvement in several areas.

I noticed the use of "Ohio" by one coach towards the bottom under the Leftovers heading.  I'd also like to know which coach doesn't think this team has depth?  That whole quote seems to go against all the others in the article.  Interesting read though.

I was just impressed that the OP spelled Nik's name wrong twice and in different ways.

I found it odd that one of the ways listed to beat Michigan was in the post. Minnesota tried that and lost at home. They are a heavy inside team. The last few years I would certainly have agreed with the beat them in the post sentiment but not this year.

Ask Hearn and Carmody to comment on that comment.