Predictions for Mich/NC State bball

NC State struggled the past few games, getting annihilated by Okie State and being taken to the wire by UNC-Asheville. I think they'll play better against us tomorrow, but Michigan pulls it out 73-67.

The most impressive thing about this team so far is the rebounding numbers they have put up.  The out-rebounded 2 very good rebounding teams by a good margin.  NC-State is not as big as Pitt or K-State.  Their guard play will keep it close, but the Crisler crowd will be a huge advantage and Tim Hardaway is playing on another level right now.

Mitch McGary loses a turnover because he is overenthusiastic, but compensates for it by doing at least three awesome things.

Timmy continues to roll.

GR3 does more one and done stuff. :-()

McGary adds much energy.

Stauskas keeps filling it up.

Spike does Spike.

Best of rest do what they do.



UM 82 NCST 67

They have the talent and athleticism to beat Michigan. It's quite possible that they were simply overlooking UNC Ashville because they have a big game against Michigan.

I still think Michigan wins this one 75-69

In the season to date, excluding the exhibitions for a moment, we've won by an average score of 81-56, but I think NC State plays serviceable defense and steps up a bit for this one (NC State has beaten its opponents by 11 points, on average). This is a good matchup really when it comes to personnel and relative talent, but Michigan pulls it out, however, in 75-65-ish fashion.

Stauskas goes off for 20+, further solidifying the notion that the Canadian Mamba is one of the best freshmen in the country/world.

83-59

This is not a game that we can afford a lot of turnovers. NC State will run off turnovers and misses just the same. Having said that I think we can run with the best of them this year.

Mich        79

NC State  72

74-67 Michigan pulls it off. I think this game will be close with us NC St having to foul late

No clue what to think about NC State.  Picked to win the ACC, debuted at #6, but two pretty bad losses already makes me wonder if they're all they're cracked up to be.  I like Michigan in it, by 12-15 points.

games. Goes in with the best game plans in the country, somehow manages to keep the kids tethered even as he shows them freedom within his system. Obviously, they buy in big time. The fact that Burke has sometimes looked like the biggest worry--like the third or fourth-best NBA prospect some nights--is insane. 

With a few days to prep for any team, Beilein rarely blows it. Michigan 82- NC State 57.

I have seen each game so far.  I think the confidence coming out of the NY win will translate into a blow-out of the 95-67 fashion.

I live a mile from NC State's arena and have seen them play several times (although not this year).  I can tell you that the two teams match up reasonably well on paper.

Burke vs Brown    Slight edge to Michigan.  Burke is awesome but Brown is good (and taller)

Hardaway vs Purvis     Slight edge to Michigan.  Hardaway has been great this year but don't sleep on Purvis

Stauskus vs Wood     Slight edge to NC State.  Wood is a senior with much more experience.  Stauskus can be more explosive.

GRIII vs Warren      Push.   Two great freshmen.

McGary vs Leslie       Edge to NCSU.  You never really know what you're going to get with CJ Leslie.

Morgan vs Howell      Push.  However, I think that Michigan has the ability to bring in Horford to add a little depth at "big man".  This gives an overall edge to Michigan.

NC State can be VERY good if they keep their heads in the game.  I don't know how likely that is for this game.   Michigan's depth and home court advantage should be the difference.  Michigan wins 72 - 66.

This NC State team will be awesome come tournament time, but they are still learning how to play together.  At home, Michigan should win by 6, and this will be a great game to add to Michigan's resume going forward.

67-61

I really like how the early season schedule is giving Michigan experience playing against a lot of styles. In the NIT, they played two teams that want to slow the game down and bang on the boards (Pitt & K State), now they'll play a team with elite perimeter players who wants to push the ball and beat defenders off the dribble. Later, in Arkansas, they'll play a team that believes in all out pressure all the time. 

We more than passed the test in the NIT, getting legitimately great rebounding performances from Hardaway and Robinson. (I was behind the basket 7 rows back at MSG and the aggressiveness with which both those guys went for the ball was amazing). This game will test how well the freshmen move their feet on defense and how well they understand the help concepts (something that looked a bit shaky at times against Pitt). The 1-3-1 might not work as well, given the height that NC State has at the point. I'm sure we'll try it, but NC State will have prepped it more than Pitt had.

NC State hasn't played well thus far, but it's hard to tell if that's early season issues figuring stuff out or a genuine problem with the players on the floor, as in Belein's third season. I'll guess that Robinson and Stauskas get exposed a bit on defense, but that they shine on the offensive end in a game that's a bit more open than the NIT games with Michigan winning something like 78-72.

First big time home game. 72 - 57 good guys.

Now, anyone want to predict how scathing Brian's game recap will be today? My prediction: PAIN!!!

Id say 77-69 michigan

Glenn Robinson does something that makes you say "wow, what an athlete!" and then doesn't do something that we all wish he would, a la pump fake, dribble once and take a 17 footer.

I don't think it will be as close as most people on this thread are predicting. I think we'll beat them by about 15-20. 

NCState needs this game. If they are up at the half, they win...75-69 NCState...

If we are up at the half, they fold.....77-54 UM

70-63 Meeeechigan, Stauskas goes for 20. 

I go to NC State now for graduate school, and I am glad I came here at the right time, when their basketball team just got really good. They are just like us with 2 studs and 3 phenomenal freshman. We have Burke and Hardaway alongside McGary, Robinson, Stauskas. They have Brown and Leslie, alongside Purvis, Warren, and Lewis. They also have Wood, who is a bigger and better Stauskas and rarely mises. They also have Howell who is a bigger and better Morgan, who is simply more dominant, he put 23 and 15 against UNC-Asheville, and was the difference in that game. So he can be seen as a real threat also.

I think we win a close game 81-80, simply because we have home court advantage. I think they played poorly against Oklahoma State, because their two key big men Leslie and Howell got into early foul trouble, and only played 17 and 16 mins respectively that game...they usually play double that. UNC-Asheville is no walk over team, they gave Syracuse lots of trouble last year in the first round of the NCAA tournament, and Syracuse had to come back after hafltime and barely beat them in the end. I think we are pretty evenly matched, but I don't think people should look at them as a walk over team, just because of the last two games. They have a lot of talent, team chemistry is an issue according to one of my friends who is a manager on the team. I went to 1 game when they played Miami (OH) and they looked great...

As always, GO BLUE!!