Thoughts on MSU part 3
I'm itching for a discussion on the BTT title game tomorrow.
Defensively, I think UM should consider switching all-5 defensively (at least when Ward is not on the floor), and at the very least switching the 1-4 ball screens between Winston and Goins. The combination of Winston's driving/foul drawing and Goins on the pick and pop has been really problematic. If you put Matthews on Winston and Livers on Goins, the switch doesn't leave us in too terrible of a position. Simpson can then shut down McQuaid and switch onto Winston when either Matthews or Livers heads to the bench.
If we go with something else, at the very least I think the goal should be to make Winston beat us with points, similar to how we tend to play against Happ. He's hobbled already, and making him score rather than assist I think gives us a better chance.
Offensively, Tillman's ability to switch onto Simpson makes things a real challenge, and I don't have many thoughts other than hope we win enough 1 on 1 matchups. Maybe try to drive Livers, especially if Goins is on him, to try and draw fouls and/or help.
Can we brainwash Izzo into thinking Ward can take Teske and needs to start? Tillman terrifies me.
Caveats about Izzo being a huge whiner aside -- he's coached these first two games really well, going out of style to switch all 5 against us. I give him some credit for those 2 wins. Hope Beilein comes up with something to counter
The last game was decided on the foul disparity and that's it. MSU outplayed and outcoached us the first time, but the largest foul disparity in ANY Big Ten game this season was the difference in EL. Maybe give Izzo credit for working the refs, but that's not really coaching per se.
You're giving coaching too much credit in the first game. I don't think Matthews impact on defense and toughness can be understated, and I am going to go out on a limb and predict we win somewhat comfortably tomorrow. Michigan will defend better than they have and they will shoot better from three. X will outplay Winston, Ward will impact them in a negative way, and there won't be a homer ref. Of course, this could all backfire, but I like their chances.
March 16th, 2019 at 11:58 PM ^
IMO that's 100% coaching, per se or no se.
best part is, we get to find out tomorrow...they've played each other 80 minutes in the last few weeks: who is going to come out with a game plan that has new wrinkles, and who is going to come out with the energy...
good times. can't wait.
March 17th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
The first game, MSU had a good game plan and UM had too many of their trademark scoring droughts. The second game, Michigan was poised and came ready to play. The ridiculous foul trouble forced the young kids to stay in way too long at the end of the first half, absolutely killing the rythm. They were never able to get it back.
The key today will be hitting the shots that they have been against Iowa and Minny, and staying out of foul trouble. Izzo is well aware, so I anticipate him being on top of his game whining to the refs from the get go.
You guys have constructed three hilarious fictions that I see popping up repeatedly on this board:
1) Tillman is better than Ward / Ward is not as good as Teske. These are both demonstrably false, and your reality distortion on this point is incredibly amusing
2) Refs decided the last game. Michigan was getting away with murder in the first half. Guess what: we’re built to attack and put the other team in foul trouble. It fucking happens, get over it. We’re the poor school... we don’t have the scratch needed to buy off the refs.
3) You’re the more talented team. I’m not sure why your posters keep saying this? We’ve got a squad of guys that were highly regarded recruits, they’ve been together as a nucleus for three years now, and they’ve beaten you soundly in both meetings.
The cognitive dissonance is... actually pretty enjoyable to see, you’re pretzeling yourselves HARD.
Goins is shooting the lights out from three. Put Matthews in his grill and take him completely out of the game.
Sparty is good, and they're peaking just as we are. Should be a great game.
Let's win round three!
The amount of set straight on open looks he gets is insane
If Livers stays hot we win tomorrow
Livers!? The whole team needs to stay hot; take off the maize and blue shades because Spartans are good. It's so good to see us play with enthusiasm and confidence again; it was very disconcerting to see how they fell into a 'skittishness', especially on offense. These past two days they have played assertively, crisply, and when they've positioned themselves for a shot, it goes up with authority. They look like they've matured a little as a team. I'm not going to say the Spartans are going down for sure, but I like our chances to make it three in a row.
March 16th, 2019 at 11:31 PM ^
settle down, pal
Best chance of all three to win. They are on a roll right now, but Simpson has been owned so far against MSU, so we'll see.
Winston has been really, really good. But owned???? Cumong, man.
Regardless, this is the key battle. If we are able to limit Winston, we'll win.
I don't like the idea o putting Mathews on Winston - but at this point I would probably try it, at least on the first possession or two, or maybe spring it on them after the first dead ball, to see how it goes. I'd also try a) zone, and b) running Simpson off screen after screen on offense to get some bodies on Winston.
I would not run zone against McQuaid, Goins and Winston. They will shoot over it.
Awful take. Glad you aren’t coach JB. Zone? We are a great D team. Yes, Z hasn’t played well against MSU, but mainly 2 games w/o Matthews. Plus, we will get refs that will let them play a bit. Like they have most of this Big Ten tournament so far.
If Winston is limited we have a great chance. He looked beat today. Apparently has a toe, knee and foot (opposite the toe) injuries.
Yes, and a hernia, an impacted wisdom tooth, ingrown toenail, syphilis, and a raging case of herpes. It's amazing he can even put on his uniform.
Don't forget the pulled labia -- my wife says those are a biatch!
I expect to see Winston play in a full body cast tomorrow. Poor Tom can’t catch a break from the injury bug.
I don't understand how he's so good - if I didn't know his age I would guess he was about 40; he always looks stoned and/or like he's about to fall asleep and he has no muscle definition and runs like he has a bad back.
Like a damn hyena who is far more agile than they look.
Ashy Larry from Chappell’s show
March 16th, 2019 at 10:01 PM ^
That's amazing. Spot on.
March 16th, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
I agree. The kid plays much better than he looks.
March 16th, 2019 at 10:41 PM ^
Maybe this is his make-a-wish...
So true.
It’s a shame Tom has to keep coaching the way he’s gotta coach... really feel for the guy. So much adversity
Is THIS the game Tom puts the ribbon back on?
How soon will Tom start yelling at the refs?
over/under on possessions until Izzo is screaming at an official: 1.5
under.
My money is on "during warmups".
He probably already has via attempted ESP with the crew tomorrow.
He’s probably yelling at them right now to get a leg-up.
We're going to win. Why? Because Ward is back and so is Matthews. It is written.
I’m not a basketball Xs and Os person, but I think whoever finds Tillman on him needs to stay the hell away from whoever has the ball.
yeah, it's just tough if that person is Teske. Putting Teske in the corner is just not something our offense is built do to.
I do think that playing small (Livers at the 5) whenever Ward is on the bench might be the way to go
Though we can be effective with Teske at the high post. He's got good vision, can drive, and can step out to three.
MSU's style pretty much eliminates the drive (Tillman is quicker) and the step out (they switch all of his screens). Putting him in the low post is the better option if he's on the court, and we've tried that a bit the past 2 games, but it's not UM's bread and butter whatsoever
You may be right, but I don't agree. Setting Teske up high takes Tillman away from the basket, and Teske is really good at both drawing doubles and finding cutters/open wings.
He doesn't have to drive on Tillman every time, just enough to keep him honest. As for switching on the step out, Teske is tall enough to shoot over almost anyone.
I really love the Simpson Teske 2 man game with Teske up high.
I'm trying to remember even a single time when Beilein made it a point ot work the low post with a center.
It's just not in his offense.
Nor am I. I believe Matthews will go off tomorrow and caring it through the tournament.
Michigan vs Sparty is for the #2 seed in the West vs #1 seed Gonzaga. Tomorrow's game is essentially a regional bracket NCAA final-game, because the winner of UM/Sparty tomorrow is a lock to defeat Gonzaga in the west bracket and make the Final Four. #GoBlue
Wouldn’t quite go that far.
Gonzaga is a good team. Yes, probably the weakest of the possible one seeds but still a very good team.
They’re front court is lights out and can stretch the floor. I do think Michigan is one of the best teams in the country this year and there are going to be many teams that can win it all.
Shouldn't the top team in the B1G get a higher seed than 3 loss Gonzaga which was unable to win their conference tournament? I mean, they do consider strength of schedule, right?
Yes, Gonzaga beat Duke. But Michigan beat North Carolina, a team which is about equal to Duke this year. Gonzaga lost to UNC by 13.
I didn't think we had a chance for a 1 seed before the tournament, but the combination of some upsets in other tournaments, Michigan's utter dominance against Iowa and Minny, and a chance to show we can beat MSU might just be enough.
It's a nice problem to have - 2 seed at the worst!
IMO, Gonzaga should not be a 1, period. It's just not an apples-to-apples comparison between them and any other elite teams.
Yes, they beat Duke, but UM beat Villanova/Purdue/UNC in the pre-season, and if we got to play the WCC slate instead of the B1G we might damn well be undefeated right now
I agree, and St. Mary's is NOT good this year. Gonzaga blew them off the floor in their earlier matchups - they looked like a high school team.
For some reason, our pasting of NC doesn't seem to carry much weight with the pundits; maybe it will mean more to the committee.
Yeah. We beat UNC by 17 points. Michigan State's biggest non-conference win was at Florida by 4 points.