2018-19 wisconsin #1

Over the last several years, offenses have moved towards the spread ball screen — usually a pick and roll — as the base action, either with plays designed to generate those types of looks or in late clock situations. With Darius Morris running the show, John Beilein’s motion offense morphed into more of a pick and roll attack. Trey Burke, a bonafide superstar, took that offense to the next level. Michigan’s had several excellent ball screen guards, and Moritz Wagner added a new dimension with his versatility and ability to read the play as the screener. Spacing has never been a huge issue, as Beilein’s always prioritized three-point shooting.

Michigan’s still reliant on the ball screen game, and opponents must be able to slow down those actions in order to have a chance of upsetting the Wolverines. Only one team has been able to beat Michigan thus far: Wisconsin held them to just 0.82 points per possession, and plays that I charted as ball screens generated 0.92 points per possession (far below Michigan’s typical ball screen output). I charted 40 possessions in which ball screens were the terminal action — plays that ended in a shot attempt, turnover, or a foul — which accounted for 61% of Michigan’s total possessions.

I tried not to include dribble-handoffs, but may have inadvertently included a few. Michigan didn’t run much of that action in this game, and it could be a good option in the rematch. There isn’t much functional difference between a ball screen and a dribble-handoff, but the defense could have to cover it a little differently.

Anyways, here’s how Michigan did on ball screens:

Total

• 53 ball screens
• 10-19 on twos
• 5-14 on threes
• 2-4 on free throws
• 5 turnovers
• 37 points on 40 possessions

Here’s the chart:

Things discussed:

• Operation Paper Clip, fake NBA spies, most useless jobs in sports
• Charles: attack that guy!
• I want to see the flopping section of practice. Why aren't referees fouling Brad Davison out in three minutes?
• Maybe get that turnaround jumper going for Matthews again?
• Is Teske the best center to either side of the Fabs?
• The new assistants: Campanile is well-liked but it's Don Brown's D.
• Terry Mills calls in to defend himself vs Teske.

You can catch the entire episode on Michigan Insider's podcast stream on Podbean.

Segment two is here. Segment three is here.

THE USUAL LINKS

• Helpful iTunes subscribe link
• General podcast feed link
• Direct download link (right-click/save as)
• What's with the theme music?

Nobody's ever been called the Big Sleep.

This show is presented by UGP & The Bo Store, and if it wasn’t for Rishi and Ryan nobody would get our jokes. Our other sponsors are also key to all of this: HomeSure Lending, Peak Wealth Management, Ann Arbor Elder Law, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, the University of Michigan Alumni Association, Michigan Law Grad, Human Element, and Lantana Hummus

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1. Minnesota

starts at 1:00

Boners of the upper Midwest, beginning with the worst shooter allowed into a high major basketball game that we've ever seen. Sick of the step-backs. Not sick of Teske. Sick of sitting Teske sure.

2. Wisconsin

starts at 24:54

Speaking of boners. Don't know how the refs don't just murder Trice when he tries to make them look so bad. Inefficient offensive sets because they don't want to attack matchups they absolutely should attack. Iso once in awhile, John! It won't turn you into Bill Self.

3. Around the Big Ten, wsg Ace Anbender of Here

starts at 44:24

We lost a conference room, and not to a top 40 defense, weirdly. MSU-Maryland scares us—even without Langford they're a machine, and we have to respect how well they're using how defenses play Goins. Indiana's freefall—Romeo Langford just isn't a shooter, IU fans are Michigan football fans. Iowa's such an easy scout.

4. Inside the Crooked Blue Line, with Steve Lorenz of 247

starts at 1:08:17

Zach Charbonnet is not a five star: about five or six spots off. Trente Jones just outside the Top 100. Chris Hinton back to the top 50 after Army Game. Hinton: first time he went to a national competition. Mazi Smith also leapt 70 spots. Cornelius Johnson also up near the Top 150: fluid, two TD catches in the game. Karsen Barnhart: was Mr. 247 for a long time, moved up almost 100 spots. Rumler and Keegan both fell a few spots.

New coaches: Gattis is a 5-star recruiter. Campanile they think might be a star when he’s on a bigger stage. Harbaugh wanted guys who are passionate about recruiting.

MUSIC

• "Theme to The Last Kingdom"
• "Run Me Over"—The Babies
• "Drops"—Jungle
• “Across 110th Street”

THE USUAL LINKS

• Helpful iTunes subscribe link
• General podcast feed link
• Direct download link (right-click/save-as)
• What's with the theme music?

I know my dad was a little bit abusive but he's better than my stepdad.