TheCube

January 11th, 2019 at 10:49 AM ^

Trigger warning unpopular opinion: 

 

MSU seems to be more in rhythm and is probably the better team right now. Come Feb/March I doubt that will be the same case. 

Then again this team has a knack for playing up or down to its opponent even tho they’re covering the spread. It just doesn’t feel like it. Minor quibble. 

Joined: 12/19/2018

MGoPoints: 31570

Beilein 4 Life

January 11th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^

Why is MSU playing better right now? Because they beat a shitty Ohio State team that just lost to .500 Rutger on the road? Beating a shitty Purdue team that hung around with them for 35 minutes by 20 at home?

MSU looks good recently, but Michigan has looked every bit as dominant. Michigan has played at Illinois and NW, home against IN, PSU, and Purdue. MSU has played at OSU and Rutger, home against Purdue Iowa and NW. I suspect they will drop one or both of their next two games at PSU and Nebraska. We have very similar schedules

Joined: 06/19/2018

MGoPoints: 4414

ijohnb

January 11th, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^

You don't beat a team that "hung with you for 35 minutes" by 20.  State was up 13 at halftime.  Purdue did not hang with them.

Iowa was ranked and State annihilated them.  Northwestern took us to the wire and State destroyed them. 

State has been without their primary perimeter scorer and best defender as well. 

They are playing well and beating teams more convincingly than we are right now. 

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

TrueBlue2003

January 11th, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^

The eye test and metrics all agree with you.  MSU is playing out of their minds right now.  Should be really fun when these teams meet.

I have to give the head-to-head edge to M until I see Winston get the better of Simpson.  In two meetings last year, Simpson absolutely owned him and despite Winston having a really good season otherwise.  Matchup still favors M until proven otherwise.

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 38075

The Fan in Fargo

January 11th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^

I'll tell you what there chachi(TheCube). Show me a large percentage of the teams in the past who just blow out those opponents that they are superior to and then show me how they ended up at the end when they got in a dog fight. I guarantee you'll find the majority when stacked up against that opponent who hit back was the one that knocked them off. I'm super super fucking okay with blowing out UNC, Purdue and Nova and then battling with teams(lesser opponent) that are giving it their best shot of the season. You damn right boy!! Michigan is fine.

Joined: 09/04/2016

MGoPoints: 1877

MgoHillbilly

January 11th, 2019 at 10:52 AM ^

Just the right amount of melanin? But for some reason it is more concentrated in some players than others.  The situation will probably sort itself out in about 1000 years with interracial marriage on the rise (and assuming robots don't take over).  I'm doing my part.  

Joined: 01/04/2017

MGoPoints: 23646

FrozeMangoes

January 11th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^

I would say depth, outside shooting and free throw shooting. I don't know if these are true weaknesses or weaknesses relative to their strengths.  Free throw shooting has improved.  Outside shooting can be worked around and Poole can always carry everyone else.  Mathews and Iggy have other ways to score when their shot isn't falling.  Depth scares me the most.  They are more than fine right now but they are one or two bad fouls from playing some guys that aren't yet ready. 

In my opinion depth is always the best weakness to have as you only really worry about it if your top guys are legit.  No one on bad teams worry about depth since they have to worry about their starters somehow doing starter things. 

Joined: 08/12/2017

MGoPoints: 4183

TrueBlue2003

January 11th, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^

They're shooting over 36% from three which is more than a percentage point better than last year and 75th in the country so I wouldn't say it's a weakness.  Not raining threes from above like some Beilein teams have but perfectly acceptable outside shooting.

And the depth is exactly as you say.  That's something that is partially a result of having a really good and versatile top 7 such that it's as much about preferring to keep them on the floor than playing our 8th and 9th guys.  You saw Sunday that with Livers out and Teske in foul trouble, we did go to the bench and Johns was fine.  I suspect that he's as good or better than most freshmen that are playing in their respective teams rotations at the 8th/9th spot but since M's top 7 are better than most teams, we don't need/want to go that deep.

So FT shooting?  I guess?  And that's a pretty minor aspect of the game.

One thing that mayyybe will bite them in a close game is not having a defined "go-to" guy when a big shot is needed.  Part of that is because Matthews, Poole, Iggy and Z all have some alpha dog in them and sort of take turns.  So I think it's actually good they can rotate that role per matchups.

Just not a glaring weakness.  And that's why they're 16-0.

Joined: 01/05/2010

MGoPoints: 38075

MH20

January 11th, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^

Based on the "Andrew Dakich" and ".gifs" tags I'm going to guess it has something to do with a lack of highlighted bench mob insanity.

Joined: 10/30/2008

MGoPoints: 40411

Maize N' Ute

January 11th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^

Michigan's biggest concern is the depth.  Getting Johns and DeJesus prepped and ready to go will be instrumental for this team down the stretch.

The one thing I seriously dislike through 16 games is how Michigan continues to play down to their competition.  While Illinois was never in doubt, it's annoying seeing such a bad team hang around for so long.  I would like to see some urgency when they play the Illinois of the world.  

Outside of that....maybe consistently hitting 3's.

 

Joined: 02/01/2018

MGoPoints: 6332