They've Gone To Plaid
1/25/2018 – Purdue 92, Michigan 88 – 17-6, 6-4 Big Ten
77%, 7'2", cumong man [Marc-Gregor Campredon]
The most absurd thing about last night's basketball game, which was a nonstop avalanche of absurd things, was that I had a reference point for it. That is, of course, last year's delirious first-round NCAA tournament game against Oklahoma State, which finished 92-91. Last night, which is officially That Michigan-Purdue Game, was 92-88 in an identical number of possessions. (Give Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman the free throws he inexplicably bricked on a night he could have tossed up a blindfolded halfcourt shot and called bank and the similarities get downright eerie.)
That number: 65, so if we do some division... carry the 8... yep, it comes out to plaid. Because I have another exact reference point for this:
I can probably stop typing now, because the above clip sums it up: some introductory exchanges, a jump past anything that could be considered a reasonable or safe velocity, a sudden stop, and then... I'm fine with it. Also my head has been crushed. I would like to fall over now.
Sometimes they get to have Nik Stauskas in evil kiss-blowing ninja mode. Sometimes they get to have Trey Burke.
The thing about Purdue is that they're sort of all Stauskas? Not Haas. Haas is not Stauskas. But he did remind me of that year Jared Sullinger and John Diebler were on the same Ohio State team. Sullinger spent his days posting up with absurd efficiency and kicking it out to Diebler, who hit 50% of his 227(!) threes. OSU was 34-3 and the #1 team on Kenpom that year. It's a good pattern, having an ogre who can hit free throws surrounded by a bonanza of shooters.
That OSU team hit 42% of its threes as a team. 2018 Purdue is at 44%. Meanwhile, designated ogre Haas is now a high-usage 7'2" guy who could throw Brock Lesnar through a brick wall; if he had sufficient minutes to rank on Kenpom leaderboards he'd be in the top 20 in FT rate. He hits those free throws at a 77% clip. He does not get sufficient minutes to rank because Purdue also has a 7'3" Dutchman who's half windmill.
So I don't know what the hell you're supposed to do if you don't have someone capable of checking Haas, and nobody really does. I don't know what you're supposed to do against Haas when that team has five different guys hitting 40+% from three. Even when you do get a good defensive possession in, I don't know what you're supposed to do to prevent Carsen Edwards from getting off bad-idea shots that go down anyway. I don't know how to score on the windmill, although Xavier Simpson evidently does.
I mean, I do know what you're supposed to do: you're supposed to have Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman leave his damn body, shoot 63% from two and 57% from three as a team, and have a +3 shot volume advantage. EXCEPT THAT DOESN'T WORK.
Teams that score 1.3 PPP or better are 209-1 in college basketball this year (h/t @totally_t_bomb's site). Michigan is the 1. Wolverines scored 1.35 PPP at Purdue and lost last night. Game Recap: https://t.co/iP972nwoAV
— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) January 26, 2018
So, okay. I accept that this is the year Purdue has Stauskas and Burke and THJ and GRIII all on the same team. Matt Painter ain't never done nothing to me except leave my corpse gently cooling in the dusty street, so I hope Purdue wins the whole damn thing in March. Still super pissed off about that review from the Crisler game, though.
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Meanwhile for Michigan, it seems clear that this is not The Year, like it is for Purdue and their four seniors. So we can take equal parts frustration, amazement, and hope from this plaid-ass game.
Michigan's thudding offense from the previous three games was gone. Whether that was an opportunity to rest or practice the ways in which opponents were dealing with the Michigan offense I don't know, but a Beilein offense was never going to stay 20-points-in-a-half broken. Zavier Simpson, as mentioned, was able to get several shots up and in against the human windmill, and a couple of misses were Kobe assists. When not playing Purdue the defense is very good, and there's a bunch of talent coming in next year.
Also I am going to spend the next two months squinting at John Teske and hoping. It could happen!
January 26th, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^
The second half was amazing. Not sure how the nets didn't end up in ashes on the court at some point. I'm bummed Michigan lost but that half of basketball was pretty glorious.
As a bonus, at one point MAAR gave me a pristine example of a "heat-check" 3 point attempt that I could use to explain the concept to my son.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^
It's just good basketball. Good teams battling, throwing haymakers back and forth. Seniors rising to the occasion. SUCKS we didn't win one of the two games. But you know what doesn't suck? Watching that game. Just good fun. That's what sports is supposed to be.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
Bingo. My thoughts exactly. Both games between Michigan and Purdue looked like they could've been Final Four games.
Both teams seemingly always had an absurd answer to whatever the other team did. Easy Haas post up, no problem, Rahk will just hit a 3. Oh, Carson Edwards just drilled a 3, no problem, we'll get an easy layup on a pick-and-roll.
These back and forth games were beautiful displays of basketball. The refs were spot on in game 2, and you just gotta tip your cap to Purdue.
I am hoping Purdue doesn't choke this year, because I like Vince Edwards, and I think overall they are a good group of players who deserve a long run in March.
If Michigan doesn't win it all, I wouldn't be mad with Purdue winning.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
the hoop was amazing. Very little pass around the perimiter for 25 seconds before a bad shot. Each team was attacking like crazy early on the shot clock. Rece Davis was having a hard time finishing a thought before one of the teams would attack and score. While Michigan shot a lot of 3's, I was amazed at how they attacked the rim against Purdue.
It's weird to go up against a team that is equally good at hitting 3s. Purdue is a fun team to watch, and I will definitely be rooting for them to do well.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
It was also fun seeing Beilein and Painter do handshakes at the end, with Painter just acting overwhelmed with how tough Michigan was. Like, I'm sure they aren't best friends, but it feels like the two coaches have a healthy respect for each other and games like this must be fun.
January 26th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^
Painter's comments have been gold with the Michigan games this year and his post-game last night was no exception
Q: "What were some of the things they did offensively that caused some problems?" Matt Painter: "Well, they didn't miss. Shit, there it is right there."
January 27th, 2018 at 7:59 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 1:09 PM ^
Michigan has a good opportunity to get off the 8/9 seed line with the last 8 games of the regular season. They'll be the odds-on favorites in at least 6 of those games and could be favored in all 8. Go 7-1 in that stretch and you're at least up to a 7 seed, potentially even higher.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:28 PM ^
means we'll make a deep run. Said run crushing the hopes of a poor unsuspecting 2 seed ill equipped to deal with either team last night
January 26th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^
We had the correct gameplan to beat Purdue. Play man, and leave Teske/Wagner on Haas 1-on-1. The only problem is they forced him to go to his left once, which is his weakness. It was even pointed out at halftime. The only time they did that, he airballed a shot near the basket.
Purdue is beatable if you have length on the perimeter. A team like the vintage Syracuse teams with length to play the 2-3 zone would give their offense fits.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^
Possibly, but I think Vince Edwards would be the x-factor for beating a vintage Cuse zone.
He's a tall dude, good handles, athletic, and can score from anywhere. He gets the ball at the FT line, and he's surrounded by shooters, could Kobe-assist to Haas, or take it himself. He'd be the Mitch McGary that breaks the zone every time.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 6:59 PM ^
and a 7'2 guy that would require the zone to collapse, no way. Purdue would destroy a zone. They have the exact sort of team you would not want to play zone against.
A team with a big defender that can keep Haas 8 feet or more away from the basket and perimeter defenders that can stay with their shooters is best suited to defend them.
I actually think OSU might do a good job. Wesson is big enough to keep Haas from backing him down (probably?) and their perimeter defenders are good. Ward might be able to check Haas, but not sure Langford and Winston are up for the perimeter challenge.
Re: the BTT. We'll probably (hopefully) meet them in the semis as the 4/5 and 1 seeds respectively. Interestingly, kenpom has us projected to tie Nebraska at 11-7, in which case they'd get the 4 seed and the second round bye. I like our chances of going 6-2 to finish 12-6 but Nebraska is a solid team that has a very easy schedule the rest of the way so they certainly could tie us or even beat us out for the 4 seed.
January 27th, 2018 at 8:06 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^
...it's easy to imagine this team making a run in the tournament. They can go toe to toe with anyone.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:59 PM ^
the "The Year" moniker (capitalized) means a once-in-a-generation team...and saying that this isn't one of those teams does not mean we can't make a deep run, up to and including a national championship. not saying we will, certainly, but boy...there's literally not a team in the country that i'm afraid of this year.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^
I definitely think Teske can be something very close to Haas when he's done. If Wagner leaves and he gets full reign next year, I expect him to really develop from a solid back up to bad ass.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
does with Haas.
All he has to do on offense is what he did last night: finish off the pick and roll, set good screens and get OREBs. He was great last night and the offense hummed along with him rolling off ball screens aggressively. Dude had 8 points on 4 (!) shots with 3 OREBS in 14 minutes.
Remember, the 2014 team was the best offensive team ever under Beilein with Jordan Morgan attempting zero threes all year (Horford, his backup only took two).
Surround last night's Teske with guys like Stauskas (Poole), Freshman D Walt (Z), Caris (Matthews) and GRIII (Livers) and there's no reason we can't be a top 5 offense next year. And that's a much, MUCH better defensive team than we were in 2014.
That's why people are excited about next year. Oh, and that doesn't even include the freshmen.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
Probably not "The Year" for a national championship, but this team could definitely make a run into the second weekend of the NCAA tournament (as well as potentially the finals of the BTT).
January 26th, 2018 at 6:33 PM ^
not hard to see us get into the second weekend of the tourney, which would be an incredible feat in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^
About bball, but I felt like playing Teske and Wagner at the same time should've/could've been tried last night.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
While I don't think this is terrible, I think this may mess a bit with the spacing Michigan had going last night which allowed for some lanes to the hoop. When Purdue hits contested threes like they did last night, they're probably just the best team in the country.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:03 PM ^
I think the problem is Wagner probably can't guard V. Edwards either.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:08 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 2:16 PM ^
Against basically anyone else, you could put Wagner on their worst offensive player at the 3/4 and roll it out in spot minutes. But when everyone can hit from deep and also has the ability to drive the lane, Wagner's defensive limitations are just too exposed.
January 26th, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 1:56 PM ^
Final score: M 128, Purdue 94. That was the game at old Yost when Cazzie Russell scored 28, Ollie had 21, John Clawson 21, Jim Myers 22, for a team total of 128 and Dave Schelhase hit an amazing 57 points for Purude on 42 shots (no 3's!). Just like that Edwards guy, he could never miss. Michigan took 96 shots. What an incredible game!! Has M ever had 4 get over 20 points in the same game ever since?
January 26th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
but my dad wouldn't even remember that game!
January 26th, 2018 at 6:07 PM ^
No Craig, we don't remember.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
I actually think this could be a year when Michigan makes a run, and this game furthered that belief. Purdue has the #10 adjusted defense even after this game, and yet Michigan went toe-to-toe with them on the road. They've lost to a probable #1 seed by a total of 5 points. Other than that inexplicable 2-game losing streak against Tennessee and Western Kentucky, Purdue has been murdering most teams they face, and yet Michigan has given them their toughest fights during their 16-game win streak.
Michigan also has a comfortable win on the road against the #6 team in the country. They can hang with anyone in the country, and if last night was MAAR taking that half-season leap we've seen before, then all bets are off. Michigan is the 1 in 209-1 per that tweet, and my guess is that if they put up a performance similar to this in any other game they win going away.
They're going to be on that 8/9 line barring a crazy run in the conference tourament, but that's okay. Michigan has played a couple of 1-ish seeds and other than UNC played them close and won one on the road. I'm sure if you asked Purdue fans and players who they want to see in the 2nd round, Michigan is at the bottom of the list. This feels like the beginning of another solid run, not necessarily a bar Michigan can't surmount.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
How bout a 5 minute break? Smoke if ya got 'em.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
It's hard to be happy about a loss, but we played pretty damn good. There's a lot of positives to take away from this. Hell, our ranking in KenPom went from #27 to #24 because of it. If we keep playing like this, we'll be a difficult out in march.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:53 PM ^
There was a ton of complaining in the game thread last night after the buzzer and I couldn't help but shake my head.
Like, damn, what did you want them to do? They went bucket-for-bucket with the #3 team in the country on the road. The beginning of the second half was basically the best basketball I've seen all year (including the NBA). It wasn't bad defense by either team, just incredible skill on display.
Yeah, it sucks, but this isn't the Nebraska game where Michigan kills itself with turnovers and being unable to crack a zone. Or even a game where Michigan gets wide open 3s and can't hit.
Both teams played well. Purdue was a little bit better.
January 26th, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^
...is why i avoid the game threads like the plague. they're pure, unfiltered id.
January 26th, 2018 at 3:31 PM ^
Read a little more oddball than usual
January 26th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
down 79-75 we turn the ball overr 3 straight possesions then on the fourth Z misses 2 Free throws..AGAIN..WTF Z..If you cant make Fts you shouldnt be in there at end of game situations..This is becoming a REAL Problem
January 26th, 2018 at 4:56 PM ^
Simmons came in and literally turned it over as he threw it in bounds, which led to a lay up, and then he got an offensive foul on the next possession. Simpson may have FT issues but he is by far and away the best option at PG.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:43 PM ^
he had to be super exhausted at the end. Just when Simmons seemed to be turning a corner...sigh. I think Brooks gets some looks earlier in the next couple games to make sure Z is fresh at the end.
January 26th, 2018 at 4:17 PM ^
Sub in Poole when Z sits,move MAAR to the 1.Simmon's minutes are a waste.Poole also continues to get back up 3 minutes.Poole needs more minutes.....I join the chorus who want Z out on offende late in games,especially when we're just fouling on def.It's a bit trickier when ahead because Z is a good defender but when opponent scores and calls time out Z has to sit...I'm pretty sure JB is doing both occasionally but not all the time..This team is fun to watch when they aren't playing 4 games in 8 days.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^
i think JB is still hopeful about simmons. it would be nice to have a back up quality PG. there are still a lot of games left and simmons is going to get several more opportunities to prove himself. if it doesn't get any better before the BIG tourny, i'm guessing maar will play more PG and poole will get more minutes.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:08 PM ^
wish we coulda switched purdue game offense with osu and nebraska game offense.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:45 PM ^
Seems like such a waste of an incredible performance!
January 26th, 2018 at 6:15 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^
They've gone THE plaid???
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