Hats off to Zavier Simpson!

Submitted by kscurrie2 on
I’m still on a emotional high, but what is being lost in all the celebration is the amazing job Zavier Simpson did guarding Gray. Gray was having his way with anyone else guarding him. I believe he was 8-22 from the field. Great job controlling a player who dropped 39, the night before.

ST3

March 18th, 2018 at 2:42 AM ^

Kudos to Houston for playing really good defense against Z. He wasn't able to get to the rim like he has been doing lately. I think that's a big part of why our offense struggled. It's so weird to see our team winning with defense, but that's exactly what they are doing and it all starts with Z.

In reply to by ST3

Michigan4Life

March 18th, 2018 at 3:05 AM ^

had the offensive set well scouted especially when Wagner slip screen where they covered it faboulously leading to Z's 2 TO where he just threw the ball to Moe instead of reading defense

TrueBlue2003

March 18th, 2018 at 3:29 AM ^

I remember thinking...Kelvin Sampson coached a heck of a game.  They played great defense on us, went small which is something we coun't (can't) exploit, they switched our screens and their "bigs" were able to stay with our guards.

And on the offensive end, they kept running ball screens to get the matchups they wanted, especially to get Z off Gray so he could take other guys.

I was very impressed with the coaching job they did and Beilein said after the game that they didn't expect them to go small and switch all screens and they weren't prepared for it, etc, etc.

We did miss a ton of 3s and they were fortunate for that, and the refs were awful but they coached and played about as good a game as they could have and they had a 96.6% chance to win when that guy stepped to the FT line.

Goblueman

March 18th, 2018 at 2:44 AM ^

Z's def.was top notch,at least 2 of Gray's 3's were when Z not matched up on him and there was the 2nd half 3 in transition when Simmon's wasn't paying attention,that's 9 of Gray's 22 points.

TrueBlue2003

March 18th, 2018 at 3:32 AM ^

that was right out of an inbounds.  Inexcusable from Simmons.  There have been so many instances this year where it seems like he's starting to play well and then he makes a huge mental mistake such that you just can't even have him on the floor.

FGB

March 18th, 2018 at 3:36 AM ^

i'm not going to start a new appreciation thread for yet another player, but Jon M-Fing Teske knocking down free throw after free throw at a CRITICAL juncture in the game, hats off to him as well. 

Really, you talk about a team effort, everyone pitched in in some way it seems, Livers had a very good inbounds pass, and Simmons had that little layoff to a streaking Wagner.  Even Ibi, if you watch that last play like 30 times (which i assume everyone has) provides a slight rub on Davis closing out on Poole which, frankly, if Davis is a tenth of a second closer he alters that shot (and commits more of a foul but that's beside the point).

Rodriguesqe

March 18th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^

I love Mo. He is a special player when he's running the offense. In our biggest wins this year, namely MSU and MSU, we don't win without him. When he's got it going I think we are a top 5 team.

I think Teske is a better contributor 80% of the time though. All the little things in basketball Mo is a little deficient at and Teske excels. Its a real nice luxory to have both on the team, thats for sure.

Gulogulo37

March 18th, 2018 at 5:02 AM ^

I feel like the announcers didn't mention his defense at all. Just talked about Gray not quite being on. But any time he got a bit of space he knocked down a shot. That was all Z

BoCanHam15

March 18th, 2018 at 6:23 AM ^

He also led in three categories while doing it! Leading rebounder as a point guard. Yes X is Z and Z was X-cellent tonight and without his contributions we might have lost. Great Leader. Our team is a perfect example of togetherness and it is cultivated by Beilein. It’s good to be, a MICHIGAN WOLVERINE!!!

HailObeans

March 18th, 2018 at 8:37 AM ^

While he has a very punchable face and has allowed his blind grandmother to design his hairstyle, he is a hall of gamer in the making. The kid just knows how to score. Something about him reminded me of Allen Iverson. Deadly from any range, quicker than anyone on the court, and can drive to the basket and rainbow shots over Teske types. Very good player.