bronxblue

November 17th, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^

Yeah, I think the defense will be an issue all year to an extent though this was also a game where one guy scored, what, 35 points.  And not boxing out on that FT mattered huge here.

This team's defense does feel like it may improve with more continuity; it won't be elite but there are a lot of transfers and some of the issues just look like guys not knowing where to be or thinking someone was doing something they weren't.

I said before the year this team will be a bubble team and this game doesn't really change my calculus.  This conference has had some stinkers already and UM is in that bucket.  We'll see how they play against Memphis on Wednesday; that's a game where they'll be challenged on both ends and see if they learn from this bad loss or just fall back into last year's pattern.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172040

LabattsBleu

November 17th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^

Michigan got ahead of their skis.

LBS didn't look like a 15 point dog tonight though; their interior players really seemed to clean up ORBs and that one guard was unstoppable.

Learn from it and move on

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 16413

Jordan2323

November 17th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^

I’m really glad I didn’t waste time or money watching this game, it’s pissed me off enough following the game cast. Down 87-85 and they get two offensive rebounds, one of them off of a free throw. What a pathetic effort put forth! 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48951

wetnoodle

November 17th, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^

He is one of the worst players I have seen in years..hate to rip on the kid but, he has been the same whole time at Michigan..makes "plays" where you just are like..wtf??? Takes dumb shots...does not play defense

I know the recruiting has been shit but you think there would be someone to try to play more than him. He played the 3rd most minutes tonight (35) that is crazy

Joined: 09/21/2019

MGoPoints: 6156

bronxblue

November 17th, 2023 at 9:40 PM ^

Nobody is saying this was a good defensive performance but people acting like this years defense is not different than last years are just being reactionary.

Last year UM gave up 83 points and to EMU to Bates going off for 31.  EMU was the #317th team in the country last year.  They were terrible.  This is a bad loss but UM has been far better defensively this season than last year before this game.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172040

bronxblue

November 17th, 2023 at 9:11 PM ^

LBS was 125th per KenPom coming into this game.  They lost to CMU and they were in the 300s.  This is an upset and a bad loss but this is like losing to Syracuse or Minnesota bad, not losing to a bad MAC team bad.

It's not good and now UM has to hope LBS doesn't crater but UM is a bubble team and all of them have bad losses.  But they've cut down their margin of error significantly with this loss.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172040

bronxblue

November 17th, 2023 at 9:26 PM ^

In college basketball I don't think name matters.  Last year the final 4 featured UConn, FAU, SDSU, and Miami.  One of those is a team with any basketball history.

I'd prefer UM not lose to anyone who's bad but the name next to it doesn't matter.  And honestly, if you wind up losing to a team that wins their conference, for example, that helps your case for a bid more than a loss to a mediocre P5 team usually.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172040

Jordan2323

November 17th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^

The defense has been the same for four straight games now, we just have been better on offense than other teams up until tonight. To allow a player to go off for 35 that isn’t even playing for a high major is just sad and pathetic. For Juwan learning under the Miami Heat administration and their attention to defense, he sure as hell hasn’t instilled it here. 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48951