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Hoops vs Minnesota

thewolverines24

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
16,792
Michigan returns to league action tonight against Minnesota (9:00 p.m., Peacock) at the Crisler Center for a needed fresh start.

The Golden Gophers are 10-3 and have climbed 134 spots from last year?s KenPom finish but are benefitting from a schedule constructed by a head coach on the hot seat. Minnesota has only played two games outside Minneapolis (both losses), nine games against sub-200 ranked teams (all wins) and has faced the worst non-conference schedule in the country, per KenPom.

The Gophers have taken a major step toward competency this year despite losing two of their top three scorers to the portal. They?ve added a few of the best newcomers in the league around one of the most productive bigs in the conference, but time will tell how effectively that growth holds up in the rigors of Big Ten play.

KEYS

The mirror: On paper and playing at home, Michigan should be a clear favorite in this game. In reality, after a long two months, who knows? This game will come down to what version of Michigan shows up tonight. The execution wasn?t up to the necessary levels against McNeese State, which was apparent early. That level of performance isn?t going to cut it in the Big Ten this year.

Force Elijah Hawkins into tough shots: This is one of those classic ?something has to give? matchups. Michigan has generally succeeded in forcing opposing guards to score rather than distribute, but they have scored far too easily. Elijah Hawkins has been fantastic as a distributor but woefully inefficient as a scorer. Either Michigan?s defense is ideally suited for the matchup, or Hawkins will have a career scoring night.

Get Dug McDaniel going: Minnesota?s defensive scheme forces opposing guards to make scoring plays. That means that Michigan will need McDaniel to get hot in a hurry and carry the offense while matching up against another DMV native (Hawkins? DeMatha team with Hunter Dickinson beat McDaniel?s Paul VI team in the WCAC title in 2020).

Power forward matchup: Nkamhoua and Garcia aren?t the same players, but both of their teams ask them to carry the offense in key spots when things break down. Nkamhoua has had some high-profile head-to-head battles this year (IU, St. John?s, Florida) but hasn?t had one that he controlled outright. I expect both players to go right at the opposition in this one, and whoever comes out ahead in those individual battles should have a leg up on the opposition.

BOTTOM LINE

Who knows? Last Friday's effort against McNeese State was the worst of the season. They need to bounce back, but at this point how can anyone expect that? No one on the team can defend the ball, so there's little to no hope for defensive improvement. There is no bench outside of Tschetter and he gets overwhelmed against bigger and more athletic frontlines. Admissions not letting Caleb Love in pretty much destroyed the season before it began. The only thing left to root for is the fun of Dug and being proud of how much T-Will really improved his shot in the offseason.

KenPom pegs Michigan as 79-74 favorites, with a 69% chance at the home win, which means nothing since we lose plenty of games where we are favored.

GO BLUE!
 
What is this Rec-league ball at the local YMCA ?

I see a lot of low level lazy passing and a lot ot Jacking of shots.
Have it muted.

What a horrible product Howard has. Crowd kind of proves that point.
 
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Need crisper passing . Howard gets in them in the huddle and they play a tad better. Taking a 4 point lead.
 
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They have a three on one and settle for a three point shot. Yes it was a good look but why not take the easy 2 ?
 
Michigan up at halftime 37-33 at half. Team is playing hard. Just not a lot of talent on the floor in my opinion.
 
Michigan can?t get out of its own way. Up 47-40 with the ball.. Now it?s 47-47. Frustrating team.
 
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Team just getting out worked in the second half. Trial 71-66 but had a nice steal and now it?s 71-69. One left.
 
McDaniel?s just isn?t very good. Howard?s team had 2 chances to tie and or win. One great look at a three clanks off. Dug takes a terrible half hook to tie. Awful shot. Howard loses yet another close game. Team has zero depth. Up 4 at half. Can?t hold any lead.

Dug was awful tonight . 9 points and 6 assist and 5 turnovers. He was 3-11. Team was a paltry 6 for 19 from three.
 
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359th in bench minutes out of 362 teams and the only playable bench guy is a 6'8" forward who can't rebound. One guy who can dribble, and one playable wing. Recipe for disaster. Phil Jackson couldn't coach this roster to success.
 
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... Recipe for disaster. Phil Jackson couldn't coach this roster to success.

Wait... that comment might be false.

is that because he was known for only coaching teams already loaded with talent, and not in getting more out of his players, or because you consider him a great coach and our team so bad that even he couldn't win with this team?
 
Wait... that comment might be false.

is that because he was known for only coaching teams already loaded with talent, and not in getting more out of his players, or because you consider him a great coach and our team so bad that even he couldn't win with this team?

Phil is without a doubt a fantastic coach. No coach could get anything substantial out of this roster. There are too many holes and the starters can't get any rest. It's a fucking miracle the team is averaging over 80 PPG.
 
Phil is without a doubt a fantastic coach. No coach could get anything substantial out of this roster. There are too many holes and the starters can't get any rest. It's a fucking miracle the team is averaging over 80 PPG.

Is he even able to walk anymore?

I wonder how he?s taking it that his ex-girlfriend married that fat clown.
 
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