Concern about Tennessee?

[tigersofjustice]

I am definitely rooting for Mercer today because Tennessee worries me. They have a 'big' team. Their three best players all have some size. Stokes and Maymon are both 6-8 and play entirely in the paint. Both get a ton of rebounds. Stokes blocks some shots as well. McRae is 6-6, can shoot a little bit from outside and has a huge wingspan.

Their guards are horrible compared with Michigan's but their interior play is a big concern. Horford is going to have to play a lot and Morgan will have to play well. I don't exactly know how it will work with GR3 attempting to guard one of the two big bodies, that could be a problem.

Walton/Spike, Stauskus and LeVert will have to light up their guards. That is a huge edge for Michigan. Forcing turnovers from their guards before the ball can go down low will be essential.

How worried are you about the matchup specifically here?

I would also note that Kem Pom has them rated 6th overall. http://kenpom.com/ They are only one of two teams, the other Kentucky, rated in the top 16 with a seed below a 4. They are 5 spots ahead of Michigan.

 

[Michlady]

Yes I worry about bigs
Freep had a mercer and tenn analysis this morning

 

[tinselwolverine]

I'm not the least bit worried about Tennessee.

Of course that could change after they play today.

 

[umwolverines31]

Shouldn't be worried at all. The biggest "worry" Michigan SHOULD have had at one time was DUKE. So everyone should be less nervous that we don't have to play them. Michigan should beat both of these teams, and aslong as they play their game they will win!

 

[Michlady]

Sorry I worry as I have seen us to cold on jump shots and get dominated inside

While we favor getting it together it isn't called madness for nothing


Just keep pleasantly surprising me.

 

[wlvrnstlr4life]

I'm worried about everyone. This is the tournament and anyone can win. Got to hit shots and hold on to the ball.

 

[tsume99]

I'm worried about everyone. This is the tournament and anyone can win. Got to hit shots and hold on to the ball.

Agreed.

 

[biggunsbob]

I worry about everyone too but we should be able to run their bigs... Morgan is in much better shape I think then the Vol's big guys... Hit shots and attack, attack, attack!!!!!

 

[Monster]

Mercer just beat a team that is similar to us. We just beat a team with size...easily. you're worried about the team with size? No. Bring on Tennessee.

 

[TheVictors]

Didn't we beat Tenn a few yrs ago in the tourney?

 

[hungry]

yes, Michigan smoked tenn a few years ago in the tourney

I'm thinking we'd be better off facing Tenn, but who knows, really?

Wasn't Tenn one of the last 4 in?

 

[gotime909]

yes, Michigan smoked tenn a few years ago in the tourney

I'm thinking we'd be better off facing Tenn, but who knows, really?

Wasn't Tenn one of the last 4 in?

Beat Iowa in OT in a play in game

 

[Michchamp]

Didn't we beat Tenn a few yrs ago in the tourney?

Right after they fired Bruce pearl.

 

[Sbee]

yes, Michigan smoked tenn a few years ago in the tourney

I'm thinking we'd be better off facing Tenn, but who knows, really?

Wasn't Tenn one of the last 4 in?

That ut team quit early with lame duck slimeball bruce pearl. Michigan is better than both and should win easily.

 

[tinselwolverine]

In that five minute or so run when Texas cut the M lead to 6, it looked like our front court was getting out positioned out of their shorts on the defensive glass...sort of...on the other hand, it also looked like every ball was bouncing right to a UT front courter.

Which happens.

I remember hearing Mychal Thomson, the former NBA PF/C turned sports talk show host, whose biggest claim to fame as an athlete was backing up an aging Jabbar (quite effectively) in the dusk of Jabbar's career during the Showtime era, telling the story of the best rebounding game in his career - I forget how many boards, but it was an astronomical amount.

"What can I say? The ball kept bouncing right to me. The next night, I only got two."

 

[biggunsbob]

In that five minute or so run when Texas cut the M lead to 6, it looked like our front court was getting out positioned out of their shorts on the defensive glass...sort of...on the other hand, it also looked like every ball was bouncing right to a UT front courter.

Which happens.

I remember hearing Mychal Thomson, the former NBA PF/C turned sports talk show host, whose biggest claim to fame as an athlete was backing up an aging Jabbar (quite effectively) in the dusk of Jabbar's career during the Showtime era, telling the story of the best rebounding game in his career - I forget how many boards, but it was an astronomical amount.

"What can I say? The ball kept bouncing right to me. The next night, I only got two."

lol

And he played for a team that had good weather year round!!!!!!

 

[dubbsco]

Didn't we have the exact same concerns about Texas? Yeah, they are a bigger team, but they can't shoot either. I think they are essentially a Texas clone.

If Michigan does not get to the round of 8 by getting through Tenn or Mercer, I will be thoroughly disappointed in this team.

 

[lgolfer]

Didn't we have the exact same concerns about Texas? Yeah, they are a bigger team, but they can't shoot either. I think they are essentially a Texas clone.

If Michigan does not get to the round of 8 by getting through Tenn or Mercer, I will be thoroughly disappointed in this team.

I agree that I'll be disappointed if Michigan doesn't get to the Elite Eight, but Tennessee isn't just a Texas clone. Tennessee has more experience and bigger guards who are better defenders. So in other words, I'd be very surprised if we make 14 3s against them like we did against Texas. I think the key will be to turn Tennessee over and get out in transition, which is vital for us against most teams.

 

[tigersofjustice]

Out rebounding Mercer 29-7. Wow.

 

[tigersofjustice]

The plus from what I'm seeing is that Tennessee isn't very mobile. They will probably have trouble with Michigan's athleticism.