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thewolverines24
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Ball screen defense: Northwestern?s ability to play with Buie and Nance out of ball screens makes them a unique challenge. Both players can do things that are generally hard to guard in pick and roll action ? pop and drive/shoot for Nance, hit deep threes for Buie ? and those are challenges that Michigan hasn?t faced a lot of lately defensively. This should be a great test for how U-M handles the challenge defensively and how Juwan Howard and his staff adjust if Northwestern gets a few easy baskets.
Get to the free-throw line: The best way to play Nance off the court is to get him into foul trouble, which is exactly what Purdue did over the weekend. Nance isn?t just Northwestern?s most versatile offensive player, he?s also their best option defensively in a lot of matchups. Michigan has struggled to get to the free-throw line consistently this season, but Northwestern?s struggles dwarf its problems. If Michigan can play through the paint and draw a few early fouls, that should help set the tone.
Make open jumpers: Northwestern?s defense allows catch-and-shoot jumpers at a high rate, and Michigan?s ability to make those shots has been hit or miss. When the Wolverines are on, they can be potent offensively, but this team has made double-digit threes as many times (5) as it has made three or fewer 3-pointers. What you?ll get on any given night is hard to predict and will make a big difference tonight.
KEYS
Ball screen defense: Northwestern?s ability to play with Buie and Nance out of ball screens makes them a unique challenge. Both players can do things that are generally hard to guard in pick and roll action ? pop and drive/shoot for Nance, hit deep threes for Buie ? and those are challenges that Michigan hasn?t faced a lot of lately defensively. This should be a great test for how U-M handles the challenge defensively and how Juwan Howard and his staff adjust if Northwestern gets a few easy baskets.
Get to the free-throw line: The best way to play Nance off the court is to get him into foul trouble, which is exactly what Purdue did over the weekend. Nance isn?t just Northwestern?s most versatile offensive player, he?s also their best option defensively in a lot of matchups. Michigan has struggled to get to the free-throw line consistently this season, but Northwestern?s struggles dwarf its problems. If Michigan can play through the paint and draw a few early fouls, that should help set the tone.
Make open jumpers: Northwestern?s defense allows catch-and-shoot jumpers at a high rate, and Michigan?s ability to make those shots has been hit or miss. When the Wolverines are on, they can be potent offensively, but this team has made double-digit threes as many times (5) as it has made three or fewer 3-pointers. What you?ll get on any given night is hard to predict and will make a big difference tonight.
