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thewolverines24
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Michigan heads to Evanston tonight (9:00 p.m., FS1) to face a Northwestern team looking to solidify its NCAA Tournament bid. For Michigan, Olivier Nkamhoua had wrist surgery and is out for the rest of the season and Dug still isn't traveling. What a recipe for success! Who's ready for endless turnovers and doing a terrible job on the defensive glass? Hell yeah, **** yeah!
KEYS
The rotation looks like what? We know that McDaniel and Nkamhoua are out. Terrance Williams II missed the last game with illness, while Jace Howard and Youssef Khayat were listed as questionable and didn’t play. If Williams is back, there are a handful of interesting smaller lineup combinations that we might see for the first time. If Williams isn’t back, it is going to be hard to even get to 200 minutes played with the healthy roster.
Ball screen defense: Michigan’s ball screen defense ranks in the 11th percentile nationally this season. That’s not a number you want on your Synergy page when you are headed to face Boo Buie on a night where he has the chance to set records.
Play through Tarris Reed Jr.: Early in the year, I would point out in-game recaps that it felt like Michigan was playing through Reed a bit too much, given some of his limitations. At this point, I’m not sure there’s anything better. Try to get Reed involved early against a Northwestern frontcourt that isn’t particularly deep or athletic.
BOTTOM LINE
Michigan’s last road game without Dug McDaniel will be its first game without Olivier Nkamhoua. Northwestern hasn’t racked up many blowout wins this season, but it is hard to see the Wolverines competing on the road without their two best players — and potentially without others.
KenPom sets the number at 77-68 Northwestern, and even that feels a bit short. The Vegas spread is already up to 12.5. We're going to lose by a lot.
Go Blue!
KEYS
The rotation looks like what? We know that McDaniel and Nkamhoua are out. Terrance Williams II missed the last game with illness, while Jace Howard and Youssef Khayat were listed as questionable and didn’t play. If Williams is back, there are a handful of interesting smaller lineup combinations that we might see for the first time. If Williams isn’t back, it is going to be hard to even get to 200 minutes played with the healthy roster.
Ball screen defense: Michigan’s ball screen defense ranks in the 11th percentile nationally this season. That’s not a number you want on your Synergy page when you are headed to face Boo Buie on a night where he has the chance to set records.
Play through Tarris Reed Jr.: Early in the year, I would point out in-game recaps that it felt like Michigan was playing through Reed a bit too much, given some of his limitations. At this point, I’m not sure there’s anything better. Try to get Reed involved early against a Northwestern frontcourt that isn’t particularly deep or athletic.
BOTTOM LINE
Michigan’s last road game without Dug McDaniel will be its first game without Olivier Nkamhoua. Northwestern hasn’t racked up many blowout wins this season, but it is hard to see the Wolverines competing on the road without their two best players — and potentially without others.
KenPom sets the number at 77-68 Northwestern, and even that feels a bit short. The Vegas spread is already up to 12.5. We're going to lose by a lot.
Go Blue!
