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thewolverines24
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Our afternoon primer before championship night. Go Blue!
KEYS
Surprise threes: Michigan and San Diego State are ranked 323rd and 325th in percentage of points scored from 3-point range. Both teams have struggled to make shots this year, but that doesn?t mean someone won?t make a few jumpers on Saturday. The team that does will have an advantage in a game where points will be at a premium.
Exploit size advantages: San Diego State plays an undersized lineup at the four and isn?t a great rebounding team ? 234th in defensive rebounding rate ? while Michigan will roll out two bigs who are capable of crashing the glass in Moussa Diabate and Hunter Dickinson. There are disadvantages to Michigan?s bigger lineup (shooting and spacing), but that doesn?t mean it can?t take advantage of some of the benefits and get on the offensive glass against an undersized team.
Back court battle: Both of these teams run a ton of ball screens on offense and pack the paint on defense. Both of these teams have questions on the perimeter that create spacing issues. That means that the game will probably come down to which backcourt duo (Jones-Brooks or Pulliam-Bradley) can make more plays as a scorer and creator for their team.
Match the fight: This one is both physical and mental. Michigan needs to execute on both ends of the court at a higher level than it has all season and it needs to match the intensity of a team that is wired to play hard-nosed defensive basketball. North Carolina pressured the Wolverines on the perimeter and on dribble hand-offs and it seemed to throw them out of their game. That can?t happen at home against a team that will try to do the same thing.
KenPom is predicting a 66-59 Michigan win. I'm not sure we can score 66 points against their D, but here's to hoping for a much needed W.
KEYS
Surprise threes: Michigan and San Diego State are ranked 323rd and 325th in percentage of points scored from 3-point range. Both teams have struggled to make shots this year, but that doesn?t mean someone won?t make a few jumpers on Saturday. The team that does will have an advantage in a game where points will be at a premium.
Exploit size advantages: San Diego State plays an undersized lineup at the four and isn?t a great rebounding team ? 234th in defensive rebounding rate ? while Michigan will roll out two bigs who are capable of crashing the glass in Moussa Diabate and Hunter Dickinson. There are disadvantages to Michigan?s bigger lineup (shooting and spacing), but that doesn?t mean it can?t take advantage of some of the benefits and get on the offensive glass against an undersized team.
Back court battle: Both of these teams run a ton of ball screens on offense and pack the paint on defense. Both of these teams have questions on the perimeter that create spacing issues. That means that the game will probably come down to which backcourt duo (Jones-Brooks or Pulliam-Bradley) can make more plays as a scorer and creator for their team.
Match the fight: This one is both physical and mental. Michigan needs to execute on both ends of the court at a higher level than it has all season and it needs to match the intensity of a team that is wired to play hard-nosed defensive basketball. North Carolina pressured the Wolverines on the perimeter and on dribble hand-offs and it seemed to throw them out of their game. That can?t happen at home against a team that will try to do the same thing.
KenPom is predicting a 66-59 Michigan win. I'm not sure we can score 66 points against their D, but here's to hoping for a much needed W.
