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thewolverines24
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5:15 PM ET on CBS.
KEYS
Value the basketball: Michigan needs to keep its turnover rate in check. That doesn?t mean just dribbling out possessions and throwing something toward the rim. The Wolverines have to get into their sets efficiently and be able to feed the post consistently. Those are the areas where pressure defense has bothered this team at different points throughout the year.
Find a way to score efficiently: I think Michigan has to figure out a way to get hot against this UT offense. The Wolverines aren?t built to win defensive battles; they are built to outscore teams. The bad news? Tennessee has only allowed more than 1.12 points per possession once this season. Michigan is just 8-12 when it fails to score more than 1.12 points per trip. Whether it is Dickinson post-ups or (potentially) DeVante? Jones ball screens, Michigan has to find something that works to some extent against one of the best defenses in the country.
Defensive discipline: Michigan?s win over Colorado State was the first game it won this season while allowing double-digit 3-point makes. It?s going to be much harder to pull that feat off against a team as talented as Tennessee. Michigan needs to defend the 3-point line effectively and it needs to clean up the defensive glass. This isn?t a standard ball screen or post-up defensive matchup and a lot of Michigan?s success will come down to preparation and scouting for UT?s offensive system.
GO BLUE!
KEYS
Value the basketball: Michigan needs to keep its turnover rate in check. That doesn?t mean just dribbling out possessions and throwing something toward the rim. The Wolverines have to get into their sets efficiently and be able to feed the post consistently. Those are the areas where pressure defense has bothered this team at different points throughout the year.
Find a way to score efficiently: I think Michigan has to figure out a way to get hot against this UT offense. The Wolverines aren?t built to win defensive battles; they are built to outscore teams. The bad news? Tennessee has only allowed more than 1.12 points per possession once this season. Michigan is just 8-12 when it fails to score more than 1.12 points per trip. Whether it is Dickinson post-ups or (potentially) DeVante? Jones ball screens, Michigan has to find something that works to some extent against one of the best defenses in the country.
Defensive discipline: Michigan?s win over Colorado State was the first game it won this season while allowing double-digit 3-point makes. It?s going to be much harder to pull that feat off against a team as talented as Tennessee. Michigan needs to defend the 3-point line effectively and it needs to clean up the defensive glass. This isn?t a standard ball screen or post-up defensive matchup and a lot of Michigan?s success will come down to preparation and scouting for UT?s offensive system.
GO BLUE!
