Some thoughts on the game...

[RF2044]

Here's my random thought: we are going to handle Michigan on Saturday.

Handle them.

 

[BostonOrange]

This game boils down to a battle of tempo and Michigan's offensive quantity versus our defensive quality.

Since the beginning of March Michigan is 7 - 2, averaging 60.8 shots per game (in regulation), only taking less than 57 once and that was 55 shots in their first round game against mighty S. Dakota St.
Since the beginning of the BE Tournament we are 6 - 1, averaging 48.5 shots of our own per game and limiting our opponents to an average of 53 shots per game (also in regulation). The high point was our lone loss in that span, to UL who took 57 shots.

So the way I see it, our best chance to win is too protect the ball and keep Michigan off our boards. If we mellow the tempo and limit the Wolverines to the low to mid 50s in number of shots, then we win. There is no doubt in my mind that we can and will be the more efficient offensive team, we just can't let them run up their quantity.

I generally agree but i do think we need to run when we can. We are a very inefficient half court team and we need some easy buckets.

 

[Rossco123]

Stauskas guards Southerland I'm sure. Since James is not a threat to put the ball on the floor and create. I don't think it will be a problem for Stauskas.

Fair vs Robinson is the matchup we need to win

What He cannot (stop with the Dirty comparisons) Stauskas can play some defence but he is out of this league if you consider any other aspect of his game.

 

[mark79]

Personally I would give them a quasi-contested foul line jumper all game. They will undoubtedly miss a few and grow impatient and frustrated with just doing that. They can't beat us just on foul line jumpers. Few teams seem to really have the patience to beat a zone that way.

 

[seanmac1844]

Personally I would give them a quasi-contested foul line jumper all game. They will undoubtedly miss a few and grow impatient and frustrated with just doing that. They can't beat us just on foul line jumpers. Few teams seem to really have the patience to beat a zone that way.

This. I would let McGary or whoever they put in the middle shoot that shot all game long. A team like Michigan would get frustrated even if they are making them because they want to make threes. They start forcing bad outside shots and the rest is history.

 

[orange79]

Here's my random thought: we are going to handle Michigan on Saturday.

Handle them.

Good thing Bernie is there.

Too much, too soon?

 

[anomander]

Big question is who they flash to the foul line? I am guessing Robinson. He will be a different look then the typical. A more athletic, better shooting option, but gives up some size. Could be interesting if this is the case.

 

[alphaorange]

1. Stauskus would guard Triche I would think. Brandon may be able to bully him but he is 6'6, not a little guy like Hulls. If I were Michigan Triche wouldn't be real high on my worry list. 2. I've been wondering if we've had MCW posting a lot in practice this week. It's one of those things that sounds good in theory, but it's hard to do something you haven't done all year. Kind of mixed emotions about it. 3. I'm worried about Mcgary too, mainly on the offensive boards and his ability to finish. I bet Mich flashes Hardaway to the foul line a lot and put MM on the baseline. That is a tough cover for us IF (big if) they can actually get it to the foul line. I also think we need to put MM at the line rather than let him finish. 45% shooter.

Triche would pass Stauskus like a JS fart. Not even close to being able to stay with him.

 

[Moontan]

Have to wonder if JB's calmness throughout the week will have a calming affect on the team. Is his fourth trip, with 4 totally different types of teams.

All of the players, staff, admins and family members that I've interacted with have been very relaxed.

The championship court is supposedly very nice.

 

[damian41]

Big question is who they flash to the foul line? I am guessing Robinson. He will be a different look then the typical. A more athletic, better shooting option, but gives up some size. Could be interesting if this is the case.

I would guess Hardaway, he's a better shooter from that range than Robinson.

 

[orangenirvana]

Stauskas struggles against teams with athletes.

Florida doesn't have athletes?

 

[CuseCrew08]

Um, who is Stauskus gonna guard when he's on the floor?

James is going to get his looks, he's got to make them in this game. GOT TO.

Can we get a solid 6-7 minutes out of Cooney and Grant?

I think these three are the most important, I dont see anyone on the court Stauskus can guard, we need to exploit whatever that matchup is.

The key to the game is whether we get BET James or not. If we do, we cruise, if we don't its going to be a battle.

6-10 points out of Cooney and Grant would be ideal, will they play with confidence? They'll be playing against fellow freshman.

 

[kcsu]

Key to the game is rebounding which is what won our last game. No second shots and we win going away

 

[BostonOrange]

Triche would pass Stauskus like a JS fart. Not even close to being able to stay with him.

We are talking about Brandon Triche right?

 

[MCC]

Here's my random thought: we are going to handle Michigan on Saturday.

Handle them.

Love the confidence, but man... I just can't help but think we're underestimating them. They plastered FL by 20 (granted FL didn't play well, but still - 20 pt. margin?) and beat Kansas (via furious comeback, but still - Kansas was a 1 seed). I can see some favorable matchups for us when we have the ball, and I know the zone has been stifling. However, MI will learn from what happened to IN and I suspect Beilein is a better game coach than Crean.

All that said, I hope you're right RF.

 

[CiceroCuse]

Stauskas guards Southerland I'm sure. Since James is not a threat to put the ball on the floor and create, I don't think it will be a problem for Stauskas.

Fair vs Robinson is the matchup we need to win

True. But i think Stauskas fighting through screens and keeping up with JS will be a problem (at least I hope). He is not nearly as quick or athletic as J South. We need to exploit this match-up.

 

[jdubs30]

Wilbon on SVP&Russilo yesterday said he think's we'll win it all basically because kids don't pay attention anymore. He doesn't think they pay attention in film study and just lack focus in general; then once they get on the court against us their like "! you mean i should have paid attention during film??" kind of wacky, but could be true.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Wilbon on SVP&Russilo yesterday said he think's we'll win it all basically because kids don't pay attention anymore. He doesn't think they pay attention in film study and just lack focus in general; then once they get on the court against us their like "! you mean i should have paid attention during film??" kind of wacky, but could be true.

You could say that is true with the indiana kids but I would think that game opened up a lot of B1G eyes. Don't think Michigan will be caught sleeping but don't also think just because they paid attention that they can execute well enough to win.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Knicks411]

I'm going to beg to differ on your 73 comment based somewhat on our defensive stats and Michigan's offensive stats.. In the last 19 games we have only given up more than 66 points twice. 74 to Marquette and 78 to Louisville which we know were both losses. Michigan has scored more than 73 in only eight of the last 17 games so they really aren't a huge offensive juggernaut that a lot people think they are. In fact the over opened at 130 and moved to 131 so if we listen to the Vegas experts, we only need to score 66 to win.

Michigan has the #1 offensive efficiency in the country. They are a great offense. They play at a below average pace, so they don't score as many points as you would expect, but they are really efficient. Kansas and Florida are top 5 defenses and they had no trouble scoring on them.

That doesn't mean I expect them to put a huge number on us, but they aredefinitely a great offense.

[/quote]Plus I think there is some merit to Beilein's 0-9 record vs JAB. He has yet to find a way to defeat the 2-3 zone and although this UM team is probably his most talented team to face Syracuse, our 2-3 zone is really humming. I'm not saying his team will struggle like Indiana, but I think they will have some problems getting open baskets. I fully expect them to hit some deep threes early, but as we have seen in the last 20 or so years, the percentages eventually work in our favor.

Michigan opened up as a 2.5 pt favorite and it went down to two. I say take the Cuse with the points and an outright 70-65 win.[/quote]

There could be something to it. Like I said in an earlier post, I'd rather our JB be 9-0 vs their JB than the other way around. But this is also pretty clearly the most talented team Beilen has ever had to face SU, and unless I'm forgetting some of his teams, it's not even close. Take NBAdraft.net for what it's worth, but they have Michigan with 4 first round picks in their starting lineup. Far cry from the days of Pittsnoggle and Mike Gansey.

I do agree that I think Michigan will do better than Indiana, because I think Beilen is probably a better X and O coach than Crean, and Michigan has better personnel to attack the zone. But I still think our defense will do some solid work on them. I expect this to be a a close one.

 

[CPark Orange]

Over-thinking it... If the Cuse continues to play the brand of bball they have displayed in this tourney against Michigan...

Its over!

 

[zhanjuzi]

So far, we have had the tougher road to the Final Four than any of the other teams, & Michigan had to get lucky to beat Kansas.

This Michigan team is not even better than Indiana.

We can lose, but it won't be because they dominated us. it will be Syracuse not playing with enough defensive intensity.

I think CUSE wins if they play their defense & score 62-70 points.

You have been on the money for the last month .. I,m with you Mantonio .. its ours to lose.

 

[AZOrange]

Here's my random thought: we are going to handle Michigan on Saturday.

Handle them.

I agree. I have felt this way abou our games for 2 weeks now. This is a matchup nightmare for Michigan. Look at the teams Michigan struggled with...we look a lot like those teams... Michigan looks a lot like nd to me. Plus they're so young that once they bend they'll break. 15 point win

 

[RF2044]

Love the confidence, but man... I just can't help but think we're underestimating them. They plastered FL by 20 (granted FL didn't play well, but still - 20 pt. margin?) and beat Kansas (via furious comeback, but still - Kansas was a 1 seed). I can see some favorable matchups for us when we have the ball, and I know the zone has been stifling. However, MI will learn from what happened to IN and I suspect Beilein is a better game coach than Crean.

All that said, I hope you're right RF.

This is obvious, but there is a difference between fans being confident and the team. I don't think that our players are underestimating them at all. I think that Michigan is going to be in for a helluva shock when they have to execute against our defense. To me, it has less to do with the matchups [which I agree, some of which seem to be in our favor on paper], and more to do with them having a team of largely inexperienced players [three frosh starters, a soph, and a junior]. Will be interesting to see how they execute.

Bring it!!!

 

[AZOrange]

If they put a short guy on MCW the game will be over quickly

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I think we need to crash in dominate the offensive boards and risk a couple or three run outs to dominate the boards and get a lot of 2nd and 3rd chance points. Those baskets often lead to fouls as well.

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk 2