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thewolverines24
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7:30 PM Eastern on BTN.
MATCHUPS
Hunter ? Llewellyn
Baker ? Bufkin
Brown ? Howard
Clayton ? Williams
Wilson ? Dickinson
Perhaps the most interesting individual matchups to track are on the wing. How do Michigan?s longer and bigger wings fare against a quicker and smaller three-guard approach from Ohio? The Wolverines will have to contain the ball better than they?ve done, but they also should have a size advantage that will make it easier to attack offensively.
More specifically, who does Jett Howard guard? Brown is the lowest-usage offensive player but is almost more of a second point guard, which could cause some problems. Baker is more of a pure scorer, but makes more sense for Bufkin to defend given his usage effectiveness.
KEYS
Hunter Dickinson: Dickinson is bigger than anyone that Ohio will throw at him, and the Bobcats have a poor interior defense. The big man in the middle must touch the ball early and often and help Michigan get off on the right foot. Everything works better for this Michigan team when Dickinson is getting touches on the block and either scoring at the rim or spraying the ball to shooters.
Defend the 3-point line: Michigan is ranked 200th in 3-point volume defense and 195th in 3-point accuracy. Arizona State, not known for its perimeter shooting, shot the Wolverines out of the gym last week. Ohio is a legitimately good shooting team and will give the Wolverines problems if they don?t figure out how to contest 3-point shooters more effectively and run them off the line.
Ball screen defense: Ohio has an efficient high-volume ball screen offense, and Michigan hasn?t found something that works defensively against the pick and roll. The Wolverines are ranked in the 17th percentile nationally defending ball screens and need to improve that department tonight. Ohio?s ball screen attack is especially dangerous because of how much shooting there is on the floor at the other three spots to create room for the handler and screener to operate.
A better start: The Wolverines have been unable to get off to fast starts in games this season. Juwan Howard?s team was down 8-4 against Fort Wayne, 14-9 against EMU, 10-4 against Pitt and 31-11 against Arizona State. A crisp start and an early lead will go a long way toward a bounce-back showing at home.
BOTTOM LINE
Michigan?s performance on Thursday night was disastrous, but losing to a top-100 opponent on a neutral floor is far from a season-crippling loss. There are many more games left to be played, and U-M will have no shortage of quality win opportunities over the next few months.
That doesn?t mean the performance can?t damage the season, especially if any cobwebs linger. Turning around and losing a buy game to a team like Ohio would be the sort of defeat that would put the Wolverines behind the curve. A Sunday evening buy game close to the Thanksgiving holiday on the heels of a disappointing showing is the perfect environment for a sleepy start and a more difficult than expected game (think about last year?s home game against Tarleton State).
Michigan is an 83-65 favorite per KenPom, with a 94% chance of winning at home, but playing well in this spot is vitally important. Put Thursday?s game in the past, take care of business this week with two good performances (not just wins), and set the stage for a monster home game against Virginia after Thanksgiving.
GO BLUE!
MATCHUPS
Hunter ? Llewellyn
Baker ? Bufkin
Brown ? Howard
Clayton ? Williams
Wilson ? Dickinson
Perhaps the most interesting individual matchups to track are on the wing. How do Michigan?s longer and bigger wings fare against a quicker and smaller three-guard approach from Ohio? The Wolverines will have to contain the ball better than they?ve done, but they also should have a size advantage that will make it easier to attack offensively.
More specifically, who does Jett Howard guard? Brown is the lowest-usage offensive player but is almost more of a second point guard, which could cause some problems. Baker is more of a pure scorer, but makes more sense for Bufkin to defend given his usage effectiveness.
KEYS
Hunter Dickinson: Dickinson is bigger than anyone that Ohio will throw at him, and the Bobcats have a poor interior defense. The big man in the middle must touch the ball early and often and help Michigan get off on the right foot. Everything works better for this Michigan team when Dickinson is getting touches on the block and either scoring at the rim or spraying the ball to shooters.
Defend the 3-point line: Michigan is ranked 200th in 3-point volume defense and 195th in 3-point accuracy. Arizona State, not known for its perimeter shooting, shot the Wolverines out of the gym last week. Ohio is a legitimately good shooting team and will give the Wolverines problems if they don?t figure out how to contest 3-point shooters more effectively and run them off the line.
Ball screen defense: Ohio has an efficient high-volume ball screen offense, and Michigan hasn?t found something that works defensively against the pick and roll. The Wolverines are ranked in the 17th percentile nationally defending ball screens and need to improve that department tonight. Ohio?s ball screen attack is especially dangerous because of how much shooting there is on the floor at the other three spots to create room for the handler and screener to operate.
A better start: The Wolverines have been unable to get off to fast starts in games this season. Juwan Howard?s team was down 8-4 against Fort Wayne, 14-9 against EMU, 10-4 against Pitt and 31-11 against Arizona State. A crisp start and an early lead will go a long way toward a bounce-back showing at home.
BOTTOM LINE
Michigan?s performance on Thursday night was disastrous, but losing to a top-100 opponent on a neutral floor is far from a season-crippling loss. There are many more games left to be played, and U-M will have no shortage of quality win opportunities over the next few months.
That doesn?t mean the performance can?t damage the season, especially if any cobwebs linger. Turning around and losing a buy game to a team like Ohio would be the sort of defeat that would put the Wolverines behind the curve. A Sunday evening buy game close to the Thanksgiving holiday on the heels of a disappointing showing is the perfect environment for a sleepy start and a more difficult than expected game (think about last year?s home game against Tarleton State).
Michigan is an 83-65 favorite per KenPom, with a 94% chance of winning at home, but playing well in this spot is vitally important. Put Thursday?s game in the past, take care of business this week with two good performances (not just wins), and set the stage for a monster home game against Virginia after Thanksgiving.
GO BLUE!
