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thewolverines24
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9 PM Eastern on ESPN2. A Valentine's Day spectacular versus a program built on the most hideously ugly brand of basketball.
KEYS
Charged emotions: This game will be heated after last year?s ugly incident. Greg Gard downplayed any hostility and praised Juwan Howard?s character for his support when former Wisconsin assistant Howard Moore was hit by a drunk driver in an accident that killed his wife and daughter. Michigan coaches or players didn?t meet with the media before Tuesday?s game. Whatever is said before the game won?t matter to the 17,000-plus in the Kohl Center or to the players and coaches who were involved and/or suspended last season. Finding a way to transform those emotions into effort and intensity is great. Letting them get out of control and turning them into technical or flagrant fouls is how a slow game at the Kohl Center becomes a loss.
One-on-one frontcourt matchups: So much of Wisconsin?s offensive scheme is predicated on attacking one-on-one matchups in the post. How the two frontcourts contain each other and attack the opposition will shape the flow of this game, as will early foul trouble for anyone involved. Dickinson was terrific in the first half last year in Madison, mostly against single coverage, but then struggled as Wisconsin brought more attention in his direction in the second half ? mostly because his teammates made 3-of-19 catch and shoot jumpers. It will be interesting to see what approach Gard chooses in this matchup.
Attack drop coverage: There?s no secret how Wisconsin is going to guard ball screens and that means that Michigan?s guards have to be ready to make plays. Dug McDaniel can hit in-between jumpers and we?ve seen a bit from Kobe Bufkin, but I wonder if this could be a big spot for Jett Howard to use a few more ball screen reps try to get going with his mid-range game. Howard should have a significant size advantage against Klesmit or Essegian, and he?s proven that he can heat up in a hurry.
BOTTOM LINE
In some sense, the math for Michigan doesn?t change after Saturday?s deflating loss. It just becomes harder. The Wolverines still need to find four more wins to be in a position to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament when they head to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament. The easiest path requires a sweep of the Badgers, a win over Michigan State, and one more quality road win (either at Rutgers, Illinois or Indiana).
That has to start tonight in Madison. KenPom gives Michigan a 44% chance at the road victory, projecting a 66-65 Wisconsin win.
GO BLUE!
KEYS
Charged emotions: This game will be heated after last year?s ugly incident. Greg Gard downplayed any hostility and praised Juwan Howard?s character for his support when former Wisconsin assistant Howard Moore was hit by a drunk driver in an accident that killed his wife and daughter. Michigan coaches or players didn?t meet with the media before Tuesday?s game. Whatever is said before the game won?t matter to the 17,000-plus in the Kohl Center or to the players and coaches who were involved and/or suspended last season. Finding a way to transform those emotions into effort and intensity is great. Letting them get out of control and turning them into technical or flagrant fouls is how a slow game at the Kohl Center becomes a loss.
One-on-one frontcourt matchups: So much of Wisconsin?s offensive scheme is predicated on attacking one-on-one matchups in the post. How the two frontcourts contain each other and attack the opposition will shape the flow of this game, as will early foul trouble for anyone involved. Dickinson was terrific in the first half last year in Madison, mostly against single coverage, but then struggled as Wisconsin brought more attention in his direction in the second half ? mostly because his teammates made 3-of-19 catch and shoot jumpers. It will be interesting to see what approach Gard chooses in this matchup.
Attack drop coverage: There?s no secret how Wisconsin is going to guard ball screens and that means that Michigan?s guards have to be ready to make plays. Dug McDaniel can hit in-between jumpers and we?ve seen a bit from Kobe Bufkin, but I wonder if this could be a big spot for Jett Howard to use a few more ball screen reps try to get going with his mid-range game. Howard should have a significant size advantage against Klesmit or Essegian, and he?s proven that he can heat up in a hurry.
BOTTOM LINE
In some sense, the math for Michigan doesn?t change after Saturday?s deflating loss. It just becomes harder. The Wolverines still need to find four more wins to be in a position to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament when they head to Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament. The easiest path requires a sweep of the Badgers, a win over Michigan State, and one more quality road win (either at Rutgers, Illinois or Indiana).
That has to start tonight in Madison. KenPom gives Michigan a 44% chance at the road victory, projecting a 66-65 Wisconsin win.
GO BLUE!
