#5 Northwestern vs #4 Michigan - 3/11/21

[Shades]

Big Ten Tournament - Quarterfinal
Indianapolis, IN - 1:30 PM ET
TV: FS2 (Mike Hall, Meghan McKeown)

Video stream:
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Audio:

Women's Basketball vs. TBD Big Ten Quarterfinals

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Live stats:

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[JellyBean]

Michigan

 

[cancontent]

Michigan will have to play better this time around. Northwestern's offense was off in my opinion during their last game. I don't see that being the case today.

I'm pulling for Michigan however I'd be blind if I didn't acknowledge they've been going through a rough patch. Someone opined in another thread that they believe the team is fading. I hope not as I enjoy watching this team when they're clicking.

Winning this game will help get them back on track for the NCAA tournament.

 

[HuskyMJ]

Northwestern is quite undersized so this is a decent matchup for Michigan. Now if the guards can't handle pressure, B1G DPOY Veronica Burton will make life hard for them.

 

[Shades]

18-15 NW early in the second.

 

[Shades]

Another tight game here.
30-30 at the half

Hillmon 17 pts, 6 reb

Burton 16 pts, 7 reb

 

[cancontent]

Northwestern has a 6 point lead midway in the 3rd. Transition offense and strong defense is why they're ahead.

Other than Hillmon, no one else is really providing points. Watching to see how Michigan handle their foul issues.

 

[Matthew1589]

Outside of Leigha Brown NW doesn't have to worry about much of an outside game for Michigan. Just pack it in on Hillmon.

 

[cancontent]

Northwestern is quite undersized so this is a decent matchup for Michigan. Now if the guards can't handle pressure, B1G DPOY Veronica Burton will make life hard for them.

This has come to fruition.

Outside of Leigha Brown NW doesn't have to worry about much of an outside game for Michigan. Just pack it in on Hillmon.

Correction - any game, inside or outside. Except for L Brown and Naz, the starters are 3-19.

 

[JellyBean]

Holy smokes!! Michigan hurting their NCAA tournament run. Great win by Northwestern.

 

[cancontent]

Holy smokes!! Michigan hurting their NCAA tournament run. Great win by Northwestern.

Yup - the assessment someone had stating that they're fading is most definitely accurate.

Credit to Northwestern and the adjustments they made during half-time. Wonder what they'll have in place for Maryland tomorrow.

 

[Matthew1589]

NW fixed what didn't work in the regular season losses. When looking at UM's schedule this season those wins over NW and the one over Ohio St. are the best wins. Had they played anything near a full conference schedule everyone would have known they are vastly overrated.

 

[cancontent]

NW fixed what didn't work in the regular season losses. When looking at UM's schedule this season those wins over NW and the one over Ohio St. are the best wins. Had they played anything near a full conference schedule everyone would have known they are vastly overrated.

Maybe - maybe not. Losing time twice during the season for shut downs didn't help. Does it explain everything no, but that's the fun of forums where we can speculate.

 

[Matthew1589]

Maybe - maybe not. Losing time twice during the season for shut downs didn't help. Does it explain everything no, but that's the fun of forums where we can speculate.

Very true, my guess is we'll find out come NCAA tournament time.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Hillmon needs more help.

 

[Shades]

Hillmon needs more help.

Are you suggesting Rickea Jackson?

 

[SECbbfan24]

Are you suggesting Rickea Jackson?

Well I think it be great to watch a team with Hillmon and Rickea on the court at the same time but unsure if she would go there. It is her home state so maybe.

I feel like if she did transfer, she would follow Vic to Texas or go to Louisville (Walz will process whoever he needs to in order to make the numbers work).

although there are a few other teams who like to supplement by the portal that I think could offer a lot as well (A&M, Baylor, Maryland, Oregon)

She was high on Rutgers and Ohio State too

 

[nwhoopfan]

although there are a few other teams who like to supplement by the portal that I think could offer a lot as well (A&M, Baylor, Maryland, Oregon)

Oregon is pretty full. Unless they lose several to the portal themselves.

 

[bballnut90]

Oregon is pretty full. Unless they lose several to the portal themselves.

I'm guessing a few will bolt. They're incredibly deep but im not sure players like Watson and Scherr will be content playing as backups for another year or 2.

 

[DefenseBB]

I don't know that Michigan is overrated as much as maybe the Big10 is overrated? I mean we all think Maryland is great due to their dominance over these middling Big10 teams. I can't for the life of me find anyone within the Big10 that played and won a notable out of conference game against another quality team save maybe Maryland. None of the others look likely to make it to the Sweet 16 and half could struggle to get to the 2nd round.

 

[cancontent]

I don't know that Michigan is overrated as much as maybe the Big10 is overrated? I mean we all think Maryland is great due to their dominance over these middling Big10 teams. I can't for the life of me find anyone within the Big10 that played and won a notable out of conference game against another quality team save maybe Maryland. None of the others look likely to make it to the Sweet 16 and half could struggle to get to the 2nd round.

The BIG 10 schedule was changed this year due to COVID and I recall reading that travel guidelines were in place, which could have affected teams abilities to schedule competitive games. The conference schedule went to 20 from 18, so there's 2 opportunities gone there.

Big Ten Conference

The official athletics website for Big Ten Conference

bigten.org

I don't think a team like Maryland or Indiana was trying to duck anyone. Indiana was fortunate to get a game in with Tennessee last minute because Tennessee was willing to travel to them. If teams aren't allowed to go outside a specific range, excluding conference opponents, what are they supposed to do? I believe other conferences had similar challenges.

As to the BIG10 being over rated, I disagree. The COVID pauses that held back Rutgers and Michigan for over a month robbed the conference from some great match ups. Penn State's style of play improved late in the season. A lot of the conferences didn't have the same level of play this year too.