UConn vs Michigan (Championship) | The Boneyard

UConn vs Michigan (Championship)

I said this in another thread, but even knowing tonight's result, would you rather play Arizona or Michigan with its NPOY hobbled?

Michigan has looked the part of a juggernaut all tournament long, but they did lose to Duke on a neutral floor. I think I'd have this one at closer to Michigan -3 than Michigan -8.
 
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RuffRuff said:
Weren't we 9.5 dogs in 99?

It's an opportunity - and one for Hurley to carve out some space on a Mount Rushmore if he can pull it off. We are the last stand from the B10 keeping it's streak going.
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I believe we were a 11 points dog in 99. It is a basketball game. Anything is possible.

Let's shock the world 2.0!!!!!!!!

Let's go Huskies!!!!!
 
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looking under the hood, if we can dictate the pace to a halfcourt game, it'll be a make or miss game. they prefer to go for transition offense rather than offensive boards, and that's something that can't be changed too easily on the fly. the gameplan will have to start with containing their transition and lob game.

cadeau looks like a high level pg when he can throw lobs and play in transition but he's limited in the half court. plus a hobbled yaxel and they have limited ballhandling options if it's a half court game. ideally he'll shoot a lot of shots late in the clock.

we haven't had many hot shooting games despite the elite shooting talent on the roster, but with all the guys getting healthier this team can have a high efficiency ceiling shooting open shots. they just need to figure out a way to be tough against their firepower and make it tough every possession.
 
If we can shut down their guards' driving without fouling, we can stop them. Reed will be a handful for Mara. Hopefully, Reed can get Mara in foul trouble.

If we can knock down 3s, I like our chances.

Mullins, Solo, AK, Demery, Ross, Smith, and Reed will have their hands full. They just need to make shots.
 
BFieldHusky said:
Can't believe I am agreeing with Ruff, but our chance in this game is to mimick what Duke did against them. Slow the tempo, play the game in the 60s/70s, and make it a halfcourt game.
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Fairly obvious - we'd get killed if we tried to run with them. We have to numb them like novacane with our offensive sets.
Silas needs to cut Cadeau off at POA, let Ross stick with Yaxel. Yaxel on a bum leg will be more of a shooter than an interior threat. Play Mullins at the 2. AK is going to have a tough guard on Johnson. Hopefully Tarris can run a couple pump fakes and get some early fouls on Mara.

Don't overplay Ball in this one.
FfldCntyFan said:
Someone needs to explain to me how this Michigan team is better than our 2023-2024 team.

I give KenPom a D+ in terms of accuracy and credibility.
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They're not 2024, but they're not terribly far off. Probably one of the better teams we've seen alongside that 2024 team. I want to see them in a methodical half court game that means something.
 
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if you read between the lines of what hurley said post illinois, the key line is "make them start their actions further out". this applies to michigan as well because the big 10 is a more offensive oriented, run and gun league. they don't force turnovers and just try to overwhelm with positional size and timing based offense. it's not as bad of a matchup as the stats indicate but we'll have to execute at a very high level.
 
noelle said:
looking under the hood, if we can dictate the pace to a halfcourt game, it'll be a make or miss game. they prefer to go for transition offense rather than offensive boards, and that's something that can't be changed too easily on the fly. the gameplan will have to start with containing their transition and lob game.

cadeau looks like a high level pg when he can throw lobs and play in transition but he's limited in the half court. plus a hobbled yaxel and they have limited ballhandling options if it's a half court game. ideally he'll shoot a lot of shots late in the clock.

we haven't had many hot shooting games despite the elite shooting talent on the roster, but with all the guys getting healthier this team can have a high efficiency ceiling shooting open shots. they just need to figure out a way to be tough against their firepower and make it tough every possession.
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Spot on!!! Cadeau was terrible against Duke, thrives in transition. Don't let him peal off downhill.
 
I think we match up well minus Yaxel. I love Silas v Cadeau and Mullins v Nimari. Morez is going to be gasping for air chasing Karaban around. And I’m still taking Reed over Mara. He’s got the length but not the strength. As I said The only matchup problem that scares me is Yaxel but hopefully he’ll be gimpy. We also have Ross and Stew to throw at him. Maybe that means less time with Ball and Mullins on the floor together.

Similar to tonight We need to hit at least a dozen 3s. Can’t get out rebounded and can’t turn the ball over giving them transition opportunities. Slow the pace to a crawl. Run our offense and make them defend for 20 seconds every possession. On top of all that we can’t foul so much.
 
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