UConn vs Michigan (Championship) | Page 2 | The Boneyard

UConn vs Michigan (Championship)

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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He’s not always wrong and has some bball knowledge he’s just weird and obnoxious too often lol just messing Ruff
 
They’re really, really freaking good. Been scared of them since December.

But we don’t need to be better than them, we just need to outscore them for 40 minutes and weird things happen when trophies are on the line. Michigan is only five games removed from getting thumped in the Big Ten title game by scrubby Purdue.
 
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Fishy said:
They’re really, really freaking good. Been scared of them since December.
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You said this in February after our close win over Georgetown. We're hoping to ride your mojo all the way to the title. 2023 redux.

Fishy

Post in thread 'Georgetown Post Game Thread'

Michigan would break this team into 500 pieces.

They're just not that good.
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I’ve been thinking about this for awhile and I honestly don’t know how UConn defends that frontline to start the game. Let’s go big and sit Solo and start Reibe. I’m kidding but that would match their size and I’m not sure how else UConn does that.
 
HooperScooper said:
You said this in February after our close win over Georgetown. We're hoping to ride your mojo all the way to the title. 2023 redux.

Fishy

Post in thread 'Georgetown Post Game Thread'

Michigan would break this team into 500 pieces.

They're just not that good.
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Michigan has scared me all season long - the one team I didn’t want to see anywhere along the way. But if we gotta see them, now’s the time.

Hurley gave everyone the blueprint to putting together a roster that could win a title and May absolutely went to school on it. They’re terrifying,
 
caw said:
I’ve been thinking about this for awhile and I honestly don’t know how UConn defends that frontline to start the game. Let’s go big and sit Solo and start Reibe. I’m kidding but that would match their size and I’m not sure how else UConn does that.
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Ridiculous. Reibe has done nothing all tourney and you want to feed him to the wolves. Playing Ross starters minutes instead of Ball could hopefully be enough.
 
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Fishy said:
They’re really, really freaking good. Been scared of them since December.

But we don’t need to be better than them, we just need to outscore them for 40 minutes and weird things happen when trophies are on the line. Michigan is only five games removed from getting thumped in the Big Ten title game by scrubby Purdue.
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Also, Wisconsin was right there with them as was Ohio State. I agree, this isn't the NBA. You just have to beat them once, but that's a very tall order.
 
bendm said:
Ridiculous. Reibe has done nothing all tourney and you want to feed him to the wolves. Playing Ross starters minutes instead of Ball could hopefully be enough.
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Reibe needs an injection of confidence in the next 36 hours. He’s a shell of a player right now. You’ve got 40 minutes left in the season. Play with some force and empty the tank.
 
BFieldHusky said:
Watch that tape of Duke/Michigan. Its our blueprint.

I think the media is downplaying the Yaxel injury. He's gonna be a shell of himself Monday. A knee sprain on top of an ankle sprain, and less than 48 hours to get ready.
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I’d rather play a team like this at their best. I hope he can go. Then when we win there are no excuses. Let’s go!
 
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BigErnMcCracken said:
Reibe needs an injection of confidence in the next 36 hours. He’s a shell of a player right now. You’ve got 40 minutes left in the season. Play with some force and empty the tank.
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Reibe is likely physically exhausted. Had to play catch-up after missing time with the German team. Battling people stronger than him in games and practice all along.

Mullins is there, too (especially with the ankle injury) but "The Shot" combined with a home state Final Four has put new life in his legs.
 
As mentioned tempo will play a role. Two things that will speed the pace are missing shots and live ball turnovers. UConn must limit these. There is no doubt that Michigan has a better bench in terms of offense, but defensively UConn's bench is really good. If UConn gets some offense from the bench, it will certainly help. Michigan's defense is just as good as any in the country, and if they are on, as mentioned earlier making shots and limiting turnovers will be key for UConn. Limiting second chance points is also a must.
 
champs99and04 said:
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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If the game is within 5 points with 5 minutes left Michigan is in trouble. The last thing M wants its a close game.
 
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OK seriously this time. UConn can win this one.

Michigan does play three bigs to start the game but they actually don’t play all three together a ton.

Against Duke Yaxel played 38 minutes but Johnson only played 28 and Mara 22. So about 10 minutes of overlap give or take. Purdue game was similar.

The biggest thing is they have two in at all times. And they will crash the glass. UConn needs to stay out of foul trouble and crash the defensive glass.

They don’t get a ton of steals, but they have a good block rate with Mara. Hes long but he can play soft at times. He might shoot over Reed but we need to have Reed keep him from posting too close with his strength and lower center of gravity, stay down and get rebounds. If Mara gets to rim running, that’s a problem but Reed can’t foul on a late contest.

Johnson is the bigger concern as he is the type of big Karaban has problem with. But he also isn’t the most mobile, and he may have to chase Karaban.

I’m not sure how they defend Karaban. Duke and Illinois put a tall guard/wing on him and defending Silas with a big. I could see them starting with Yaxel on Silas for this reason, to rest his ankle a bit.

If they do that though, it means Johnson has to chase one of Ball/Mullins/Karaban. For them, a healthy Yaxel would be ideal to defend Karaban but he’s not. Again that’s only for the time all three bigs are in. Their defense will probably shift as they shift to their two big lineups.

Slow the pace, get back in transition, play foul and mistake free and rebound the defensive glass and make their bigs run in circles when they play defense. That’s all UConn can do and that might be enough.
 
This was the week 14 poll. Crazy how they got the top 5 right.
 

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ec33 said:
Reibe is likely physically exhausted. Had to play catch-up after missing time with the German team. Battling people stronger than him in games and practice all along.

Mullins is there, too (especially with the ankle injury) but "The Shot" combined with a home state Final Four has put new life in his legs.
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One thing Reibe can’t do is commit needless fouls like the one on the sideline against Illinois. Needs to be smarter.
 
One game season. Anything can happen. Ask the 99 Duke team. Yaxel being compromised levels the playing field. I can see Silas having his way with Cadeau.Tarris will be hungry vs these guys. Like our chances in a close game.. Leave it on the floor.

BTW-Would you have taken playing in the last game of the season in Oct?
 
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