UConn vs Michigan (Championship) | Page 6 | The Boneyard

UConn vs Michigan (Championship)

I think this game suits UConn. The pressure is all on Michigan. They've never been in this situation.

Hurley has the advantage

Yes, they're freaky talented, but so was dook

Yes, they'll score, but we have shooters and we can and will go on runs

The momentum lies with us because we know how to win. We know how to come from behind if we have to. We can make the big time shots

I'm confident that we will have a good chance late in the game to close this game out and bring number 7 home.

Go UConn
 
Michigan probably has an A game level that we can’t reach. Nobody in the country can. So we probably have to hope they do some things to leave the door open for us.

That said, looking for some bright spots in the matchup, it does seem like the teams that run good stuff and keep it in the halfcourt - Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue - consistently gave them some problems. Teams that tried to attack and go fast like Auburn and Arizona they crushed. (Gonzaga was 3rd game in 3 days, so that’s an outlier in terms of game prep).

But none of that matters if our shots don’t fall. We really need AK to find his shot - since that’s maybe a matchup headache for them if he can hit some threes. If he’s off, Michigan can afford to be late chasing him the way Illinois often was.
 
UCONN probably beats this team 2 out of 10 times. We don't have any answer for Mara, Yaxel (his injury may help) or Morez. It's like St. John's but with better, more versatile athletes. I think the only way to stem the Michigan aggression on the perimeter will be strategic cuts to the baskets and drawing fouls. Force Dusty to play his reserves more than anticipated. UCONN has to get 15+ FTs. Try to keep the game in the 60s with limited possessions.
 
I don't believe Yaxel will finish this game. Might hit a couple early shots, but our motion coupled with the fact Danny will make him guard will make him a liability. At that point if Reed can outplay Mara it's at worst a toss up.
 
Ripper32 said:
UCONN probably beats this team 2 out of 10 times. We don't have any answer for Mara, Yaxel (his injury may help) or Morez. It's like St. John's but with better, more versatile athletes. I think the only way to stem the Michigan aggression on the perimeter will be strategic cuts to the baskets and drawing fouls. Force Dusty to play his reserves more than anticipated. UCONN has to get 15+ FTs. Try to keep the game in the 60s with limited possessions.
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the big difference with st johns is that michigan doesn't disrupt our stuff with pressure. they just want to outscore you and make it impossible to finish inside. the defense approach is way different.
 
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Gurleyman said:
Michigan probably has an A game level that we can’t reach. Nobody in the country can. So we probably have to hope they do some things to leave the door open for us.

That said, looking for some bright spots in the matchup, it does seem like the teams that run good stuff and keep it in the halfcourt - Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue - consistently gave them some problems. Teams that tried to attack and go fast like Auburn and Arizona they crushed. (Gonzaga was 3rd game in 3 days, so that’s an outlier in terms of game prep).

But none of that matters if our shots don’t fall. We really need AK to find his shot - since that’s maybe a matchup headache for them if he can hit some threes. If he’s off, Michigan can afford to be late chasing him the way Illinois often was.
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Key is to frustrate Cadeau - he's far from their best player, but he's their only true ball handler and their engine. Cut off his lanes, don't let him pass over you. I don't know what Hurley's strategy will be, but making sure he's kept locked up is important. Need to kill the blitz/kill shot momentum swings they have a tendency to employ. They did it yesterday and they did it vs Tenn. Silas on him will be a favorable matchup.

I'd probably use our fouls in this one too - don't give them anything easy. Bully the bully.
 
noelle said:
the big difference with st johns is that michigan doesn't disrupt our stuff with pressure. they just want to outscore you and make it impossible to finish inside. the defense approach is way different.
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They do. There were periods in the 2nd half where they turn up the pressure up to SJU levels. They did it against St. Louis and Tennessee.
They start to swarm since they have a one man zone in Mara at the basket.
 
Both teams got blown out in their conference tournament finals and have turned it on since, but according to the media, one team is an unstoppable juggernaut, and the other is winning on vibes. Bring on Monday night
 
I expect to see more of Ross, Stewart and Reibe since Michigan is so big. They just have to offer productive minutes. Harass and do the little things.
 
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Didn’t we recruit Roddy Gayle Jr pretty hard?
 
bendm said:
Silver lining ? Ross is a better matchup for Yaxel…
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And has shot it at such a better clip than Solo.

Solo had one of his better shooting games, although two of his shots got some of the craziest favorable bounces in I've seen. It's not as though they softly caromed in, they were total luck. Meanwhile Jayden is shooting 40% from three this year.

Solo continues to make some god awful decisions - the reckless full court take to a nothing burger of a shot was horrifying. The throw away to an easy layup in the backcourt were two that stand out. He had no rebounds and 2 assists in 30 minutes.

He honestly didn't play a great game if not for the two unbelievably lucky bounces, (would have been 3-11). Force playing him gimpy would not help.
 
RuffRuff said:
And has shot it at such a better clip than Solo.

Solo had one of his better shooting games, although two of his shots got some of the craziest favorable bounces in I've seen. It's not as though they softly caromed in, they were total luck. Meanwhile Jayden is shooting 40% from three this year.

Solo continues to make some god awful decisions - the reckless full court take to a nothing burger of a shot was horrifying. The throw away to an easy layup in the backcourt were two that stand out. He had no rebounds and 2 assists in 30 minutes.

He honestly didn't play a great game if not for the two unbelievably lucky bounces, (would have been 3-11). Force playing him gimpy would not help.
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Some people offer constructive criticism, you just straight up trash dudes on your team. Pretty tired of it
 
5+ and 4+ minute scoring droughts against Illinois had me concerned. Can’t afford long periods without scoring is obvious but you would think with all the set scoring options we will work to mitigate that. Drive to pick up points at the FL as e.g.?
 
Mr. French said:
Listen to Goodman: aside from the opinion, he’s just SUCH a tool. Even when he pumps UConn I can’t stand this dude.

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Guy cannot stop himself from throwing in at least one brutally inappropriate question in every interview. I squirm watching him so I can only imagine what Dauster and the others are thinking sitting next to him while he does it. They obviously need him because of his connections but they must spend a lot of time and energy having to clean up after him (e.g., the rift with Hurley, etc. etc.). I bet they’d kick him to the curb in a heartbeat if they could.
 
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Michigan's defense has been stellar inside. Michigan's length has been stellar outside, and will likely focus on running us off the 3 point line. Ergo, I am beginning to like the idea of UConn trying to beat them with a mid-range game. UConn must penetrate and beat their defender at the 3 point line and hit some mid range stuff. This will cause Mara to come out from underneath the basket. That is a good thing for Reed. Also the idea of firing 3's all game and missing may give rise to long rebounds which speed the pace. Of course firing 3's and hitting them is the best outcome.
 
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If ROSS can stay out of foul trouble this could be a more interesting match up. His speed and length on defense could be a better match up

Splitting Ross and Ball 50-50’could work out in this game
 
WeAreUCONN said:
Honestly I think Ross could impact this game more so than Solo could assuming we stay out of foul trouble. No Solo or a limited Solo equals more shots for everyone else. Ross is much better defensively than Solo and has been shooting better all season.
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Agreed. Ross just makes defensive plays. It’s just the foul trouble I’m concerned about
 
housekeys said:
Michigan's defense has been stellar inside. Michigan's length has been stellar outside, and will likely focus on running us off the 3 point line. Ergo, I am beginning to like the idea of UConn trying to beat them with a mid-range game. UConn must penetrate and beat their defender at the 3 point line and hit some mid range stuff. This will cause Mara to come out from underneath the basket. That is a good thing for Reed. Also the idea of firing 3's all game and missing may give rise to long rebounds which speed the pace. Of course firing 3's and hitting them is the best outcome.
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Similar to the UF game
 
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