UConn vs Michigan (Championship)

[Gurleyman]

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.

 

[Ripper32]

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.

 

[huskyfever34]

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.

 

[noelle]

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.

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.

 

[Ripper32]

Michigan plays like they did against Zona they win by 20 on Monday

But Arizona played right into the teeth of their defensive system with a lot of ISO. I think they had 5 assists. But I agree that Michigan is on another level than the rest of the field. But Tommy Lloyd did his team no favors.

 

[RuffRuff]

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.

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.

 

[Ripper32]

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.

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.

 

[DCKembaFan]

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

 

[Ripper32]

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.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Very bad news

 

[bendm]

Very bad news

Silver lining ? Ross is an exponentially better matchup for Yaxel…

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Very bad news

On that steal that Demery made that he couldn't recover he came up limping - I wonder if that was it.

 

[UconnU]

Didn’t we recruit Roddy Gayle Jr pretty hard?

 

[RuffRuff]

Silver lining ? Ross is a better matchup for Yaxel…

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.

 

[Inyatkin]

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.

Some people offer constructive criticism, you just straight up trash dudes on your team. Pretty tired of it

 

[Frank06830]

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.?

 

[connVA]

Listen to Goodman: aside from the opinion, he’s just SUCH a tool. Even when he pumps UConn I can’t stand this dude.

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.

 

[ArizonaHsky]

On that steal that Demery made that he couldn't recover he came up limping - I wonder if that was it.

If that Michigan dude is going to play, which he said nothing will keep him out, Ball better be out there

 

[GampelGladiator]

Very bad news

Next man up.

Let's remember...this is a homecoming game for Alec too. Played last year 10 minutes from Lucas Oil at IU-Indianapolis...

 

[UConnTrumbull]

If that Michigan dude is going to play, which he said nothing will keep him out, Ball better be out there

I would expect him to. Hopefully can get enough elevation for catch and shoot. Even if limited minutes.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

 

[BFieldHusky]

Sucks, but the reality is this a tough game to play Ball AND Mullins a lot of minutes together. See what can we get out of him, and play a lot of Ross/Stewart at the 3.

 

[housekeys]

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.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

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.

 

[NewBlood]

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

 

[NewBlood]

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.

Agreed. Ross just makes defensive plays. It’s just the foul trouble I’m concerned about

 

[NewBlood]

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.

Similar to the UF game

 

[shizzle787]

Very bad news

I think this is gamesmanship.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

I think this is gamesmanship.

gamesmanship for what. Ball hasn’t been lighting the world on fire. I doubt Michigan is spending much time sweating him in the game planning.

 

[gtcam]

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.

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.

UConn 2024 would wipe this Michigan team off the floor.
Zona was overrated and flawed and it showed last night
This 2026 UConn team is no where the skill set of 2024 but this Michigan team is not close to 2024 UConn
I appreciate your insight at times but your evaluation of teams like Arizona, UMich and Florida are over the top, in my opinion
I see Michigan closer to 2026 Illini and 2026 UConn should have beaten the Illini by 20 last night had the officiating been more even.