Michigan Basketball: UConn at Michigan — Preview
Posted at 10:00am — 1/17/2010
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BASKETBALL- CONNECTICUT WEEKEND
This rematch of last year was once circled on the calendar by giddy Michigan fans at the end of last year’s upbeat and successful campaign. Then to start the 2009-2010 campaign, Michigan lost a string of games to good competition and looked horrible in games against Northwestern and Indiana, and interest is now at less than peak.
Jim Calhoun probably considers this game as a nuisance, since he has severe enough problems in the Big East early on and will likely be glad that the during conference home-and-home series is up.
Michigan can win this game, but many things will have to go the right way. And all of those things, baring a little old-fashioned luck, are under the control of Michigan.
First, if UM goes on an 0-14 tear it up streak from three against UCONN, there will be second half parking available near Crisler Arena and less seats available at the nice restaurants in the State and Main areas. This team simply must resist the temptation to fire first and ask questions later. UCONN is a big team, with good athletes, and there will be only a limited amount of good looks. The offense must be run and not interrupted by guys deciding to take off on a short dribble or firing from deep. It would probably be in UM’s favor to shorten the game by running clock.
Second, UCONN is a monster of a rebounding team, averaging over 40 a game. If UM plays soft and does not block out and scrap hard for every ball, the differential could be huge. Five UCONN players are bigger than Sims. Some of those weak hands and weak efforts to the ball need to get better, quickly. Novak, the team scrapper, needs to stay out of foul trouble, as do Sims and Harris. UCONN plays in a league where the meek will get crushed, and UM knows what is coming.
Third, UM must act like a team that is actually capable of dribbling and making proper passes, instead of getting trapped after giving up the dribble and throwing softballs across the top of the key. So many errors lately have been unforced, making one wonder if anyone values the basketball and will protect it. Yes, it does help to have a point guard, but five players are responsible for ball management.
Fourth, UM needs to run when the selected opportunities are presented and actually finish some lay-ups. So many shots could be the front end of an old-fashioned three-point play, but never seem to go in.
Last, UCONN is coming off a tough loss and is beatable. This team can rebound but is right at the 45% benchmark for field goal percentage and right at the 35% benchmark for three-pointers. What has plagued the Husky team recently is turnovers. Like Michigan, this team can be a little rattled with the ball as well.
UCONN is ranked 15th, a position that may go down a little with the loss to a very good Pitt team, one that is undefeated in Big East play. The Huskies are only 3-5 against good competition. But obviously the Big East schedule will take care of any strength of schedule difficulty.
Coach Beilein is certainly sweating bullets wondering if the team will ingest the “get it” factor or return to previous setbacks. If UM comes out strong and plays with real passion and quality of execution on offense, the guys can hang around and make it a game down the stretch. If there is matador defense in the middle, poor passing, silly fouls, and a refusal to run the offense the extra pass or two, Dunkirk.
P.S. now you know after watching Indiana last week why the earlier loss to Indiana was so damaging. The first half of the second Indiana-Michigan match-up will not appear at coaching clinics near you. Northwestern continues on and beat a Purdue team that is still in shock after blowing a monster lead to Evan Turner. The Wildcats have a real chance to dance. After UCONN, Michigan plays Wisconsin, and Michigan State in the near future.
Thank you for reading and continue to visit GBMW.
Written by Doc4blu
Go Blue — Wear Maize!
