GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Michigan at Northwestern — Preview
Posted at 6:00am — 1/18/2011
GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Michigan at Northwestern — Preview
Northwestern lost to Michigan State barely on Saturday in East Lansing, a recent trend in Big Ten play against a good team the last couple of years. Michigan got blown out at Indiana, also a trend for the past two seasons. Both teams have something to play for as tournament hopes dim.
Michigan will travel to venerable Welsh Ryan Arena. There the ultra brights that can afford a few hours away from the books will see two system oriented basketball teams, a treat from the past (for some that is). Michigan runs a somewhat unique offensive set that needs strong shooting to win. Northwestern runs the classic high post, cut offense famous for decades. It should be fun to watch assuming the quality of play is good.
To GBMWolverine the match-up will most depend on the play of the two fine point guards, Michael Thompson of Northwestern and Darius Morris of Michigan. It has been a while since Northwestern has had a senior point guard equal to many in the league and capable of making a difference. He is tough and determined. He had a big error late in the game against MSU but his teammate clogged the area allowing him to be doubled. Michael averages over 15 points per game and about five assists. Solid, very solid is the best description. He has strength and good speed and his defensive play is decent. He is enough of an athlete to harass Morris.
Morris did not have a good self-control game Saturday, something he is likely all too aware of by now. He does have enough size to be tough on Thompson. The guy that controls the game the most may give his team the upper hand.
John Shurna, a 6’8 inch forward that plays outside quite a bit had a poor game Saturday, probably due to MSU’s big, physical forwards that play tough defense. John can flat light it up when he gets going, especially at home. It is imperative for Michigan not to let Shurna get easy three point looks like the Wolverines have provided lately to several shooters. If this guy gets off big in the first half, UM may be down double digits quickly. He averages about 20 points per game and can put up 25 plus.
Drew Crawford is a good looking sophomore who scores at about a 13 point per game
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Luka Mirkovic is Northwestern’s big guy presence. He is 6’11 but does not play like his listed height. He is an asset however doing a nice job of running the high post passing game and screening well. He is predictably Northwestern’s best rebounder.
Northwestern usually comes out smoking in the first half, so the Wolverines may need to weather the storm. Here are some things to watch for:
-What Northwestern does to stop Morris down the lane. Will the Wildcats clog and give up the threes to Novak et al?
-Which team will get to the foul line, neither is top shelf at this.
-Who will protect the ball better? Recently this would indicate Michigan.
-Neither team is great at rebounding, so whoever shoots best will likely get the advantage on the boards.
-Will Michigan’s young players defend the backdoor cut well enough to take away easy layups? They should, Michigan runs this daily.
Who will catch fire on the three-pointers? Who knows, but this could settle the game.
This should be a fun game to watch, especially those of us fortunate enough to watch Henry Iba, Fred Taylor, and John Wooden basketball decades ago, when system basketball mattered.
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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