They need to fit in before “fitting out,” so to speak. Just play in the flow of the offense and don’t take any quick shots, even if you are open. That’s how you buy more time on the court. No bad shots or glaring mistakes. Unfortunately, both have been a problem for DJ and Kam.
At home we will be favored against IU by both Vegas and Kenpom (where they are just 6 spots ahead of us). The key against Indiana is preventing fast break opportunities. I’d also like to see us drive the ball and perhaps get Bryant into foul trouble.
Similarly, a huge key against MSU will be making Forbes and Harris do something besides hit open 3s, especially in transition. They have a lot of players who aren’t particularly versatile. Valentine is what what makes them go, and the key is to make him a one-on-one player without giving up open 3s (to him or others).
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IMO
Bryant>Donnal
Williams<DRob
HartmanMAAR/ JohnsonDWalt
Indiana Bench<Michigan Bench
State
Costello>Donnal
Davis>DRob
Valentine>Irvin
Forbes>MAAR/ Forbes<LeVert if back
Harris UM Bench
I like the matchup with Indiana and hate it with State.
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The thing you didn’t mention is MSU is terrific in transition with Valentine who can rise and fire from 20 feet at any moment. If Michigan has turnover issues that will not bode well against MSU or any team this week for that matter.
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I guess I might as well sell my tickets. But then again, Beilein>Crean–all day, every day.
The interesting element of the MSU game is that MSU has gotten to a point where it almost always plays two bigs. Can whoever plays the four for MSU defend the 4-5 ball screen? That’s the million dollar question.
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Strange, I thought I specifically said it was a key to try to stop Forbes and Harris from getting transition 3s and that Valentine was the engine. My whole point was to make then do something on offense other than what they’re best at, which is transition 3s. As for Valentine, he’s an excellent player, but he’s most effective taking 3s and passing to others. My strategy against him would be to make him try to score one-on-one – make him put the ball on the floor and score.
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Is Goins a “big”? It doesn’t seem to me that MSU plays 2 of Costello, Davis, & Schilling together for more than 15 minutes a game. It will be interesting to watch how often they do it and how well it works.
I would call Goins a big, yes. Do you think he can guard Irvin in the PNR game?
Here’s the MSU rotation over the last 3 games:
Clark/Bess – MSU’s small lineups – have essentially been eliminated.
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I agree that our offense poses challenges for MSU with the ball screen game, but I think the bigger question is who are we matching up against them defensively? There’s not one defensive matchup I like…except for maybe Zak on Valentine, which I know probably won’t happen because of what Dylan stated above, we’ll probably need Zak on one of their bigs, no? (I’m writing this as if Caris won’t play, but obviously that changes the dynamic slightly if he does suit up)
Interested to hear all of your thoughts.
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Would hate the matchup of Zak on Valentine, he struggles to keep anyone in front of him. Figure MAAR probably draws Denzel. Irvin on whoever plays the four. Watlon on Harris, Duncan on Forbes.
On MSU’s side … Who guards Irvin? Who guards Duncan?
Goins is listed at 6-6 and he doesn’t shoot 3s,so I guess he’s a big, but I wouldn’t really think of a lineup of him and one of the others as a classic two-big lineup. He’s a guy you help off of – make him do anything other than dunk the ball and it’s a win defensively. (Really that applies to Schilling too, and to some extent the other MSU bigs). I do think Goins is pretty capable of guarding Irvin in PnR sets.
The issue for me is who does Robinson guard? I personally would put Walton on Forbes.
I guess I just think of anyone who doesn’t dribble or shoot outside of 8 feet and mostly just sets screens and crashes the glass as a big man.
I put Walton on the guy that can do things off the bounce (Harris) and Robinson on Forbes where he is more limited off the bounce and DR can maybe makeup for some of his liabilities with his length.
I suppose you’re right, but I’m not sure, say, Javon Bess does much different for them – maybe dribbles a bit more?
I’m trying to disrupt their 2nd best scorer. In no way do I want Forbes going off.
That’s definitely fair. Think you could probably make an argument either way. And in reality, Michigan is going to switch so much on the perimeter that it might not matter.
Going to see a lot of zone. I see Izzo putting his guards in the crossing play a ton. Frees up shooters and allows post up
Yes - in retrospect, I wasn’t thinking of Denzel’s driving ability as much as I was his pull-up jumper which I think is not ideal for MAAR as he can shoot over him. But MAAR (and hopefully Caris) would be best defensive matchup for sure.
I think this will be primarily a man-to-man defense game, as I feel Izzo has the weapons to expose a 1-3-1 zone pretty quickly, so to your point above the perimeter guys will probably do a lot of switching. They just better talk out there…a LOT.