Michigan Preview

So, the Falcons are heading to Crisler Arena tonight to take on the Michigan Wolverines.  In some senses, it will be interesting to see.  Michigan is an unknown quantity battling very low expectations this year.

Don't get me wrong.  The team that lost @Howard is going to have an uphill struggle on the road against a team from the Big 10, regardless of where they might place.  I point you to a 22 point loss on the road to Iowa last year, a 4-14 Big 10 team.

But, Michigan does not look like a powerhouse.  College Basketball Prospectus (the Phil Steele of college basketball) has them last in the Big 10.  They lost 90% of their scoring from last year, had an off-season dismissal and had three assistant coaches bolt.  They toured Europe and according to CBP lost to Oostende which is nothing to be proud of.  I guess.

Further, we don't have many clues on this year's team.  Their only win was a beating of (I swear I am not making this up) South Carolina Upstate.  Which I had never heard of.

A few observations.  At WVU, Beilein's attack centered on the 3-point shot.  Assuming that is where he wants to take UM (and these are all his players now), then BG's perimeter defense will be tested.  This was not a strong point last year, and it will be interesting to see our quickness and how it adjusts.

UM plays an odd 1-3-1 zone.  BG struggles with zones on the best of nights, and this is an odd-ball zone that I doubt if we have seen before.  They force a lot of turnovers in this zone, so BG will have to watch the ball carefully.

Against Upstate, Fr. Tim Hardaway and So. Darius Morris were the leading scorers.  Morris also led the team with 4 assists....he's a driver, and does not shoot 3s effectively.  Evan "Buy a vowel" Smotrycz is seen as a high impact freshmen and started against Upstate.

This is a very young team.  They have no seniors and only two juniors on the roster.

On another note, the football team hung 65 on BG.  It will be interesting to see if we can hold them under that number in basketball.

To win, BG is going to need to do all the stuff you figure.  Shoot well for a change, take care of the ball, and defend the perimeter really effectively.