I don’t often start threads, especially in advance of a particular game, but this game seems really interesting to me. Michigan and NU are both 3-2 in the league. The Cats are undefeated on the road. We’ve bounced back well from prior defeats. Big Matt seems like a great answer to Dickinson (and I agree we need to let him defend him 1:1 and not double the post). Michigan does not seem to be way above other teams based on my viewing. They have not played Rutgers (the only team better than us on defense). I like our chances (gulp…). Go Cats!
Michigan Game
- Thread starter SDakaGordie
- Start date
Now that Vikings Valhalla is on season 2 my Viking blood is stirred and I see Big Matt laying waste to those who would violate the paint. May Odin grant no mercy to Michigan….
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point win 
Mixing in timed double teams with 1:1 is typically my favorite strategy against a versatile post presence. You need a defender with high IQ and skill in order to pull it off well. It will leave the offensive player constantly thinking about if it’s coming or not. It can also surprise once they get used to 1:1 again. It’s all about picking the right times to go down and double.
Excellent example of this from CCC era is Lumpkin and Pardon vs. Happ. Lumpkin would let pardon go 1:1 against Happ for a few possessions then out of nowhere double team. A couple as soon as Happ was getting in motion to shoot Lumpkin would crash and add a second defender disrupting Happs rhythm. It was phenomenal effort by Lumpkin and it caused a few turnovers and missed shots.
The key is it’s 100% up to helping player on when to double. They have to be able to identify and execute at the right times.
I don’t think MI is a particularly good or well-coached team. But I do think they are, after Purdue, the team best equipped to kill us.
Mostly because Dickinson is a really really good passer. His passes are clean, well-timed, etc. If we double-team him immediately I think we are toast. We either let Matt do his thing, live with it, and hope for the best, or we double-team when he puts the ball on the floor. I suppose we can get fancy and double-team if he is not seeing where the double team is coming from, more on a judgment-call basis. But that requires a lot more confidence in good decisions on the spot.
I think the defense in the post-feed is our glaring weakness. I don't love our chance in The Deuce, The City of Trees, The A2, The Ace Deuce, or any other terms the full of themselves Ann Arborites call their overrated city.
MI was in complete control at Iowa earlier this week. And lost on one of the most bone-headed plays I've ever seen when, with like 20 seconds to go, up by 4, a player fouled a 3-point shooter.
Mostly because Dickinson is a really really good passer. His passes are clean, well-timed, etc. If we double-team him immediately I think we are toast. We either let Matt do his thing, live with it, and hope for the best, or we double-team when he puts the ball on the floor. I suppose we can get fancy and double-team if he is not seeing where the double team is coming from, more on a judgment-call basis. But that requires a lot more confidence in good decisions on the spot.
I think the defense in the post-feed is our glaring weakness. I don't love our chance in The Deuce, The City of Trees, The A2, The Ace Deuce, or any other terms the full of themselves Ann Arborites call their overrated city.
MI was in complete control at Iowa earlier this week. And lost on one of the most bone-headed plays I've ever seen when, with like 20 seconds to go, up by 4, a player fouled a 3-point shooter.
Great minds ... I'd mix up all sorts of defense on Dickinson, similar to what they did with Cockburn the last couple years.
If it were another team, I'd start 1:1 and adjust as needed. However, this group has such trouble scoring early in the game, I might start with double team depending on where Dickinson gets the ball to help keep them close early, on the road. Then I'd adjust and mix the timing on doubles.
Deception is always a great tactic; good thoughts and past examples. But I don’t think Dickinson has really faced a guy like Big Matt. A few other thoughts: a) Roper will play better in that we’re in his home state of Michigan; b) no way Jett Howard goes off again Iike he did against Iowa.
"Random" doubling in the post is key.
Dickinson can score down low AND out at the 3 point line, so its a tough assignment for Nicholson. Worst case scenario is that Dickinson gets cheap fouls from Matt because of bad officials playing favorites.
Good scenario is Nicholson dunking a few times on Dickinson.
I think we win if refs don't screw Nicholson specifically.
But we cannot automatically double the post. If we do that we lose in almost every scenario.
Dickinson can score down low AND out at the 3 point line, so its a tough assignment for Nicholson. Worst case scenario is that Dickinson gets cheap fouls from Matt because of bad officials playing favorites.
Good scenario is Nicholson dunking a few times on Dickinson.
I think we win if refs don't screw Nicholson specifically.
But we cannot automatically double the post. If we do that we lose in almost every scenario.
Well, I learned at least two notable things: 1) not to make predictions we will win - all the more frustrating when we don’t, and 2) it is a TEAM game. So many pieces need to come together. Michigan had more of them come together.