2019-2020 B1G Basketball Thread

[SuperMario]

Yet another game where Michigan looked great at various periods of the game and then made some dumb mistakes to keep the game close, but I'll take the win, of course.

Nunez didn't play at all today, so Michigan will probably have a consistent 8-man rotation going forward unless/until he improves on defense or Bajema emerges. I'm not expecting either to happen, though, and fortunately Brooks and DeJulius are playing pretty well despite being somewhat out of position, especially when they both play along with Simpson.

Still too many turnovers and dumb fouls (especially with Simpson and Livers fouling out), but I still think that's a fixable issue. It's surprising that it's an issue in the first place considering how foul and turnover averse Michigan was under Beilein.

Tomorrow should be an even bigger challenge, though....

You realize they beat the #6 team in the nation right? Secondly, when you’re converting from a very slow pace style of game, to a faster pace, you’re going to see an increase in turnovers and fouls.

[MichiFan87]

You realize they beat the #6 team in the nation right? Secondly, when you’re converting from a very slow pace style of game, to a faster pace, you’re going to see an increase in turnovers and fouls.

Yes, I understand the advanced stats for basketball.

Michigan is turning it over on 20% of its possessions (189th nationally) and a number of them are unforced. The correlation between tempo and turnover rate isn't really as strong as some people are making it out to be (Iowa State and Gonzaga are great examples of relatively high tempo and low turnover teams). If they don't improve they're going to lose games that they're supposed to win in BigTen play.... Conversingly, they're actually even worse at forcing them.

BartTorvik doesn't have a foul rate stat, but he does have free throw rates. Fortunately, Michigan is doing well on the defensive side despite the number of fouls, but they also rank really low in offensive free throw rate despite the opportunities they've gotten at the end of some of the close wins. The defense also hasn't been great about preventing layups despite defending 3s pretty well and trying to force long 2s.

Overall, Michigan is playing well so far. It's just that they clearly have Top 10 potential, especially as Wagner gets comfortable, and there are just some things that could and should improve over the course of the season. The next 5 games (v Gonzaga, @ Louisville, Iowa, @ Illinois, Oregon) will be additional indicators about how good this team is and could be....

[MichiFan87]

Another dominant win!!! Dare I say this team might be better than last year's.....

Bring on Louisville....

[MaximumSam]

Another dominant win!!! Dare I say this team might be better than last year's.....

Bring on Louisville....

It would make sense that OSU and Michigan would look the best going into the Game

[betarhoalphadelta]

Purdue narrowly edges VCU in one of the most maddeningly officiated games I think I've ever seen... 

[MaximumSam]

BTW how about Penn State - putting a whomp on Syracuse at Syracuse.  The Orange aren't great this year but PSU looks pretty solid.  OSU goes to NC then gets PSU at home - that's looking tough.

[medinabuckeye1]

Interesting night last night.

The obvious headline is Michigan's smashing of Gonzaga in the Bahamas. The Wolverines were 5 point dogs.

Penn State was a small favorite over the Orange and rolled.

Maryland was favored over Harvard and won.

Rutgers was favored by a few points over UMASS and ran them out of the gym.

Ohio State was pretty much as expected. They were favored and won by about 30.

Similarly, Purdue was favored by 2 and won by 3 over VCU in Florida. 

Now the bad news:
Minnesota lost at home to DePaul.

Iowa lost by 10 in Vegas to SDSU.

[ELA]

That back starting to flare up.  God he's the worst


https://twitter.com/DukeMaven/status/1200636035828527105?s=19

[betarhoalphadelta]

Purdue loses a rough one in OT to FSU. 

This team is showing serious chops defensively. They're still lost on the offensive end though. 

[boilerbanger]

BW .... I don't what our answer offensively is, I have been impressed with Thompson for sure so far.  Eastern has regressed offensively it seems, if that is possible.  Need to get open looks for Sasha and Wheeler (I believe he will start knocking them down) but damn we can't get open looks.  Maybe it is just more frustrating because of the defense we faced the last 2 games.  Have to do a better job of understanding how and where to feed the post from, hint it's not from the top of key.

[ELA]

Izzo came out today and said it seems unlikely Langford will play again this season, and they are looking for his career beyond MSU.

Crazy to go from a precautionary removal, to being questionable the next game, to being career ending

[betarhoalphadelta]

BW .... I don't what our answer offensively is, I have been impressed with Thompson for sure so far.  Eastern has regressed offensively it seems, if that is possible.  Need to get open looks for Sasha and Wheeler (I believe he will start knocking them down) but damn we can't get open looks.  Maybe it is just more frustrating because of the defense we faced the last 2 games.  Have to do a better job of understanding how and where to feed the post from, hint it's not from the top of key.

We haven't fed the post at all this season, despite the fact that two of our most efficient scorers are Haarms and Tre. 

We can't get the ball inside, and we can't shoot the three. So our most effective offense is mid-range shots from Proctor or Hunter, when mid-range jumpers are basically the least efficient scoring option in modern basketball.

[medinabuckeye1]

What do we think of our chances to win the Challenge this year?  

Tonight:

• Miami at Illinois:  ILL is favored by 8.5
• Clemson at Minnesota:  MN is favored by 3

Tuesday:

• Northwestern at Boston College:  BC is favored by 2
• Iowa at Syracuse:  Cuse is favored by 4
• Michigan at Louisville:  UL is favored by 6.5
• FSU at Indiana:  IU is favored by 3
• Rutgers at Pittsburgh:  Pitt is favored by 3.5
• Dook at Michigan State:  MSU is favored by 5

Wednesday:

• Virginia at Purdue:  (no line yet)
• Nebraska at GaTech:  ditto
• Notre Dame at Maryland:  ditto
• Wisconsin at NCST:  ditto
• Wake Forest at Penn State:  ditto
• Ohio State at North Carolina:  ditto

Here are the eight games that we have point spreads for sorted from most B1G favorable to most ACC favorable:

• Illinois -8.5 vs Miami
• MSU -5 vs Dook
• Minnesota -3 vs Clemson
• Indiana -3 vs FSU
• NU +2 at BC
• RU +3.5 at Pitt
• IA +4 at Cuse
• M +6.5 at Louisville

So in the first eight we have four favorites and four dogs but six of the eight games are +/- 4 so almost pickems.  

Personally, I don't like our chances in Wednesday's matchups.  Thus, I feel like we have to win the four games we are favored in tonight and tomorrow and steal at least one more.  

Thoughts?  

[medinabuckeye1]

Yikes, not a good start.