Game Day Essentials: Game #32 vs Michigan

[hhcmatt]

Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-9) vs #15 Michigan Wolverines (25-7)

** Big 10 Tournament **

Date: Friday, March 1st, 2018

Time: 1:25 pm CST 
Arena: Madison Square Garden

TV Broadcast:  BTN

 

Image courtesy of twitter

Michigan Info

 

Head Coach: John Beilein
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Conference: B1G
Nickname: Wolverines

Shirt not to wear: Yellow, Blue, Nike

Last time out: Beat Michigan
Typical Rotation Depth: 10+
Line: Michigan by 4.5

Tempo: Slow and methodical

Defense: Mostly man but look out for some 2-3 zone

Style: High assist % / High 3pa%

 

Four Factors
Effective FG%:	54.7 49	48.7 93	50.8
Turnover %:	14.6 6	21.5 47	19.0
Off. Reb. %:	27.1 237	23.5 17	29.1
FTA/FGA:	26.6 319	29.8 87	33.8

 

Most Frequent Lineups over the last 5 games

 

Nebraska

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Pct
1	5 Glynn Watson 6-0  173  Jr	13 Anton Gill 6-3  195  Sr	24 James Palmer 6-6  210  Jr	15 Isaiah Roby 6-8  225  So	14 Isaac Copeland 6-9  221  Jr	28.9

Michigan St

PG	SG	SF	PF	C	Pct
1	3 Zavier Simpson 6-0  185  So	12 Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman 6-4  190  Sr	1 Charles Matthews 6-6  200  So	4 Isaiah Livers 6-7  230  Fr	13 Moritz Wagner 6-11  245  Jr	22.3

 

With freshman Isaiah Livers in the game instead of Duncan Robinson the Wolverines have a much better all around player, especially defensively. Robinson has re-found his shot since Lincoln so expect to see him plenty.

 

Players to watch:  Charles Matthews

The 6'6" Kentucky transfer is the athletic guard Michigan didn't have last year. He's at his best when slashing to rim but is a below average jump shooter if you can keep him out of the paint.  Matthews has struggled most of 2018 but finally put together a good game against a woeful Iowa defense. Let's hope it was fool's gold.

 

Players to watch:  Jordan Poole

The freshman wildcard has been playing spot minutes for John Beilein as he becomes more accustomed to playing with discipline. When he is in the game though he's going to be shooting often and they have been going in at a 56.4 eFG%.

 

Last Time vs Michigan

Nebraska came into the home game needing a big win and delivered. Nebraska throttled the Wolverine offense and amass a 32-21 halftime lead that the Huskers didn't give up, winning by 20. James Palmer led the way with 19 as four Huskers scored in double figures. Charles Matthews led Michigan with 15 while Mo Wagner was held to 2 points. This was Jordy's first game back from his break with the team.

 

The Skinny

Nebraska is arguably better than they were back in January when they beat Michigan but the same can be said for the Wolverines who have won 9 of 11 since that game. The Wolverines have adjusted to teams switching on their players but when you boil down the Michigan it's them using Moe Wagner to exploit teams and Nebraska has the answer in Isaiah Roby and Issac Copeland.  Couple this with Nebraska's mindset to takeaway the 3 and Nebraska is one of the teams you don't want to draw as a Wolverine.

 

Look for Michigan to once again get action driving into the lane and hopefully the interior of Nebraska's defense will be much more formidable than Iowa's swiss cheese approach. Look for Jordy to come in with traditional center John Teske comes in. Who is going to have the hot hand for Michigan and can we throw some zone at them?  They have to be ready for that, right?  Speaking of hot hands, Michigan has some guys that are lights out from the FT line but some that are quite bad. Zavier Simpson and Charles Matthews are basically 50% FT shooters if you need to hack a Wolverine.

 

Offensively it's GET. TO. THE. RIM. Whatever it takes to get James Palmer going that way is key for Nebraska today.  Once everyone starts collapsing? Then be ready for some 3s. Look for Copeland to continue his hot shooting but especially if/when Michigan decides to pull out that zone. 

 

I look at that loss on the road vs Ohio State vs the loss against Illinois and the big difference I see was us playing down to an Illinois squad we didn't respect enough.  That's not a problem here...Michigan is quite good.  I think we see a full game from a Nebraska team that matches up well and has themselves figured out.

 

Prediction: Nebraska 72 - Michigan 66

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[fred1212]

wrong start time