Michigan Laying Bricks.

MelroseHawkins

MelroseHawkins

Well-Known Member
I realize they are pretty depleted at this point, but man, they were laying some bricks last night. I thought Iowa can be suspect at times shooting from the outside, but some of the shots the Michigan players flung up there were just down right ugly, off to the side etc..

Iowa's overall team height really bothered Michigan and they really had no answer. Iowa was on a different level last night.

I just can't get over the number of bad bricks though. Did the Iowa players alter their shots that bad or were they just off?
 
They had to work so hard just to get a shot off. They got so out of rythum that even when they had open ones they were hurrying them. It's probably a lot like Oglesby. He tries so hard to get a shot off that when he actually has a chance he is so out of sorts that he throws the ball at the hoop.
 
I counted at least three airballs, a shot that hit the top of the backboard, and a shot that hit the backboard wide right. Usually when teams shoot that badly they get a lot of offensive rebounds, but given Iowa's size advantage they just sort of gave up and ran back to prevent a fast break. It's crazy that they have six victories in the BigTen and we only have five. I know they've played more games, and injuries, but this will not last for long.
 
Iowa was active in their zone with their hands up and they were closing out under control. Michigan was shooting contested jumpers over Iowa's length all night. Tough way to live.
 
Iowa played well and exploited Michigan's weaknesses on both offense and defense. Our guys were motivated knowing we needed the win and that we were taking a step down in competition IMO. Michigan was both physically and mentally exhausted after the OT loss at MSU Sunday. That extra day of prep we had also helped.

But I have watched Michigan play more than once. They usually play with more energy and shoot the ball better...partially because the defense they face isn't as strong and/or motivated as last night. They will not lose many home games. Wisconsin beat this same group of players in OT. We beat them last night. Their home games tend to be close but they pull them out at the end. They aren't playing all that well on the road overall and 4 of their remaining 7 are road games so I'm guessing they go 9-9 or 8-10.
 
Trying to put this in perspective...

Michigan was without Lavert & Walton who average a combined 25.6 points per game.

In terms of just a scoring comparison... our top 2 scorers White & Uthoff combine for 26.6 points per game.

How would our offense look without those 2?
 
ibahawkeye said:
Trying to put this in perspective...

Michigan was without Lavert & Walton who average a combined 25.6 points per game.

In terms of just a scoring comparison... our top 2 scorers White & Uthoff combine for 26.6 points per game.

How would our offense look without those 2?
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I get your point. And I know they were flat. But they beat Nebraska by 14 without those 2 guys. Then they lost in OT at Michigan State without those 2 guys. So I'm not going to dismiss an 18 point road win by the Hawks just because those 2 guys didn't play. If anything Michigan should have been more prepared since this was their 3rd game with the current rotation.
 
That and Michigan is supposed to be a well established program with a great head coach. They should be able to sustain those 2 injuries way better than a team that just got out of the cellar.
 
WindsorHawk said:
I get your point. And I know they were flat. But they beat Nebraska by 14 without those 2 guys. Then they lost in OT at Michigan State without those 2 guys. So I'm not going to dismiss an 18 point road win by the Hawks just because those 2 guys didn't play. If anything Michigan should have been more prepared since this was their 3rd game with the current rotation.
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Yeah. What he said.



*****

Plus this: they think they're going to steal a recruit to iowa and there ISN'T going to be any payback?
 
PCHawk said:
That and Michigan is supposed to be a well established program with a great head coach. They should be able to sustain those 2 injuries way better than a team that just got out of the cellar.
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Maybe I'm being too easy on Michigan but I think you guys are being too hard. Just like a couple players can turn around a program... losing two of your top players can do the same.

And yes I suppose Michigan should be established but they would also still have Stauskas and McGary on the roster had they not left for the league. I think you put all that together and it makes it tough. I guess I'm shocked they played so well against those other 2 teams.
 
ibahawkeye said:
Maybe I'm being too easy on Michigan but I think you guys are being too hard. Just like a couple players can turn around a program... losing two of your top players can do the same.

And yes I suppose Michigan should be established but they would also still have Stauskas and McGary on the roster had they not left for the league. I think you put all that together and it makes it tough. I guess I'm shocked they played so well against those other 2 teams.
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I thought about the guys who left early for the NBA after I wrote that. That explains a lot about why Michigan is so bad without their top 2 players. There is no doubt though that they are bad and I agree that it's ahocking they played so will without them until now. It probably took an off night from Wisconsin and MSU to keep it close.
 
I'll add that by "bad" I mean bottom third of the conference, and we destroyed them. We play 7 more games against the bottom third(ish) and we don't have to win by 18. If we play with that kind of effort for those 7 games we will almost certainly win them.
 
PCHawk said:
I thought about the guys who left early for the NBA after I wrote that. That explains a lot about why Michigan is so bad without their top 2 players. There is no doubt though that they are bad and I agree that it's ahocking they played so will without them until now. It probably took an off night from Wisconsin and MSU to keep it close.
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Walton played against Wiscy.

The other game was Nebraska and I think the Sparty name carries a lot of weight but I'm still not convinced that Michigan State is that good this year.
 
It was a white washing of epic proportions... Hardly believed what I was watching. Whens the last time Iowa won a game by what 18 pts and only had attempted less then 10 free throws? Usually when Iowa wins big it's cause they are getting to the line alot. So this was a way out of character game for us and just goes to show you how bad Michigan matched up with us. It was kinda like how we matchup with Wisky. Some teams lineups just can't compete as well. Did it not seem like MG was out playing Spike A all game long? Like he could have had a way bigger game if he wanted to but was just running the O? It did to me anyway. Gabe O was was the only one I thought that was having a bad game from what I could tell and it wasn't real bad just not that good of one for him. (I don't expect much from JO)
 
Hawkfnntn said:
It was a white washing of epic proportions... Hardly believed what I was watching. Whens the last time Iowa won a game by what 18 pts and only had attempted less then 10 free throws? Usually when Iowa wins big it's cause they are getting to the line alot. So this was a way out of character game for us and just goes to show you how bad Michigan matched up with us. It was kinda like how we matchup with Wisky. Some teams lineups just can't compete as well. Did it not seem like MG was out playing Spike A all game long? Like he could have had a way bigger game if he wanted to but was just running the O? It did to me anyway. Gabe O was was the only one I thought that was having a bad game from what I could tell and it wasn't real bad just not that good of one for him. (I don't expect much from JO)
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Wow, never thought about the free throws that you point out. Good point.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
It was a white washing of epic proportions... Hardly believed what I was watching. Whens the last time Iowa won a game by what 18 pts and only had attempted less then 10 free throws? Usually when Iowa wins big it's cause they are getting to the line alot. So this was a way out of character game for us and just goes to show you how bad Michigan matched up with us. It was kinda like how we matchup with Wisky. Some teams lineups just can't compete as well. Did it not seem like MG was out playing Spike A all game long? Like he could have had a way bigger game if he wanted to but was just running the O? It did to me anyway. Gabe O was was the only one I thought that was having a bad game from what I could tell and it wasn't real bad just not that good of one for him. (I don't expect much from JO)
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You make a good point on the free throws. Speaking of free throws...I know we only shot 6 but I believe this is the 4th or 5th game in a row where we were under 70% from the line. Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...going from memory. This will cost us a game at some point if it continues.
 
The lack of free throws just ties directly to the amount of points in the paint. It's pretty rare you see such a huge discrepancy there without a bunch of free throws being shot too. It was a weird game can't say I've ever seen one quite like it. All starters in double figures really balanced scoring. Woody lead team in assists. Was a much needed beat down this team needed to be on the right side of. Hope they can keep it going. Although I'm not a big fan of us playing zone that much but against that team it was just what the doctor ordered.
 
ibahawkeye said:
Walton played against Wiscy.

The other game was Nebraska and I think the Sparty name carries a lot of weight but I'm still not convinced that Michigan State is that good this year.
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Im fairly convinced they are not.

Really disappointed we lost to that team after dominating them for one half.
 
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