I've watched Michigan a lot (also a UM fan).
Here's my amateur assessment:
Defense:
Mostly man-to-man with situational zone.
Beilein is known as a 1-3-1 coach but they have really moved away from it this season.
I wouldn't say they're exclusively a man-to-man team now but 85-90% of the time (in 2012), they're out of the 1-3-1.
There main reason for that (in my opinion): Michigan is a below average team rebounding the ball defensively. It's been their Achilles heel all season. They tend to lose to teams who can really pound the offensive glass (something Ohio is very good at #50 nationally - 11 ORB per game). They're bad enough rebounding in man situations with a body on a body…when they spread out in the 1-3-1 they've gotten hammered this year on the glass. They might use zone to change up a look but I doubt they're going to be in it for extended stretches.
They're a solid defensive squad (i.e. KYA - know your assignment) but the one thing they really lack is a shot blocker. I wouldn't say it's easy to get to the rim but teams certainly can challenge UM inside (because of the lack of an interior defensive presence). Michigan's bigs also have had foul issues this season. Michigan combats their lack of a shot blocking presence by being adept at taking changes. OU needs to stay under control when penetrating.
Offense:
Burke carries the load offensively. He tends to dominate the ball (ala Cooper) and initiate all of UM's offense. He's really the only Michigan player who can consistently create scoring opportunities off the dribble. Hardaway will try to as well but he has a pretty shaky handle, especially moving to his left.
Michigan runs the motion sets Beilein is famous for (back door) but they also run a ton of pick and roll with Burke.
Personnel:
Starters:
Burke: Just a great all around player. Smart, great handle and a +shooter. He's the key matchup. If Ohio can slow him down even a little, they have a chance.
Hardway: Long, rangy. Has struggled with his shot this season but is a scorer. He manufactures points. Doesn't have a great handle, so he tends to struggle when teams get quality ball pressure. If he gets going early, Michigan is typically really tough to beat.
Douglass: Streaky shooter but does have great range (think DJ hoisting shots from 25 feet). Very good (bordering on great) perimeter defender. If Burke struggles with Cooper (on defense), Douglass will probably guard the 1. Deceptive handle but mainly a catch and shoot guy.
Novak: He's one of those guys you just hate to play against. Tough, strong and the emotional leader. He guards just about every position, is a strong rebounder for 6'4" and a +shooter from 3 (41.6%). The consummate "glue guy". Also has really improved his shooting off the dribble. Gives Michigan a little bit of everything.
Morgan: Has good size (6'8" ish) but he is incredibly prone to foul trouble. In maybe half the games Michigan played this season, he found himself on the bench for long stretches of the 1st half. Cooper really needs to attack him early. Not a great finisher around the rim. Athletic teams tend to give him fits (i.e. shot blockers altering his shot). Offensively he lives off of Burke's penetrate and pitch. Not a player who's going to catch the ball in the post and score with any sort of reliability.
Bench:
Michigan really only goes (2) deep with any consistency.
Vogrich: Catch and shoot specialist. He hovers around the 3pt line and typically stays there. He gets all his points off of penetrate and kick (typically by Burke). Can't create his own offense.
Smotrycz: Michigan's tallest player (6'9") but he's a perimeter big. He'll try to bang inside occasionally but he's not a back to the basket post man. He lives off of offense 15 feet and out. Not a big threat rebounding (4.8 per game).
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Michigan is a good shooting team with very good PG play but OU does match up pretty well with them. One thing Beilein is great at is exposing over-pressure by a defense. Ohio needs to be active (as they usually are) but they need to stay home when eyeing passing lanes (or UM will back door them to death). All in all though, a winnable game for OU. Michigan lacks the interior scoring of a traditional Big Ten team.
Last Edited: 3/12/2012 12:21:48 PM by CATman