Texas Tech Vs. Michigan

[AlbanyWolverine]

what are y’all thinking on this game? I know Tech looked great yesterday, but I don’t know much more about them other than Culver and their defense is phenomenal. Matthews defending Culver will probably decide the game one way or another ...Michigan favored by 2... should be a great game.

 

[TechFan88]

Culver is good but our starters all add to the team.

I don't know much about Michigan other than defense, 7 ft guy, and the guard with the hook shot.

What kind of offense and defense do y'all run?

 

[UKcats1988]

Great matchup between two of the best basketball minds in college. I think Tech squeaks it out.

 

[AlbanyWolverine]

Culver is good but our starters all add to the team.

I don't know much about Michigan other than defense, 7 ft guy, and the guard with the hook shot.

What kind of offense and defense do y'all run?

Straight Man on defense ... we used to run a 1-3-1 at times but since Yaklich took over we’ve scratched that ..., offense is a lot of ball screens especially with Teske and Simpson ( 7 ft guy and guard with the hook shot ) and a lot of spacing and 3s... If Michigan wants to win they won’t be taking and missing a bunch of stupid 3 pointers not in the flow of the offense (looking at you Poole).

I also wanted to add that our guards on defense are basically interchangeable which helps immensely because we can switch on defense and not have to fight through screens all game.

 

[sdave]

Culver is good but our starters all add to the team.

I don't know much about Michigan other than defense, 7 ft guy, and the guard with the hook shot.

What kind of offense and defense do y'all run?

Man to man with a lot of switching.

Simpson is an elite defensive point guard. Maybe the best in basketball. Mathews is 6’ 5” and maybe as good as Simpson

 

[BeerPoisoning]

Elite defensive battle. If either team scores 65 I’ll be shocked. I think TxTech has the best offensive player (Culver) but Michigan is a better all-around offensive team. I’m going to assume Matthews puts Culver in a locked box and TxTech will have a hard time finding buckets.

 

[TechFan88]

Man to man with a lot of switching for us as well.

We don't have a point guard just guards. They all play defense, handle the ball, and can score. Culver is pretty good all around. Mooney has like 7 steals through 2 games. Then you have Moretti who is pretty good when he plays up to his potential.

 

[lerario]

The least interesting game of the next round imo. Total snoozer.

 

[duckboy33]

I like Michigan on paper but I hate betting against Chris Beard. Tech always has a chance with him

 

[ChiTownSean]

Most excited for this one

 

[SheriffBufordTJustice]

Should be the best game if you like defensive teams.

Plus the best player for Tech is going up against Michigan's best defensive player.
Can Matthews hold Culver to under 15

 

[ExitFlagger]

I think you have to be able to hit plenty of outside shots to beat Tech. I honestly have no idea how capable Michigan is of doing this. From what little I've seen, they don't seem particularly explosive.

 

[SheriffBufordTJustice]

I think you have to be able to hit plenty of outside shots to beat Tech. I honestly have no idea how capable Michigan is of doing this. From what little I've seen, they don't seem particularly explosive.

Teams don't shoot well against Tech.

Both teams play elite defense and wait for a run...
Michigan had Wagner last year. Wagner could make the needed plays.
Culver is probably the best scorer on the court but he will be guarded by a elite perimeter player.
If Michigan can keep Culver from scoring they will win but if Culver can score I don't see anyone on Michigan with his ability.

Think Tech wins 59-56 because they are more athletic inside and they have a better scorer.

 

[Da_Bull]

Great matchup between two of the best basketball minds in college. I think Tech squeaks it out.

I thought the same thing at first but Kelvin Sampson coaches Houston not texas tech. The schools are easily confused as they've accomplished nothing in either programs history.

 

[WestTexasRaider]

Our only real weakness defensively has been defending the 3 ball. If a team gets hot from 3, we tend to struggle. Of course, you could say that about any team, but for us, we lock down the paint and force you to beat us from deep.

We also just wear teams down. Defense is king for this team, and we keep a frantic pace over the whole game.

Offensively, every player can score and create. Although, we are not a great offensive team overall, just streaky. In fact, so far this tourney we haven't played very well on offense. Our big shots have not been falling like they were at the end of the regular season. Hopefully, they start and we can make a run here to a championship.

 

[nettlegettle]

very similar teams in regards to style. typically slowing down the pace is a good way to lose to TTU, most teams beat us pushing the ball and playing in transition. I guess we will see who's style works better because we try to do similar things to slow down the pace.

for us if we win look for Morretti and Mooney to make a bunch of plays. If they can't score we probably lose. Culver will get points, unless he just randomly falls apart which doesn't seem realistic as he's gotten points on everyone including Duke, KU, Kstate...

I worry most about that enormous post you guys have, Owens for us is a great shot blocker but he can't guard that dude, he's too skinny so it's going to force us to play Odiase a lot and he's not much of an offensive threat typically.

 

[IUfanBorden]

IMO, damn near mirror images of one another. If you like great defense, this is the game for you. I expect a terrific game. But as said, overall offensively, I think UM is better. Also, UM has two , elite defenders in Simpson and Mathews.

UM 60 TT 57

 

[Monorojo]

48-46 anyone but Michigan please

 

[gowolverines8]

One thing about this game is Michigan has a massive fan base in socal and should have big fan advantage. The games at staples center last year were pretty much um home games.

 

[nettlegettle]

IMO, damn near mirror images of one another. If you like great defense, this is the game for you. I expect a terrific game. But as said, overall offensively, I think UM is better. Also, UM has two , elite defenders in Simpson and Mathews.

UM 60 TT 57

I disagree, TTU has the better defense statistically and the best player overall in culver.

Either way it seems like a very close game.

 

[IUfanBorden]

I disagree, TTU has the better defense statistically and the best player overall in culver.

Either way it seems like a very close game.

I never said Michigan was better defensively...I said they have two Elite defenders. ANd overall, better offensively.

 

[kyjeff1]

#1 (TT) and #2 (UM) rated defenses me Michigan is rated 19th in offensive efficiency and TT is 36th. Looks like UM has the slight edge here. Might come down to coaching and luck.

I'm going with Texas Tech in this one. Just a hunch.

 

[nettlegettle]

I never said Michigan was better defensively...I said they have two Elite defenders. ANd overall, better offensively.

thats fair i think you could give the edge to TTU on defense and the edge on offense to Michigan.

 

[IUfanBorden]

thats fair i think you could give the edge to TTU on defense and the edge on offense to Michigan.

Agree. I think its going be a hell of a game. Probably one of the most exciting games ever, that won't get out of the 60's.

 

[nettlegettle]

#1 (TT) and #2 (UM) rated defenses me Michigan is rated 19th in offensive efficiency and TT is 36th. Looks like UM has the slight edge here. Might come down to coaching and luck.

I'm going with Texas Tech in this one. Just a hunch.

TTU gets more turnovers than Michigan but also commits more turnovers than michigan. If you can take care of the ball with the limited possessions style of play both teams will cater to it's going to be tight for things like free throws, rebounds and turnovers.

typically teams that play our style get crushed by us, I'm very curious what's going to happen as I don't expect that to happen at all.

 

[nettlegettle]

I also found out UM basically only plays with 6 guys. that does not bode well at all for Michigan. we have a pretty deep rotation and the defense never drops off, it tends to peak in the second half.

 

[kyjeff1]

TTU gets more turnovers than Michigan but also commits more turnovers than michigan. If you can take care of the ball with the limited possessions style of play both teams will cater to it's going to be tight for things like free throws, rebounds and turnovers.

typically teams that play our style get crushed by us, I'm very curious what's going to happen as I don't expect that to happen at all.

Anything can happen in tournament play and matchups matter. It'll be a great game.

 

[TechFan88]

I never said Michigan was better defensively...I said they have two Elite defenders. ANd overall, better offensively.

How are we determining who is an elite defender and who is not?

 

[AlbanyWolverine]

How are we determining who is an elite defender and who is not?

By watching the games? It’s pretty well known that Simpson and Matthews are elite defenders

 

[WestTexasRaider]

I really like this Michigan team. I didn't get to see them as much during conference play, but early in the season I was very impressed with them. I'm hoping for a good, injury free game for both of us, and for the refs to let us play so we can settle it on the court. Should be a very fun game.

 

[TechFan88]

By watching the games? It’s pretty well known that Simpson and Matthews are elite defenders

Ah okay just wondering.

 

[AlbanyWolverine]

I really like this Michigan team. I didn't get to see them as much during conference play, but early in the season I was very impressed with them. I'm hoping for a good, injury free game for both of us, and for the refs to let us play so we can settle it on the court. Should be a very fun game.

Agree ... thing I’m most concerned about and what will likely keep us from winning it all is our offense is not nearly as consistent as usual. Sometimes there’s stretches of no ball movement and taking horrific 3s and long scoring droughts that allow opponents to stay in games and go on runs. Our lack of depth is concerning as well.

 

[blue_in_chicago]

By watching the games? It’s pretty well known that Simpson and Matthews are elite defenders

And Teske. Michigan has 3 elite defenders.

 

[nettlegettle]

And Teske. Michigan has 3 elite defenders.

Makes me wonder how many elite defenders we have if yall have three. We must have at least 4

 

[AlbanyWolverine]

Makes me wonder how many elite defenders we have if yall have three. We must have at least 4

We get it , you think TT is better defensively and we think Michigan is better

 

[dragonhawk1855]

Iggy cannot be ignored as he will make a difference, there was a reason why Michigan started out 17-0 including a 84-67 win over UNC.

 

[nettlegettle]

We get it , you think TT is better defensively and we think Michigan is better

statistically we are a better defense. not much conjecture to it.

 

[greenemarine]

statistically we are a better defense. not much conjecture to it.

What statistics would those be? Advanced metrics have it basically a dead heat

KenPom
Tech #1 85.5
Michigan #2 85.9

Torvik
Michigan #1 85.3
Tech #2 86

 

[nettlegettle]

our defensive efficiency is higher, our ppg is very close (1 point) despite averaging 2 more possessions a game, our FG % allowed is better, we average nearly a steal and half more a game, we block a shot more a game...

Michigan played in conference with a very slow pace and it inflated their defensive numbers as far as ppg. that doesn't mean Michigan is a bad team but no there is nothing that shows me they are on the same level as TTU defensively, nearly everything says the opposite. to be fair most analysts are saying the same exact thing, TTU has a better defense, doesn't mean we win the game just means what we've accomplished up to this point. we could easily fall apart thursday.

 

[nettlegettle]

last thing i see that was posted on our board that bodes well for us.

Tech is probably the best in the country at preventing/defending shots at the rim.

Michigan is probably the best in the country at preventing/defending shots in transition.

I can break down the stats for you that bear this out but we don't really score in transition that often we like to slow the pace down like Michigan. I don't see how this is good for Michigan because teams that try to slow the ball down on us so far this year have gotten their teeth kicked in outside of a baylor team that went 40 percent from 3 shooting over half NBA 3s. the teams that have really beat us have made us play in transition, duke crushed us this way.