Basics:
Who: Norfolk State @ Michigan
Where: Crisler Arena
When: 8:30 PM EST
TV: BTN
Radio: MGoBlue, WWJ-AM (950), WTKA-AM (1050), WCHB-AM (1200).
Norfolk State makes the trek from Virginia up to snowy Ann Arbor for tonight’s late tip off at 8:30 ET. This is the first ever meeting between Norfolk and Michigan and it appears to be a winnable game as the Wolverines look to build on their New York City momentum. Game preview courtesy of StatSheet.
Looking down Norfolk State’s roster the main scoring threat is Michael Deloach. The 6′0″ guard is off to a hot start early averaging 25 points per game and shooting 50% from three point range along with 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Deloach is complemented by wing man Corey Lyons, Lyons is averaging 16 points per game but also an astonishing .1 assist to turnover ratio.
Aleek Pauline, Brandon Monroe, and Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys (of Maize Rage infamy) round out the starting line up averaging a combined total of 12 points and 11 rebounds per game. Freshman Kyle O’Quinn (7ppg, 4.5 rpg) and James Williams (4.5 ppg) as well as senior Kevin Worlsey (4.5 ppg) appear to be the main options off the bench. Because Norfolk State is averaging only 12.5 assists per game and 17.5 turnovers I would expect to see the 1-3-1 early and often as Michigan tries to get in passing lanes.
As for Michigan, this team is full of confidence after their win over UCLA and it shows in the press:
“That’s a big point for our confidence, beating the No. 4-ranked team,” Harris said. “I felt like our team was confident before, but now it’s to another whole level.”
However Beilein claims the team is staying grounded and practice and still working hard:
Coach John Beilein said he put the players through a grueling practice Sunday — “You’d have thought we lost two (in New York),” he said — and has told them that these opponents don’t care about a national-attention grabbing win.
CJ also updated his blog after the trip to New York City, the focus of the team seems to be to trust the system and go all out for 40 minutes.
What I mean by this is, we need to trust what we have been taught to do on the court by our coaching staff. Trust in our system got us a 1-1 record versus two top five teams in the country. The system we have in place is designed for us to have success. Without question we have done a better job of this so far this year, but we still have a ways to go.
The problem with this week is that Norfolk State and Savannah State are perfect trap games. If coming off a big weekend in New York City and looking ahead to a big game at Maryland wasn’t enough of an issue, it’s also Thanksgiving. It’s important for Michigan to come out and execute, they can’t afford a slip up here.
Let’s hear your predictions in the comments.
Around The Big Ten:
- Diebler Leads Buckeyes Past Falcons
Ohio State squeaks by Bowling Green - Maui Invitational game one: Notre Dame 88, Indiana 50.
Indiana gets drubbed by Notre Dame in Maui, faces St Josephs today. - UConn’s tough
The Badgers kept it close at times but UConn pulled away for an easy win. - Old Spice Classic Preview
SpartansWeblog looks at the tournament which includes MSU, Maryland, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and others - Plenty of other college hoops on tonight as well. Texas/Notre Dame, UNC/Oregon, Kansas/Syracuse, and Oakland/Kansas State should all be interesting or at least feature teams on Michigan’s schedule.
Michigan 79-52.
Forgive my ignorance, but Dorsett-Jeffreys’ Maize Rage infamy?
From a Maize Rage Email:
“Norfolk State senior Joseph Dorsett-Jeffreys, replying to my very innocent and perfectly well-intentioned facebook friend request:
“f**k you in advance…we are gonna kick yall asses you lil groupie”"
Oh my. Angry, angry young man.
Thanks Dylan. Great site here.
It’s safe to say that he will be the “Bum of the game” today.
NSU’s TO problems + 1-3-1 =
Give me Michigan 82-56.
Go Blue!
Michigan should win the next two games with ease, especially the NSU game. Years ago, they were a basketball power in the CIAA conference then moved up to the MEAC conference. However, they are no match for a solid division 1-A team.
Savannah State maybe in better shape but still should not scare or even come close to a Michigan team if we are playing well. All in all, this should be similar to a glorified practice for the Wolverines this week.
71-58 good guys.
The team better not be looking ahead to Maryland, but I certainly am. Norfolk & Savannah: LOW interest. But hey I’m still on the UCLA high.
M 82 – NSU 61
p.s. great site
I would like to see Gibson, Wright and Novak get on track from the outside. That would be huge if they could get some confidence heading into the next few big games.
Norfolk State 76-72 in OT.
No really, Michigan wins this game going way. The 1-3-1 looked impressive against UCLA and looked pretty solid in the 1st half against Duke. I would like to see something more offensively from someone not named Harris or Sims though.
I was very impressed with the upset over UCLA, but this Spartan fan needs to see a lot more out of UM to make him believe that UM has turned a corner. I think and hope Beilein will do wonders for UM’s program. The MSU/UM rivalry needs to be re-energized.
Rewerts: maybe its semantics, but we HAVE turned A corner…and I say that only because you have to remember the depths we are ascending from…you can get no lower than UM basketball has been the last several years. Now, you’re right, we have a long way to go and more corners to turn, but the start to the season represents real, tanglible progress over where we’ve been.
I’m predicting a big victory 92-67 tonight. Hot shooting and lots of turnovers from the 1-3-1 to start the game will push UM to a 30 point lead at half 52-22.
Michigan 73 – Norfolk State – 55
I want to see lots of energy and takeaways, 3pt shooting at 35%, Manny with 21 pts, and Sims with a double-double.
I want to see Novak contribute something other than a few forced turnovers. I want to see Ant hit 3+ threes. I want to see Ben Cronin break someone’s ankles with a cross over and dunk from the free throw line.
Ryan I agree that UM definitely has improved from last year, but last year was the worst season in UM basketball history. I was talking about turning the corner to being a viable contender in the big ten.
Ryan was talking about a corner.
Rewerts you are talking about a 180.
Students, remember, flash your card, get in free.
Others, bring some 2 canned foods, get in for $1.
Please, people attend, show the team your support.
So if this kid is the bum of the game, what chants do you maize ragers have lined up? A few thoughts.
Chant “Facebook”
Sing “why can’t we be friends…”
Chant “Groupie”
Chant “Joseph is a groupie”
What kind of things do you normally do?
Coaches should strongly suggest that players don’t partake in the myspace/facebook etc game because it has only caused trouble for the athletes. Be it people making dumb posts or forwards or people being stalked for information to be used against them in a competetive nature. Nothing good seems to happen. Wish these kids realized how many people want to bring them down.
PS. I am not assuming or suggesting that any of this is related to the maize rager’s intent…just in general.
liveBlog plz
gotta figure something out for live blogs during home games because I’ll be at them and can’t moderate. Just use the comments for this one.
Michigan vs. MSU
2005-06: 1 Win 1 Loss
2006-07: 1 Win 1 Loss
2007-08: 1 Loss – only played once in East Lansing 62-77
I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin
Anyone need score updates as the night progresses?
anthony wright is a frickin joke. get that jackass off the court
sorry, overreacting. im sure hes a nice kid, but he needs to not be in anymore.
Serious lid on the basket!!!
I think they are overly amped up to be home and can’t believe how open the are compared to playing Duke/UCLA and need to relax a little bit.
awful start. No field goals from either team at the first tv time out. Nsu 2-0.
finally scored!
Well, at least we’ve woke up. I guess I’m going to have to revise my score prediction down by about 40 points
Anyone have an online video feed?
Zach Novak came to play tonight!
Btw, does anyone know any current Stubhub fan codes or have they done away with them? I have been looking but have found NOTHING!
Nooooovaaaak!
wow, i was thinking we dont see novak much this year after LLP comes in, but damn…
It’s great the hear that the team can get it going like this after such a slow start.
does this mean no RS for cronin? i alwyas gets confused about those rules
Cronin can’t play in more than 30% of the games in order to redshirt
thanks kevin.
Anyone else think Cronin looks like Courtney Sims 2.0?
Improved, yes, but still slow and soft…
Sims is pretty quiet so far, right?
he’s clearly not in game shape yet. he couldnt even run up and down the floor. …not saying he’s definitely going to be good, but deserves at least a year before we make any judgements
Watching the games in NY, Cronin always looked like he was limping just walking back and forth from the huddle to the bench during timeouts.
True. First real game action and he did ok.
I can’t see the game, does Cronin look like he is hurt or that he just needs to get in game shape?
ahhhh kelvin. the last 3 possesions are kelvin in a nutshell. hit big 3, miss three, great d effort, bad TO, great steal, good look to deshawn
“LLP best PG since Rumeal Robinson” – Tim McCormick
Wow, sounds great!
it was ahrd to tell, he was moving so slow…but didnt really see a limp. just looked slow, and gassed after like 2 trips
Cronin just looked a step slow on defense and a little soft (got pushed around a little) but he got a few boards and scored on a nice drop step jump hook move. Didn’t look like he was limping at all that I noticed.
I think LLP is going to be an animal on D and really solid on the ball
Did Gibson get hurt on the hard fall he took in the 1st half? Hasn’t been out there in the 2nd
I think he hurt his hip in New York on a hard fall in one of the games. May be lingering? I noticed him wincing after he fell in the first half too
They just said he hurt his tail bone on the radio feed.
Gibson fell early in the game on his back on a layup and the foul. He tried to come back on and Still had a grimmace and hasn’t came back on.
Has Novak played in the 2nd half?
Yes novak has played.
Nice win, did what they had to do. Only 6 more wins and we tie last year!
unofficial statline for Shep..
11 pts 4 reb 3 asst 2 stl 1 blk 5-9 shooting
That kind of production in less than 20 mins would do wonders for this team….just hope the light is going to do more than flicker. We finally have a lil depth (not counting bigs).
michigan won the rebound battle 53-37.
Manny harris 16 points and 15 rebounds! huge game afte rthe first 5 minutes! Hit 52% of shots after starting out 0-10
So this Beilein guy seems decent eh?
after slept for three years, shep finally will contribute to this team. I see him playing 10 minutes each game, more if Wright has a bad night. Wright seems to be very lost tonight. Cronin needs some condition, he looks too slow and not strong enough around the basket, definitely not ready for Big Ten competition. The nice thing about him is that he has very nice soft touch on the ball, has potential to be an offensive threat in the future. But should be redshirted and get stronger. I think that we will have to live with a small line-up this season as Shep and Wright play a lot of 4, and Deshawn a lot of 5.