Basics:
Who: Duke at Michigan
Where: Crisler Arena
When: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Duke by 9.5
Preview: Stat Sheet
Radio: MGoBlue, WWJ-AM (950), WTKA-AM (1050)
Bring out the Maize jerseys, hop in line or scalp a ticket — excitement’s back at Crisler Arena. This game has been sold out for weeks and should be electric from the start. Chances of a Michigan win are clearly low (10 point home underdogs), but as fans this is what we live for: a chance to knock off the giant. The analytical side of us knows that we are playing a Duke team chock-full of All Americans and that we are outmatched at just about every position. But inside, for some inexplicable reason, our inner-fan tells us we might have a shot.
Michigan lost the first contest 71-56 but gets another shot at the Blue Devils in the friendly confines of Crisler Arena today. Michigan couldn’t buy a bucket last game as they shot a frigid 35.2%. Duke got to the line at a higher rate and pulled down more offensive rebounds. The one thing Michigan did relatively well in the last match-up was hold onto the ball, they had only 12 turnovers.
Michigan only got 21 points from everyone not named Manny Harris or DeShawn Sims in the first match up. So as will be the case in just about every game, Michigan needs someone else to step up. Zack Novak has been playing the best out of the role players lately so look for him. I’d love to see Stu Douglass get hot as well.
In the end though Michigan needs both of their stars, Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims, to play the best games of their careers. Without an A+ effort from Manny and DeShawn it’s hard to calculate a path to victory. For Manny I think the key is making a respectable percentage of his threes, getting to the line and not turning it over. On the other hand for DeShawn he needs to rebound well and get some points in the paint.
Duke fared very well against the 1-3-1 in the first meeting, even working on one night of preparation, which is certainly worrisome. However they did turn it over 25.8% of their possessions compared to their season average of 20.9%. The two keys for Michigan on defense are to force turnovers and not allow Duke to dominate the offensive glass.
Purdue proved that is absolutely critical to get off to a good start against Duke. A couple steals, breakaway dunks, and turnovers can absolutely kill a crowd and Duke knows this:
“For us, we knew coming on the road, it’s huge to get off to huge starts, and that’s something we were really focused on,” Scheyer said.
Michigan has to stay composed and play this game in 4 minute intervals while not getting too emotional either way. This is our first big home game so I worry that they might come out a little too amped up early on.
Expected Visitors:
- Trey Zeigler (2010 SG/SF) – Sounds like Trey can’t make it in (facebook status being circulated around – see comments).
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010 SG)
- Allen Payne (2010 SF)
- Brandan Kearney (2011 PG)
- Percy Gibson (2011 PF)
- Jordan Morgan (2009 PF/C commit)
- And possibly several others, here’s a look at instate prospects from the the Detroit News.
What They’re Saying:
- Duke’s latest blowout makes Beilein worry
- Next Up – Michigan
From the other side, Duke Basketball Report - Duke’s Singler poses big challenge for Michigan
- Shepherd doesn’t mind helping Michigan basketball team quietly
- Beilein talks Duke, more ($)
If you are going to Crisler today get there early and be loud from start to finish because this team needs and deserves every bit of support they get. Let’s hear your predictions in the comments and of course during the game as well.
If we were to somehow win this game…..
is it the most important win in program history?
What about this? http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....inal89.htm
I’m gonna say it might not be in the top 5 even with a win today. The Fab 5 won some huge games, of course there’s the 89 season, in 76 the team won a few huge games. Let’s focus on getting the win first though then we can talk about its significance. GO Blue!
We have maybe a 1% chance to win, but that’s better than nothing. For the last 10 years, we have had a 0% chance to win.
We are 11-77 since 1996 against ranked teams….
http://statfix.com/collegebask.....nked-teams
Don’t fret on the Trey Z stuff…. It comes from a facebook status update thats circulating around:
“I’m mad I’m not going to be at the Michigan Duke game”
Not like he canceled, sounds like something just came up. Maybe weather and whatever else.
youre at the game, so no live cover right?
No predictions yet? Well I will start it off then. It looks like we are catching Duke at the perfect time (coming off a big win over purdue, along with final exams just finishing for them, plus they left last night). I like our chances to make this a game and maybe the snowy weather will cool them off. We are coming off our best outside shooting game of the season and it will continue today. That shooting combined with the crowd will keep us in it for awhile. However, Duke dismantled the 1-3-1 with ease last time and there is no way we can guard them man to man. I do not see us scoring much against there pressure at the basket nor getting to the free throw line, which are two things that you must do to beat them. Therefore, Duke outscores us, and wins: 78-66.
Side note: I do not think that a win would be one of the biggest for Michigan basketball. This team has already shown that they are headed in the right direction with their play so far this year, and even if we won, we would still need to play well in conference to make the tourney.
Wear maize, GO Blue!
No live blog. I highly encourage discussion in the comments though and I will leave thoughts from the game occasionally as well.
Days like today make me miss living in Ann Arbor a lot.
Duke wins, but I don’t think they cover. 67-59
Wish I were there.
Prediction: Michigan 77 Duke 75.
I can’t take my maize and blue glasses off, sorry.
GO BLUE!!
yeah i think we have a really good chance to cover, but there’s no point in my predicting because i always pick my team to win
hightower is one of our wonderful officials today.
I’ll host a Cover it Live on wolverineliberationarmy.blogspot.com
Everyone is welcome to join, and I’ll have it up and running as soon as I can.
anyone know any online feed that will broadcast this game? thanks.
Shep gets the start and Disco Stu updated the haircut….
The Cris sounds good on television. Gotta love the boys coming out in Maize as well. Sims just has to work on finishing.
15-11 duke with 11:41. Michigan is struggling to score right now. Need a bucket.
Novak looks really confident out there, and what more can you say about Peedi?
I’m pretty sure this is on espn360.com. Your internet provider has to have an agreement with them (UMich does, so if you’re anywhere on campus you should get it), but it’s worth a shot. You can get audio online at mgoblue.com (though I’ve had issues with firefox and mgoblue in the past).
25-25 3:59.
I think I am slowly becoming the biggest closet Novak fan….
32-30 um half. Crisler is rocking. Go blue
Doing a solid job on the glass today. We need to finish a little better around the rim because some shots will start falling for the Dukies. I think it’s pretty clear the we are a tourney caliber team.
Looking solid, Just monitor Peedi minutes..he seems to have not seen a shot today that he doesnt like..last thing we need is him to get gassed and we have to depend on Ant for big buckets..but maybe he comes thru..Also Gerald Henderson from Duke missed the 1st half with foul trouble(and he attacks the basket unlike the other statues on Duke’s team) keep him in check, and things could look really good.
I love these guys!!
Please, Please, Please, Sims has to stay active the second half. Please don’t disappear like the Maryland game!!!
Go Blue!!
BL11 – I heart novak too
hang tough boys!
just hope they don’t get too tired
need some extra timeouts here in the second half to give manny and peedi breaks.
Go Blue!
That was a smart call Beilein calling timeout after Duke gets a 7-0 run in the 2nd half. Out of the timeout, we get back to back buckets from Sims and Harris. They’re playing smart basketball right now.
48-46 Michigan. 11:38. Don’t like to criticize re refs but it’s awful.
62-55 Michigan, 5:26. Sims, Harris and Novak are all scoring well, Grady is really pushing the tempo on offense, U of M is playing a great 1-3-1 right now.
64-58 Michigan, 3:59 left. Grady nice drive, Duke on the line for 2 free throws.
At what point are we not playing with house money and can want to win?
Wow great call on the goaltend. Let’s be smart with the clock here fellas.
I gotta give props to Bilas being fair and great in a heated game with his boys. Not many can do that.
Especially because he was close friends with Amaker.
I’m so proud of each and every last one of these guys.
Bilas has liked Michigan because of his relationship with Amaker. Even though Tommy is gone, he has fallen in love with the Beilein system
79-71 Michigan, 23.2 seconds left, Duke has been hitting threes but is out of timeouts. (Sorry, not trying to post info people already know). Michigan is going to the line once more.
Great game. Harris, Sims, Novak all double-digit scoring. Grady was clutch from the FT line down the stretch (5/6). The growth of this team is impressive.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One small step for Michigan, one giant leap for the Big Ten!
And to think, that this team will only get better. It shouldn’t be difficult to get recruits to look at Michigan from now on.
Are yiu kidding me? Loving the love from ESPN!!!!!! Jay Bilas eat your words (about Beilien last year). Grady just took over the starting PG job. I have never been a big fan but those guys couldn’t stay in front of him. He just needs to make good decisions, that’s always been the downfall. Maybe he’s ready. In my mind, let’s find out against the weaker schedule we play the next couple weeks.
Put us in the top 25, dammit!! it’s so great to see players actually improve as they get older (sorry Amaker).
AAAHHHHH! GO BLUE!
What I’m about to say is crazy to me, but Henderson actually kept them in the game in the second half with two blocked dunks and a huge three from the corner. Without that we would have been up by like ten a lot earlier!
So much fun to watch this team. Scheyer couldn’t check Manny on the wing and Grady was unstoppable on the drive. dropped some sick dimes. love the two man game with sims and harris on the wing as well. Manny Fresh with that dunk!
wow. Crowd looked great all game long. The team looked fantastic both athletically and aesthetically (love the maize jerseys).
Top 25 here we come.
Great to be a Michigan Wolverine today.
This is an epic win for this squad and this program going further. I hope those big recruits were paying attention. It’s too bad Zeigler supposedly wasn’t there. Just a great game for us all around.
Wow!! GO BLUE!! Incredible!!
We can win the Big Ten!!
Everyone can now stop downplaying this team because of fear they will collapse, its not hapening. This team has great coaching and no quit. A conference title is not out of the question. Grady, Sims and Novak played the best games of their careers! If Grady can learn to finish at the rim, he might be an all american. I cant believe I just said that but you know what, its true! Go Blue!