Basics:
Who: Michigan (14-7) at Purdue (16-4)
Where: Mackey Arena
When: Saturday, January 31st, 1:00 PM
TV: CBS
Spread:
Preview: Stat Sheet, U-M KenPom Profile, Purdue KenPom Profile
Radio: MGoBlue, WWJ-AM (950), WTKA-AM (1050)
Opposition Blog: Off The Tracks
Purdue is not the team that you want to face when you are trying to get your shooting touch back. The Boilermakers are number one in the country in eFG% defense and hold their opponents to an average of 41.1 eFG%. Michigan comes in after their worst statistical performance on the offensive side of the ball all year. Purdue’s overall defensive efficiency is ranked #5 in the country and they allow only .84 points per possession.
Purdue hit a couple rough patches earlier this year but they appear to be coming together at the right time. Purdue is in the midst of a 5 game winning streak (3 on the road) after dropping their first two Big Ten games. A lot of Purdue’s mid season improvement has to do with the health of Robbie Hummel. The versatile 6-foot-8 big man is just starting to practice again and he is the guy that makes Purdue click on the offensive side of the ball.
Overall Purdue is solid but unspectacular on offense. They shoot the ball reasonably well with an eFG% of 51.1% and do a good job holding on to it as well (18.2 TO%). They aren’t particularly good on the offensive glass (30.8 OR%, 245th) or at getting to the line (34.4 FTA/FGA). Purdue shoots an average number of their field goal attempts from behind the line (32.7%) and does a good job distributing the ball with assists on 61.6% of their made field goals (31st).
Michigan will be without Zack Novak so there will definitely be some line up changes. If I were setting the starting line up I would go with Grady, Douglass, Harris, Shepherd, and Sims right now. Shepherd pretty much starts by default but I think Douglass has to get back in the starting lineup. LLP is lost right now and I think he is really feeling the pressure. If you let Stu start you can bring LLP off the bench where he is seemingly more comfortable.
The Purdue starting line up consists of Lewis Jackson, Keaton Grant, Etwaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson, and Nemanja Calasan.
- Robbie Hummel has been coming off the bench since his injury problems but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start tomorrow.
- JaJuan Johnson is a big shot blocking force but he is not necessarily a dominant offensive player. That being said, anyone with the kind of length he has will definitely cause Michigan some problems.
- Lewis Jackson is an undersized freshman point guard with a 1.5/1 assist to turnover ratio.
- Keaton Grant shot 44% from long range last year but this year is only at 34% but he has made 9 of his last 15 three pointers over the last four games and is starting to pick it up.
- E’Twaun Moore is another guy who’s three point shooting is down this year but he shot 77.8% from the field for 17 points against Wisconsin.
- Chris Kramer is a guy fans love to hate and one of the best defensive players in the league. Kramer isn’t much of a threat on offense but he is a guy you always have to pay attention to.
Hopefully the turnovers in Wednesday night’s debacle were a fluke and Michigan starts holding on to the ball again because Purdue will pressure you. Early on in the season Michigan countered heavy on-the-ball pressure from UCLA and Duke by setting up numerous back cuts. Since then we haven’t seen many back cuts at all but if Michigan wants to stand a chance they are going to need them. To Michigan’s defense, the lack of backdoor cuts has a lot to do with the defenses other teams play, the back cut isn’t going to work when teams pack the lane and dare you to shoot.
I would expect a healthy dose of Jevohn Shepherd, CJ Lee, and Zack Gibson in the absence of Zack Novak so the fans that have been begging for Shepherd to get more playing time will certainly get their wish. Michigan can’t win games when only Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims can score the ball. Unfortunately, I’m not sure anyone else on this roster has it in them to score the ball on the road.
Mackey Arena is a tough place to play and it is definitely not what the doctor ordered for this slumping Michigan team. Purdue doesn’t have the dominant big men per say but I wouldn’t call BJ Mullens or Mike Tisdale a “dominant” big man either. I guess Michigan fans are stuck hoping that the shooting stroke we saw in December some how returns at the most unlikely of times.
Thoughts, discussion, and predictions in the comments. KenPom predicts an easy 73-60 victory for Purdue and only gives Michigan a 9% shot at pulling off the upset.
It’s gonna be a bummer seeing our names fall off the bubble soon, but this one feels like the last unwinnable Big Ten game last. After @ UConn, we will have a chance to notch a few more Ws, finish strong, and get back on that bubbble. I’d be pleased if we repeat the @ Illinois performance tomorrow.
i feel that playing on the road is just horse shit no game should be unwinnable…….if you are a good team and the better team you will win most of your road games…..i.e. michigan state……..road games are tough but people make them out to be tougher than what they are. Good teams win no matter where they play at……michigan just isnt that good and i hope its because its only the 2yr and they arent suppose to be good, but poor shooting on wide open looks along with no other abilities to create scoring opportunities is going to plague michigan even when they are and will be good…….this team will every year win games they shouldnt and lose games against teams they should destroy because they will struggle shootng 3s every year and hopefully they will eventually get people here that can create things when the 3 isnt falling….im going to keep saying this…….versatility please
Having LLP coming off the bench will help him and getting Jevohn Shephard in the game I think will help our defense and rebounding. Zack has to play like a man tomorrow for us to have a chance, but usually that doesn’t happen. I also like getting Stu back in the starting lineup.
Everyone’s down on the team now but I bet tomorrow’s game is closer than people think. Still I think Michigan loses by ~10.
I just want to see a gritty game on the road from this team, no rolling over in the first 10 minutes
Michigan is going to get SLAUGHTERED. Might have to enforce a mercy rule so it doesn’t get too ugly.
Anyone know how to watch the game on the west coast? CBS is showing the WSU v ARZ game…
San Diego – no way to see it on TV. I’m in LA too and I called Directv – no dice. I’m going to try to find it online somewhere. Rats.
It shows as playing on Channel Surfing.
http://www.channelsurfing.net/ scroll down
I saw on a board someone saying Zack got in trouble in high school because of his emotions and he still hasn’t learned his lesson. I’m not able to post there yet to rebut that but just as an FYI for anyone that cares, I’ve seen Novak play alot of hs games and he was never anything other than a respectable, hustle competitor with a huge heart for basketball and respect for the opposing players, coaches, and fans.
And I was happy to see that his high school coach spoke out on this….
“In four years, 80-plus games and all those practices, there was never once a problem,” Peller said. “Zack was always emotional, but in a good, positive way, helping the team.”
http://www.freep.com/article/2.....wild+elbow
“I’m not sure anyone else on this roster has it in them to score the ball on the road”.
That is for sure. You could even drop the ‘on the road’ lately.
I am very pessimistic, see PU win by about 20.
But there’s a first time for everything.
Also I’m on my phone but the game is at 1:00 not 1:30.
It sure would be nice to shoot 3s like ND is today… 11-22 in the 1st half.
Yea that would be nice Giddings
Negativity SHEESH, come on guys. This team is what it is. 90% of people that knew anything about this team thought that this season would go exactly as it has (except for the UCLA and DUKE wins, and maybe 1 or 2 loses). In the end we knew this team was a little limited with offensive firepower, they are too small to compete with some big teams, and defense is still an issue. Those things are all still true.
Kelvin, LLP, CJ, Manny, and Peedi starting…
CJ gets the start. Just when i the lineup couldn’t get smaller…
Yikes… seriously JB? CJ? LLP still?
They can play defense….
At least we are playing good defense I guess…
PLEASE get Laval out of there…
Not a great start for LLP. 2 turnovers and a missed open three.
I like the intensity.
Love the backdoor but Manny has to convert, we won’t get many looks as easy as that.
final score 20-0
I like the defesnive intensity for the most part. And Peedi is getting those looks from three…
How deflating… we play great D in the 1-3-1, get a steal and then give it right back for an easy layup.
Is there a reason that steal for the easy layup wasn’t a kick ball?
I miss those days of the 1-3-1 creating turnovers, you can see that Beilein is tweaking it a little the last two games.
That’s Jevohn “handling the ball like a grenade”
Oh Zach!!!
ZACK GIBSON!!!
Now that is a run. 17-13… Need to plus minus that game.. Merritt, Stu, CJ, Shep, and Gibson…
and I will now take my credit for the 1-3-1 exploding with turnovers just now….
We’re slightly out-rebounding them, which is surprising.
Hummell has been in the locker room since the 9 min mark.
… and he’s back.
The turnovers are absolutely killing us right now.
If you’re gonna play small ball you can’t have 20 turnovers a game.
On Merritt’s turnover it looked like, at worst, it was a tie as to who touched it last (the Purdue player who knocked it out of his hand or Merritt). Does anyone know the rule where both players appear to have touched the ball simultaneously when it goes out. Is the assumption that the player who had it stolen touched it last?
Purdue is closing way too quickly when Peedi puts the ball on the floor… he’s gotta realize that. If we could just hang onto the ball we would have comfortable lead right now.
Excellent defense on Manny by David Merritt there.
This is a huge possession. We need a bucket here and Beilein knows its with the timeout.
I’m glad that the guys work so hard on their 3s during practice, but perhaps we need a little tutorial on bank shots off the square. So many good looks in the paint are banging off the rim.
That basket has to count. That was a pretty impressive half in West Lafayette. Can they bring it in the second?
Momentum!!! Can we pleeease start the 2nd half with LLP on the bench though? Any chance we can get a halftime plus/minus Dylan?
If you woulda told me that we’d be up 1 at the half at Purdue with CJ in the starting lineup, Manny hitting 1-of-6 from the floor, and that Zach and Shep would be the difference makers, well, i would have called you some kind of crazy.
If you would have told me Ant Wright would have made a three in the first half, well, I would have called you some kind of crazy.
Haha yes that too. That above all else.
Just some halftime musings… compare these tournament profiles: (I think you can all guess who #1 is)
Team #1
13-7 (4-5 conf) vs. Div I teams
RPI: 55
SOS: 23
Wins vs. RPI Top 100 (by opponent RPI): #52 (home), #34 (neutral), #1 (home), #17 (home), #84 (home), #51 (home)
Losses vs. RPI 100+: NONE
Team #2
11-8 (3-6 conf) vs. Div I teams
RPI: 80
SOS: 65
Wins vs. RPI Top 100: #14 (neutral), #19 (home)
Losses vs. RPI 100+: #132 (road)
Team #1 is Michigan of course… Team #2 is Notre Dame, a Top 25 team considered to be somewhat safely in, at least before today’s loss.
loving the 10 deep bench with 9 of them scoring and stu the only one not too…gota believe manny will come out and play the second half and stu’s gota be good for a 3 or two. great half.. GO BLUE
Key to the second half: Hold on to the ball and keep up the defensive intensity.
anyone watching the game online?
Unbelievable
that was not flagrant
And just when I thought we had the momentum…
Manny Harris is awful today. Why does it seem like he gets most of his points in garbage time?
The ejection is probably a good thing.
thats a HORRIBLE call
They are ejecting him? You have got to be kidding.
ejection?!?!?!? you’ve got to be kidding me
His elbow hit the tip of the nose…no head or solid contact….horrible call….just changed the game which for some reason b11 officials like to be the story of the game…not the game itself. pathetic
If it’s flagrant, it should be identified as such as soon as it happens. It shouldn’t be a reaction to seeing blood.
Bad call.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Refs are completely changing the outcome of this game.
That was a hysterical overreaction to a simple foul. If he doesn’t bleed do they even think twice about ejecting him? The answer is an obvious “no”. Unbelievable.
Hopefully this becomes a rallying point…more guys getting more minutes and can provide a spark
What the hell has happened to LLP?
The Manny elbow and the Novak elbow are night and day… Manny was making a basketball move, a move that he makes pretty much every time he gets the ball. Novak clearly threw an elbow that did not look like a box out, he had the intent to go high. I’m hopeful that this will at least result in no suspension for Manny.
Flagrant foul – noun – a foul committed with the intent to injure.
It wasn’t excessive. There was no malicious intent. As Other Matt said, an hysterical overreation to a simple foul. What a bunch of crap.
I sincerely hope the ref who called that flagrant foul faces some sort of suspension. That was shameful. It is unfortunate that Kramer got his nose bloodied, but flagrant fouls are about INTENT not RESULTS.
I guess the person who said there is a B10 conspiracy on Manny wasn’t kidding. I didn’t see anyone getting ejected when Novak bled all over the place vs Illinois
That was absurd!
How could they say there was any intent.
The big ten needs some refs with at least a little judgment.
7 fouls in 5 minutes.
And oh, by the way, they’re in the bonus for the rest of the game. Why is that all basketball officials are totally incompetent?
Verne has called a horrible game today by the way….why does it seem the commentary for games is brutal this year too?
People bitch about officiating in the NBA. But it’s really night and day better than college. This would _never_ happen in the NBA. I hope that this officiating crew is censured.
Well that Hummel 3 just about does it. Can we outscore them by 7 the rest of the way? Can we score 7 the rest of the way? No and maybe
well, luckily manny was having a rough game and jevohn is playing well….but i dont see us making up 6 points
It’s just sad that these officials have completely ruined a very evenly played, competitive Big Ten basketball game on national TV. Not to mention the fact that we were finally playing with some swagger and had a chance to get that elusive big road win. Bob Knight said that “officials” were his “impact player” for today, because the best games will be the ones with the best officiating. Clearly these idiots are blowing it.
If Harris can get ejected for that, Krabbenhoft needs to be executed at center court. Its only fair.
The shit Kramer has gotten away with off the ball on Merritt is also just silly. I think Merritt should spontaneously bleed, then he might get a call.
I’m not usually one to blame losses on officiating. That said, since the Painter technical at the end of the half, this game has been officiated in a manner that makes it impossible for us to win this game. To be clear, we may not have won had the officiating been straight, but holy crap is this ridiculous. I really hope Beilein just destroys the officials in the post game presser. I’ve not been this angry watching a sporting event in a long time.
Laval certainly isn’t helping things.
GIDDINGS- lay off LLP, the kid is trying and HAS and WILL produce. Just because some people annointed him the savior doesn’t change the player that he is and was.
um hoops THUG Fo’ LIFE!!
Darius Morris – where you at? Length at the top of the 1-3-1. Scoring PG who can play defense. Good leader.
Amen OM – I’m seething right now
bl, it’s not llp’s lack of being a savior that is frustrating, it’s his lack of making a contribution against non-oakland competition
apparently you just can’t take a year off and then come in and compete at the highest level. we’re all hoping for a big step forward in his soph year
He’s definitely trying hard, and I do think that part of the frustration goes back to how great he looked in his first three games. I don’t know if he’s just overthinking things or what, but something is just not clicking. I know I’ve been harsh on him lately and he doesn’t deserve it as long as he’s competing.
I want LLP to be a factor also, but his allowance went from being a role player, to the savior before he played. And because of that people are overreacting because he isnt tearing up the league. He is and should be a guy that gets 10-20 minutes a game where he can be effective.
I’d like to eject Verne Lundquist. Somehow, he’s making this less enjoyable for me.
That was a pretty savior-like three
If you want to complain about that call on Manny go here http://bigten.cstv.com/feedbac.....dback.html.
It won’t help but it might make you feel better.
The thing that upsets me about LLP is he was a bulldog on D! He was getting alot of props for getting after it on the Defensive side of things..and now that hes struggling I dont think you see that tenacity in him on the other side..a good played cant let his O dictate his D cause it hurts the squad..yea your shots not fallen but shut down your man.
As I have said this year “live by the 3..die by the 3″
Completely BS game. Every time a player bleeds somebody has to get ejected?? Clearly a foul, but ejecting him was WAY excessive. He made a poor play and a change of possession would have been a more appropriate punishment for (clearly unintentionally) having his elbows too high.
Screwed out of a potential win. I’m just hoping that this BS lights a fire under our guys for the rest of the season. I’m fuming…
Sure… now the officials call that an offensive foul on Purdue.
the big ten season has been so frustrating….and we finally come out and play a decent game against a real quality opponent (and i felt even though they are good, purdue is one of the most favorable matchups for us in the big ten)…and then this second half happens. funny how when you remove the best player from a team that has depth issues, you hand the win to the other team.
Well, we removed two starters from this team to be technical. There is no team in the b11 that can win on the road when that happens. As kellogg said, the moral victory of this game is some more PT for wright, douglass,merritt,lee, shepherd,gibson. even if douglass is the only one of those guys back next year.
PULS baby
One more thing on the Manny ejection… I wonder how much of a role Novak’s elbow in the OSU game played. You know that the refs saw that, and I can’t help but wonder if in the back of their minds they thought “Look, this is a frustrated team that’s now taking their frustrations out on people by throwing elbows around and trying to injure guys. We can’t let them get away with that, we have to eject him.”
Kellogg said PSU had some good non conf wins….so their best RPI win in the non conf was mt st marys at home…which their rpi is 123….great instant analysis by CK there.
Interesting choice on player of the game for Purdue. I’d have gone with the crew chief. But Moore was good too I guess.
Agree BL, I highly doubt PSU would get in with an RPI of 72 and their only Top 100 wins coming over us, NW, Iowa, and Purdue, all at home.
How many times was the actual injury rebroadcast on tv? I am in North Carolina and they cut into coverage well into the 2nd half, long after Manny’s ejection. They only showed it once when I was watching — and it was played for less than one second in duration, I guarantee it.
My feeling is that the network is complicit by not showing it because a reasoned replay would clearly indicate that the ejection was wrong. Conspiracy.
they showed the elbow enough, didnt mention the reaction by kramer that true to physics wasnt appropriate to the contact.
I think we know who the bum of the game wil be for the rematch.
thanks bill for the bigten link. Like you said, its certain not to help anything, but it was certainly therapeutic and fun to write. I filled out the form as “reporting an error” and wrote:
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my comment. The error that I am reporting is the mistake that is Big Ten officiating. They would do well to review the definition of ‘flagrant.’ While I expect most officials to be well-versed in nuances of the English language, particularly as some of the nuances relate to the officiating of basketball, it is clear that your officiating crews are not.
Please allow me the chance to write that I feel very badly for Kramer, who clearly was hit very hard. But I also feel I must advocate for Manny Harris, who clearly was not malicious in his intent.
I have never been one to complain about officiating; yea, this is the first time I have written on my team’s behalf. But the magnitude of this missed call cannot be ignored: verily, that call put what was otherwise a close game out of the reach of the visiting team. I have never seen an honest competitor removed from the game in such dastardly fashion.
Please do all in your power to correct the error. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Greg Simms
I would like to personally apologize to Manny Harris and the University of Michigan Men’s Basketball team for the improper ejection of Mr. Harris during Saturday’s Michigan-Purdue basketball game.
The actions of Mr. Harris were clearly not intended to injure, and an ejection was not warranted. The crew will be prohibited from officiating any games during the 2009 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Oh Hi, Jim, I guess you got my letter already? I knew I could make a difference.
The rule book:
http://www.ncaapublications.co.....6f90ed.pdf
The key point in the rules. I wonder how he saw that as intentional.
“When a defined body part is used to strike an opponent
but the contact is not severe or excessive, a judgment shall be made by the
official as to whether the contact is intentional.”
Art. 7. When during the course of play, an individual strikes an opponent
with the hand, elbow, arm, foot, knee or leg in a non-confrontational manner
but the act is excessive or severe, it shall be ruled as a flagrant foul and not
a fighting action. When a defined body part is used to strike an opponent
but the contact is not severe or excessive, a judgment shall be made by the
official as to whether the contact is intentional.