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Basics: Iowa box score. Ohio State match-up statistics. Next game: 12PM ESPN.

Apologies in advance but I have to keep it short because of time constraints… The Iowa game was ugly but at this point it’s tough to complain about a win.

For the first 10 minutes, everything was running smoothly and Michigan was scoring points at ease. Then Iowa switched to the zone defense and Michigan appeared bewildered. Michigan couldn’t buy a three point shot and they kept firing.

Four factors graphs sans interpretation:

Next up, Ohio State at noon eastern on ESPN. Evan Turner is good. The rest of the Ohio State starting is also good. Ohio State is a 9 point favorite and it’s really tough to see Michigan standing a chance.

For more on Ohio State here is the preview and post game from the last contest in Columbus. There isn’t really a good match-up on the court for Michigan so it will take a very impressive effort. Ohio State is probably playing for a one seed and Michigan needs a miracle to make the NIT.

It’s Ohio State’s first game in 10 days and also their first game in Indianapolis. That coupled with a noon tip off are probably the biggest x-factors going Michigan’s way. It’s not the best news when those are the only positives that you can come up with.

The post is short so let’s hear your thoughts, predictions, and everything else in the comments.

Basics Who: Michigan (14-16, 7-11) vs. Iowa (10-21, 4-14) Where: Conseco Field House, Indianapolis When: Thursday, March 10th, 2:30 PM EST TV: ESPN2/ESPN360.com Radio: MGoBlue, WWJ 950 AM/WTKA 1050 AM Line:  Michigan by 8 Live TFS Pomeroy Profile Big Ten Tournament Bracket Last Time: Preview / Post Game First Time: Preview / Post Game

Michigan tips off the Big Ten Tournament with a 2:30 matinee versus Iowa (again). Michigan and Iowa have become quite familiar with each other of late. This will be the 9th time that these two programs have faced off in the last three years. Michigan is 5-2 in the last seven contests, going 2-1 each year.

The old adage “it’s tough to beat a team three times” certainly comes into play here. Michigan swept the season series but judging by the game in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes seem to have figured out the Michigan defense. Iowa scored 1.18 points per possession in that game, the third worst defensive performance of Michigan’s season.

Aaron Fuller was simply dominant in that contest. Fuller scored 30 points on 11 of 13 shooting and also pulled down 13 rebounds. Michigan needs to figure out a way to slow down the versatile power forward or they could be looking at a long day. If they do manage to stop Fuller, they should have a great shot to win the game as Iowa’s options beyond Fuller are limited.

Continue reading ‘BTT Game 1: Michigan vs. Iowa Preview’

• Hoops: Horford picks up big offer ($)
  It took a while but Jon Horford landed his offer. He has to make his full campus tour to make things official but once he does, I would assume a commitment will follow shortly after.
• Recruiting Roundup (3-10-10) / Recruiting Roundup (3-9-10) – Part 2 (Podcasts)
  Sam Webb drops some hoops recruiting nuggets. Webb feels good about Zeigler and thinks that Michigan is in good position as things stand now. Webb speculates that it’s a “foregone conclusion” that Horford will receive an offer and that will be made official once he makes the trip to Ann Arbor for the academic presentation etc. Webb also thinks that Horford will commit once the offer is made official.
• Michigan Headed to 2010 Legends Classic
  Post this yesterday, Michigan is playing in the Legends Classic next year along with Syracuse, Georgia Tech, and UTEP. All three schools return a lot of talent (depending on NBA departures) and it will be a tough field. The regional schools have also been added to the post and judging the list I suspect Detroit and Bowling Green will face Michigan.
• Back and Forth, recapping the season
  The Big Ten Geeks look back at their preseason predictions, what went well and what didn’t… Michigan is example A in prognostication failure.
• Big Ten Tournament Preview: The Coronation of …
  The Prospectus previews the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan’s logarithmic projection chance at winning the title: 0.7%. Minnesota has been a statistical (read: Pomeroy) darling all year and the projections like them as a Cinderella candidate but I’m not sure I see it.
• Tempo Free Aerial – Final Edition
  Michigan’s efficiency margin in conference play was actually a tad better than last season.
• NOTEBOOK: Michigan never considered the CBI; Jordan Morgan likely to have surgery
  Beilein explains the decision to skip the CBI. Morgan is getting shoulder surgery and could be looking at a four month recovery period.
• Ohio State swingman David Lighty captains 11th annual All-Glue Team
  Draymond Green got hosed but Lighty is a good choice.
• ESPN – NCAA Womens Bracketology
  Kevin Borseth has the Michigan womens team on the bubble. ESPN projects them as one of the last four teams in the tournament.
• Oakland is going dancing
  The Grizzlies came up one game short last year but they punched their ticket last night. Oakland’s uptempo offense can be fun to watch and it’s great to see the local program make the tournament.
• Committee experience and other musings
  Jay Bilas with some interesting thoughts about the NCAA selection process

This has been rumored for sometime but I had yet to see the entire field listed. Michigan will play in the 2010 Legends Classic in Atlantic City.

The three other schools participating are Syracuse, Georgia Tech, and UTEP. The semifinals will be played on November 26th in a double header that tips off at 5:30 PM EST. The finals will be played the next day (5:30 PM EST). From what I can tell, the bracket has not yet been finalized.

The tournament also features a regional round and the four host schools will play two homes games before they head to Atlantic City. These games are scheduled for November 19th and 21st.

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Thursday at noon but the presale begins tomorrow at 10am. You can purchase tickets here and the presale code is “GAZELLE”. There is also a buy one get one free offer going on for specific seats which you can access using the code “MADNESS”.

Update: The list of other teams participating has been released: William & Mary, Niagara, Mercer, Detroit, Bowling Green, Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb and Albany. I suspect Detroit and Bowling Green will be in Michigan’s “region” and play games at Crisler Arena, just based on geography.

In the most surprising news of the year… Evan Turner was named Big Ten Player of the Year. The entire collection of All Big Ten rosters were released this evening and you can find the list here.

DeShawn Sims was named to the second team while Manny Harris was given a spot on the third team. The first team consisted of Demetri McCamey, Kalin Lucas, Robbie Hummel, E’Twaun Moore, and the aforementioned Turner.

Sticking on the subject of DeShawn Sims, Mike Rothstein put together a great piece chronicling the changes in Peedi’s life over the last four years.

For the more analytical types, KJ compiled a final table of his Points Over Replacement Per Adjusted Game (PORPAG) ratings and the Big Ten Geeks also put together a wonky All Big Ten team.