According to Kenpom, Michigan has the Best Adjusted Defense of Teams Remaining in the Tournament

Submitted by Caesar on

The offense comes and goes, but that defense is something to behold (link). 

Farnn

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^

I read elsewhere that Michigan''s defensive strategy changed a bit in the second half.  They focused on not giving up 3s or letting A&M get FTs to prevent them from getting back into the game.  It was a bit of a bend but don't break strategy because the clock was their biggest ally when up 20+.

M-Dog

March 23rd, 2018 at 8:39 AM ^

Maybe this really is Beilein's best team ever.

They have the versatility that no team has had before.  They can win on Defense.  They can win driving the lane for two's.  They can win draining threes.

And they can pick and choose which one of those to lean on if the other two aren't working.

That's never happend before.

They can win when all the planets don't align, which is going to happen over 6 games at 3 different sites in the course of 3 weeks.

And when all the planets do align . . . Woah Nellie.

 

SD Larry

March 23rd, 2018 at 8:38 AM ^

and shot the ball well in second half.  Michigan stood up to their challenge exceptionally well, particularly after playing such a stunning first half.  

LSAClassOf2000

March 23rd, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^

Especially in the second half, for as improved as Texas A&M's shooting seemed to get, Michigan stepped up team defense that much more and prevented the game from getting interesting in the sense of getting uncomfortably close, and that started with a great defensive performance in the first half too. Indeed, I was truly impressed that it only took a couple minutes for Michigan to make it virtually impossible for the Aggies to run their offense well enough to even sniff a win. 

MidwestIsBest

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^

....and look where Virginia’s got them. This game of college basketball is a crapshoot, unfortunately—it’s why they have 7-figure prizes for perfect brackets. That said, I’ll have my finger hovering over the “buy” button on a flight to San Antonio on Saturday so I sure do hope you’re right. Go Blue!

AZBlue

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:45 AM ^

It leads you to this statement..”offense also required”. Tony Bennett at UVA should consider hiring an offensive coordinator. I hear there is a Beilein that may be on the market although - like his father - he might not have interest in being an assistant coach.