A few stats really stand out:
I also think there is a snowball effect. When Michigan commits a few dumb fouls the refs keep looking for them.... and keep calling them until a player stops. Do I think some refs call a tighter game? Maybe let coaches get in their ears? For sure. But that can't fully explain a 30-7 free throw differential.
Michigan needs to play smarter and more disciplined against teams that bring more energy and maybe advantages at certain positions. Michigan really missed Charles Matthews last night. Winston was their advantage at PG last night and Michigan had no answer.
- Michigan was outrebounded 46 to 20 which is ridiculous - shows sparty was playing with more effort but also shows what happens when our big guys are sitting on the bench for extended minutes.
- Shot 36.4% from 3 which isn't as bad as I thought and much better than sparty at 27.3% - they killed Michigan inside and on dribble penetration. Again... when the starting big guys sit that % goes up. Castleton and Johns weren't stopping anybody.
- Sparty had 8 blocks - that's a killer. Almost as good as turnovers. Speaking of turnovers....
- Sparty had 13 to Michigan's 5 - and Michigan still lost. Those blocks - and the rebounds - seemed to even out Michigan's turnover advantage.
- Sparty had 30 free throws to Michigan's 7 - which is insane for a Michigan team that doesn't foul that much. For giggles, I looked up a few previous games. Maryland.... Michigan 15, Maryland 10. Sparty at Crisler... Michigan 20, sparty 30. At Minny... Michigan 11, Minny 18. Ped State... Michigan 16, Peds 34. Starting to see a pattern?
I also think there is a snowball effect. When Michigan commits a few dumb fouls the refs keep looking for them.... and keep calling them until a player stops. Do I think some refs call a tighter game? Maybe let coaches get in their ears? For sure. But that can't fully explain a 30-7 free throw differential.
Michigan needs to play smarter and more disciplined against teams that bring more energy and maybe advantages at certain positions. Michigan really missed Charles Matthews last night. Winston was their advantage at PG last night and Michigan had no answer.
