WOLVERNINES VS SPARTANS REMATCH by Lauren Beasley
#22 Michigan vs. #10 Michigan St! It is almost time for the second game between these two teams! Last time Michigan was able to hang on at home and defeat Michigan St 60-59. Now this is a huge game for both teams.
For Michigan this is a huge road game. One of Michigan’s problems this season is they haven’t been able to win on the road. They only have one bg road win and that was against Purdue. Now Michigan is riding high off their tough victory over #20 Indiana, so they are definetly looking to carry that momentum on the road with them.
Michigan St however just came off a tough lost to Illinois and to make matters worse Draymond Green of the Spartans sprained his knee and is day-day right now. Now knowing Draymond Green he will not miss this game, he loves and enjoys this rivalry and considering he is a senior he will not want to miss this opportunity to beat Michigan before he graduates.
Now that leads me to the keys and x-factors for both teams
MSU in my opinion didn’t do a good job of involving Draymond Green offensively. Now I know Draymond Green is a versatile player who can take others of the dribble or pull up for a jump shot but he is great in the post. I honestly feel that MSU has to get him involved more if the want to win this game. Keith Appling has to stay out of foul trouble last game, he had four fouls and two of those fouls were charges. Appling has to play his game and not force the situation. MSU has to go back to their tough play and everybody must contribute. Adrienne Payne, Brandon Wood, Branden Dawson all struggled or were uninvolved; they are key players on this team and need to play well. My questionable X-Factor is Derrick Nix who scored 13 points against Michigan last time, it will be interesting to see if he plays at the level again.
UM did a great job of getting everyone involve last game but best of all everybody understood their role. Obviously Trey Burke was the superstar of that game with 20 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Burke is the engine that runs this vehicle that we call the Wolverines. He is the biggest x-factor of the game and his play will determine whether UM wins this game. Tim Hardaway struggle
that game shooting 33% from the field and went 0-4 from 3 point. He has to play well and relax and not force anything which he has a tendency to do. My underrated x-factors are Zach Novak, Stu Douglass and Jordan Morgan. They played great last game and didn’t get a lot of credit for it. Morgan played good interior defense against Green and Payne, he has to do that again, because I believe MSU will do a better job of involving Payne and Green. Novak and Douglass combined 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. They played well on both
sides of the ball and they must do that again if they want to win. Lastly UM has to get penetration into the paint, they can’t expect to win just off the three; they have to penetrate and do a better job of getting to the free throw line.
Once again this is big game for both teams as far as ranking in the Top 25 and ranking in the Big Ten, Michigan is currently tied for
2nd place in the Big Ten Rankings and Michigan is eager to move out of 3rd place in the Big Ten Rankings. Big Game! Who will own bragging rights of this rivalry, we will find out soon!
For Michigan this is a huge road game. One of Michigan’s problems this season is they haven’t been able to win on the road. They only have one bg road win and that was against Purdue. Now Michigan is riding high off their tough victory over #20 Indiana, so they are definetly looking to carry that momentum on the road with them.
Michigan St however just came off a tough lost to Illinois and to make matters worse Draymond Green of the Spartans sprained his knee and is day-day right now. Now knowing Draymond Green he will not miss this game, he loves and enjoys this rivalry and considering he is a senior he will not want to miss this opportunity to beat Michigan before he graduates.
Now that leads me to the keys and x-factors for both teams
MSU in my opinion didn’t do a good job of involving Draymond Green offensively. Now I know Draymond Green is a versatile player who can take others of the dribble or pull up for a jump shot but he is great in the post. I honestly feel that MSU has to get him involved more if the want to win this game. Keith Appling has to stay out of foul trouble last game, he had four fouls and two of those fouls were charges. Appling has to play his game and not force the situation. MSU has to go back to their tough play and everybody must contribute. Adrienne Payne, Brandon Wood, Branden Dawson all struggled or were uninvolved; they are key players on this team and need to play well. My questionable X-Factor is Derrick Nix who scored 13 points against Michigan last time, it will be interesting to see if he plays at the level again.
UM did a great job of getting everyone involve last game but best of all everybody understood their role. Obviously Trey Burke was the superstar of that game with 20 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Burke is the engine that runs this vehicle that we call the Wolverines. He is the biggest x-factor of the game and his play will determine whether UM wins this game. Tim Hardaway struggle
that game shooting 33% from the field and went 0-4 from 3 point. He has to play well and relax and not force anything which he has a tendency to do. My underrated x-factors are Zach Novak, Stu Douglass and Jordan Morgan. They played great last game and didn’t get a lot of credit for it. Morgan played good interior defense against Green and Payne, he has to do that again, because I believe MSU will do a better job of involving Payne and Green. Novak and Douglass combined 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. They played well on both
sides of the ball and they must do that again if they want to win. Lastly UM has to get penetration into the paint, they can’t expect to win just off the three; they have to penetrate and do a better job of getting to the free throw line.
Once again this is big game for both teams as far as ranking in the Top 25 and ranking in the Big Ten, Michigan is currently tied for
2nd place in the Big Ten Rankings and Michigan is eager to move out of 3rd place in the Big Ten Rankings. Big Game! Who will own bragging rights of this rivalry, we will find out soon!