Michigan Scouting Report

The Michigan Wolverines are reeling after a hot start of the season, losing six of their last seven games. Off the court, Michigan struggles continue with their star player Dug McDaniels being suspended for six road games, including their matchup with Purdue on Tuesday. So, Purdue will being play a desperate and short-handed Michigan team that desperately needs to win to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive.

Michigan Offense

Player Profiles P/R/A

#13 - Olivier Nkamhoua* 17/7/3

Nkamhoua does most of his damage in the mid post, utilizing a sweet fadeaway over either shoulder, though he prefers turning towards the middle. On the perimeter, he is more aggressive shooting threes with Dug not playing. Purdue will have the power forwards guard him neutrally and will bring a double to him in the post.

#5 - Terrance Williams* 13/4/1

Williams has found a rhythm on his three ball that he relies on, beware of his shot when he hops into an open look. Otherwise, his split catches and stampedes against overeager closeouts has been his best weapon. Guarding him will be all about closeouts, I would like to see Purdue try to trick him with the initial speed of their closeouts. Focusing on convincing him of a hard closeout before stopping short to takeaway his right hand drive.

#32 - Tarris Reed Jr.* 9/6/1

Reed has struggled on offense compared to offseason expectations, he is primarily used in the short roll or dump downs. Reed loves to punish his defenders momentum using his dribble and size to create space. Purdue should be sagging off of him and crashing guards on his dribble to strip the ball from him.

#4 - Nimari Burnett* 10/5/3

The shooting guard has had to take on even more responsibility ball handling with McDaniels out. He has been very aggressive slashing towards the rim in transition. In the half court, he has leaned towards shooting a lot more threes. Purdue needs to be very good about finding him early in transition, then taking away his three in half court possessions.

#3 - Jaelin Llewellyn* 3/1/1

The new starting point guard is slanted towards getting downhill to score at the rim. He has struggled with pressure this season. Purdue needs to turn up the heat on him and rely on the bigs to deter him at the rim.

#42 - Will Tschetter 7/2/1

The backup power forward provides spacing for Michigan with his shooting. He loves to ghost screen to pop into a triple. This season he has grown more comfortable shot faking and driving to the rim. The bigs for Purdue need to be active taking away his shots and the guards closing gaps on his drives.

Michigan Sets

Chin Empty Ball Screen

Indicators:

• The chin action with both bigs up

• Double stagger on the weakside is a common Michigan diversion action

Diagonal Screen Mid Post Isolation

Indicators

• Dummy side ball screen

• Guard standing on the block

Zoom Rip (Baseline Out of Bounds)

Indicators

• The four low lob to ball side

• Nkamhoua on the weakside (Purdue has struggled with bigs being back screened)

Michigan Defense

Defensive Styles

Man to Man:

• Ball screens - Hard hedge/switch

• Post - Baseline double/fronting (Last year, UM played Edey straight up)

• On ball - Staying on the ground and in front

• Off ball - Guards aggressive, forwards helping

• Other screens - Switching

Ideas

1. Slipping , "tight" - inside the arc, screen set before Smith dribbles

2. Opposite wing cutting when the double comes to the post

3. Guards driving to score at the rim

2-3 Zone (Reed in foul trouble)

• Wings play higher, taking away first pass

• Middle big plays the high post with little guard help

• Will play a 2-1-2 press into the 2-3

Ideas:

1. Overloading a side to hit short corner, big ceiling weakside wing

2. Pass fakes to open the high post

3. Guards being wide opens inside ball screen

Predicted Matchups

Braden Smith - Nimari Burnett

Lance Jones - Jaelin Llewellyn

Fletcher Loyer - Terrance Williams

Trey Kauffman-Renn - Olivier Nkamhoua

Zach Edey - Tarris Reed

Keys for Purdue

1. Braden Smith scoring the ball - Smith scoring 20+ points

2. Dominate the possession battle - combined +10 turnover and offensive rebound margin

3. Shut down Nkamhoua - hold him to under 12 points

4. Limit Michigan from three - less than 5 made threes