This game was essentially over at halftime. OU missed ample opportunities to keep this one close going into the break and the second half was merely a formality.
The high flying offense Coach Kampe has employed appeared to be just the tonic a struggle Michigan side required. The Maize and Blue looked bigger, stronger and simply like a much better basketball team. OU’s up-tempo game seemed to suit them just fine, thank you.
Perhaps, even Coach Kampe has finally seen enough of his up-tempo offense.
After getting drilled by the Wolverines, Oakland’s head coach was quoted in Paula Pasche’s recap in The Oakland Press as saying:
“So we wanted to get the game at a breakneck speed and breakneck tempo … It was a very poor choice on my part obviously.”
Kampe is showing the first signs of conceding to a point I made quite a while back – running an up-tempo offense, more often than not, leads to poor defense. Oakland is proving to be no exception to that rule.
Michigan did two things I believe Oakland simply doesn’t do well or at all. First, the Wolverines could pass the rock. They hit the open man in transition and, as nearly every OU opponent has this year, they made wonderful interior passes.
Second, and just as importantly, Michigan finished those plays. Multiple players hit threes. The interior plays were completed with lay-ups and dunks.
I find OU’s lacking in both categories. They neither pass or finish well. Collectively, and this strikes me as odd, as they seem athletic enough, is that everything they do seems to be just a step off or behind.
The questions in Grizzlyland must now be, with a week off until the Rochester College game, will Kampe toss aside the Showtime Grizzlies and install a half court offense? Will such a move bring about a better defensive result?
I’m not sure that making a radical change in December is the best plan, but I’m not confident that holding on to a failed scheme is a good idea, either. Either way, this is certainly not where any of us had hoped the Grizzlies would be so close to the Oregon game.
Onto the rest of the post-game silliness:
* The OP’s Dave Pemberton discusses OU’s style of play. The definitive quote for me was Coach Kampe’s “We play too fast.”
* Alas, I did attend this one. The company was good. The result was probably the worst case scenario.
* It was my first visit to Crisler and I do see why people think it’s outdated. Honestly, if OU could fill the building, the O’Rena would have a better atmosphere.
* What’s worse: OU’s half-empty building or Michigan’s half-empty building?
* Big props to the Grizz Gang in section 57. The small, but vocal group stood for the entire game and did make their presence felt from time-to-time. Nice work.
* Oakland’s still wearing the Nike test uniforms. I’m hoping the test ends after this semester.
* Michigan’s Manny Harris was the best player on the floor. 24 points, eight boards and just plain better than everyone.
* My friend secured tickets to last night’s affair a few weeks back. We sat six rows from the floor. They were very good seats. (Michigan’s head baseball coach Rich Maloney sat just a few rows in front of us.) How can I land better seats at Michigan than I do at OU?
* My weekly note to the OU merchandise people. I would have worn an Oakland sweatshirt had you provided me with a decent option. Don’t even get me started on the cap.
* Did you note the amount of press this game got? More importantly did you notice how much of it focused on the Grizzlies?
* I’m thinking the Wolverines took all that to heart.
* Derick Nelson was great in the second half. Nelson finished with 31. Erik Kangas had 24.
* Deshawn Sims had 22 for Michigan. Ron Coleman added 13.
December 14, 2007 at 5:19 am |
Just wanted to let you know people are actually reading your blog, even though no one ever comments. Keep up the good job!
Oh and by the way, on top of defense, Oakland needs to work on Rebounding. They’re bigger than most teams they play, yet they get boxed out or simply aren’t even in the area of the ball. When they force a bad shot on their opponents, they simply grab the rebound and make an easy layup. The grizzlies have talent, but they definitely are lacking fundamentals right now.
December 14, 2007 at 10:00 pm |
I’m a believer that part of the rebounding issues are a result of OU’s offensive style, as well. When all five guys are thinking about how they have to get back down the floor, they “cheat” in that direction.
If the ball is shot and your job is to haul your 6′10” frame down to the other end quickly, your first reaction is probably not to crash the boards but in the opposite direction.
All that said, it’s nearly impossible to argue that the Grizzlies fundamentals are lacking — poor rebounding, D, passing and lack of a consistent perimeter threat (beyond Kangas). It’s been a frustrating and disappointing season, thus far.
Thanks for reading and the kind words, Ryan. I appreciate it. I wish I could guarantee I’ll be posting throughout the year, but as I outline in the “About” section, most of my blogging time from January – June is spent on college baseball.
In fact, I’ve been debating sharing my Grizzlies hardball thoughts here, as well. Regardless of how often I post, I’ll be keeping an eye on the basketball team.