Busting Brackets
Fansided

Michigan Basketball: Keys for season sweep of Maryland

By Adam Childs

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 28: Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts while playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Crisler Arena on February 28, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 28: Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts while playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Crisler Arena on February 28, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts after he is called for a foul late in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts after he is called for a foul late in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. Frustrate Fernando

In their first meeting a couple of weeks ago Michigan was able to slow Bruno Fernando in the first half. They caused him so much trouble on the offensive side that Mark Turgeon sat him for over nine minutes in the first half as he thought it was affecting his defense.

Michigan took advantage in racing out to a double-digit lead and a nine-point halftime advantage. Fernando would go scoreless in the first half and while he played better and scored 12 in the second half Michigan was able to pull away and win by 13.

John Beilein will undoubtedly preach to do the same thing in this game also. While Anthony Cowen Jr is the team’s leading scorer at 15.9 ppg the offense runs better when Fernando is playing well and scoring. The Wolverines need to attack him and keep him off the offensive glass if they want to have a good shot at winning this game. Fernando is an emotional player and if they can keep him from getting on a roll they will be in good shape.

The Terrapins go how Fernando goes and the way to slow him is to frustrate him. If they can do that they can hopefully get him into careless plays and possibly even foul trouble. If that happens the Wolverines will walk away with a win.

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