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Michigan Basketball: Keys for Wolverines in rematch against Michigan State

By Adam Childs

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a shot in the second half during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 03: Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a shot in the second half during a college basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at the XFinity Center on March 3, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans react after a 77-70 win over the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 24: Cassius Winston #5 and Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans react after a 77-70 win over the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Contain Winston

Cassius is a great player and a great shooter. You aren’t going to completely stop him, but the Wolverines need to find a way to contain him. Winston would shoot 7-13 from the field in their first game but was 0-3 from outside. The Wolverines did a good job containing his outside shooting, but they allowed him to drive too much.

Winston can get hot from the outside but he is much more effective when he can drive and either get to the rim or find his open teammates. He is a great passer and when you collapse down on him, he is fantastic and at finding the open guy which usually results in easy points.

Against Michigan, the Spartans used a lot of picks at the top of the key for Winston. In one occasion the set three straight screens as Winston just went back and forth. The Wolverines did an ok job early of slowing that, but as the game went along Winston found more and more room to drive the lane. He also did a great job of drawing fouls on Teske and others trying to hedge off the screen. Michigan needs to avoid making those cheap fouls and at the same time keep him from driving the lane.

Michigan has to contain Winston from driving if they want to have a chance to win this game. If Winston can do what he did in the second half the Wolverines have no chance. Michigan State shot the ball very well in the first half last meeting but it was set up by Winston. The Spartans may not shoot that well again, but Michigan can’t afford to find out. Stop Winston from driving so easily and the Wolverines win this game.

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