Michigan is a load for anyone, and it will be for Duke Saturday. Yet that team has lost one game and been challenged in several others, including an overtime win over Wake Forest back in November.
Michigan
Next Up: Michigan, Part II
They also had tight games against Nebraska (75-72 win), Penn State (74-72 win), and Wisconsin (91-88 loss).
What happened in those games?
Well, in the Wake Forest and to a lesser extent Penn State games, a big part of the problem for Michigan was turnovers.
Against Wake, a team with very little size to counter the Wolverines inside, the Demon Deacons forced 17 turnovers. Michigan also shot just 4-25 from outside. UNC transfer Elliot Cadeau had 5 turnovers in this game, incidentally.
Nebraska forced 19 turnovers, including 8 by Cadeau. And in that game, Michigan shot just 6-26 from the bonusphere (23%).
Penn State forced fewer turnovers, just 12, and allowed Michigan to shoot 8-27 from behind the line (30%). And finally, Wisconsin fit a different pattern: Michigan had just 9 turnovers and hit 8-25 on their threes (32%).
Well, one more to look at: Northwestern dominated Michigan for a good bit of that game. The Wolverines came back, but Northwestern forced 12 turnovers and Michigan shot 8-29 from deep (28%).
Interestingly, Nebraska, Wake Forest, Northwestern and, to a lesser extent Penn State, are probably not capable of competing with Michigan’s imposing front line. Certainly Nebraska is a much smaller team, as is Wake Forest.
Cadeau has done really well since leaving UNC and Michigan would not be where it is without Cadeau.
However, he is still small at 6-1 and while he has several games with 0 turnovers, since playing against Nebraska on January 27th, where he had 8, he had 5 against Northwestern and 4 against Purdue.
Backcourt mate Nimari Burnett has had fewer and in fact has never had more than 2 in one game.
Morez Johnson? He’s been pretty good about turnovers too.
What about the bigs, Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara?
They’ve both had issues. Lendeborg had 4 against Ohio State, 3 in the rematch and 3 against Purdue. Mara had 4 against Northwestern and Ohio State and 3 against Auburn, McNeese State and Nebraska.
What do we gather from all of this?
Well, it’s not that Michigan’s big men are overrated. They’re good. Mara is 7-3 and 255 with a 7-7 wingspan, and he has Euro instincts. He’s an excellent passer, even if he does take risks, and he knows how to draw fouls, which could be a major problem for Duke.
He’s not an immensely talented athlete, but he’s projected as a rotational player in the NBA. He doesn’t have the greatest motor in the game, though that’s getting better. One way to attack him: make him run as much as possible.
As for Lendeborg, he is 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan and he’s been a late bloomer. In June, when he’ll be drafted, he’ll be 23 and 7 months, which is a big change by modern standards (NBA teams prefer younger players). Like Mara, he’s an excellent passer and he can play all over the court. He’s a good but not great shooter and his shooting goes down a good bit when he’s pressured. He’s like Cameron Boozer in that he’s not necessarily an elite athlete, but basketball is about efficiency and intelligence as much as it is about elite athleticism, a lesson that has been proven over and over by guys like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Draymond Green and most recently, Kon Knueppel. He’s a smart, heady player and guys like that figure things out.
So…what to make of all of this?
Well, obviously if you can turn them over that’s a good thing. Wake Forest has struggled all season without a meaningful inside presence, but their perimeter is terrific and they took Michigan to overtime.
Duke averages 8.2 steals and forces just under 13 turnovers. We’ve seen Dame Sarr, Cameron Boozer and Maliq Brown, among others, get plenty of steals. Get out in transition and size becomes a disadvantage, as Wake Forest demonstrated.
One more thing to keep in mind: Michigan averages 90.6 points per game and gives up 68.8 per game. Duke averages 83 points per game while allowing 63.2. Something’s gotta give.
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(FOX 2) – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel is stepping down from her position, the governor’s office announced.
Hertel led the division for several years while serving under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, including during the pandemic. While she will be tackling a new chapter in her career, it’s unclear where her next position will be.
Amy Epkey has been promoted to acting director of the agency. She will assume the role on July 1.
What they’re saying:
“Amy Epkey brings decades of experience in state government and a proven record of leadership, and I am confident she will continue the important work of the Department of Health and Human Services,” the governor said in a statement. “I also want to thank Director Hertel for her dedicated service to our state. Under her leadership, MDHHS helped Michigan navigate unprecedented challenges, expanded access to health care, strengthened behavioral health services, and improved outcomes for families across our state.”
Dig deeper:
Epkey previously worked in the financial operations administration at MDHHS, overseeing the agency’s $40 billion budget, contracts and grants, as well as finance and accounting.
Epkey has also worked within the state’s environmental and agricultural departments.
Zoom out:
Hertel cited the expansion of behavioral health services, designing two new state-of-the-art psychiatric hospitals, as well as launching the Keep Kids Safe Action Agenda as among her accomplishments.
The Source: The Michigan governor’s office issued a news release that was cited for this story.
Michigan
WNEM Morning Extra: Lane closures begin across mid-Michigan for bridge inspections, road work
SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) – Lane closures begin today across mid-Michigan for bridge inspections on M-13 and US-23 and ongoing road work on M-71 in Owosso and Smith Road in Argentine Township. Owosso Public Schools will ask voters Aug. 4 to approve a $38 million bond for building upgrades. Plus, volunteers will paint homes, repair roofs and plant trees along three Saginaw streets this week as part of the 13th annual One Week, One Street program.
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Michigan Democratic House members have introduced three bills that would create a commission to study reparations, establish a state office and track data for descendants of enslaved Americans.
The proposed legislation, identified as the Reparative Justice Package by the Michigan House Democrats and the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, was presented to the chamber on Thursday. State Rep. Donavan McKinney, who is sponsoring all three bills, says they “take important steps toward understanding Black history and building a stronger future for Michigan.”
House Bill 6111 would create the American Freedmen reparations commission, a group of four state lawmakers and five governor-appointed experts that would “study and develop reparations proposals that provide reparations to American Freedmen,” according to the legislation’s text.
The commission would need to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature within 18 months of its first meeting.
The second piece of legislation, House Bill 6112, would establish the office of Freedman affairs, which, according to the proposal, would “advocate, coordinate, research, and make policy recommendations on matters affecting American Freedmen” living in Michigan.
The governor would appoint a director who would serve as head of the office for five years.
Under House Bill 6113, state agencies collecting demographic information from an individual would be required to include the following subcategories for Black, African or Caribbean categories:
- A descendant of an individual who was enslaved in United States, American Freedmen.
- Not a descendant of an individual who was enslaved in United States, American Freedmen.
- Descendant status is unknown or individual chooses not to identify.
“Michigan has always been at its best when we are willing to confront challenges with honesty, listen to one another, and build institutions that serve the people,” Democratic state Rep. Helena Scott, who is also sponsoring all three bills, said in a written statement. “This package continues that tradition by creating transparent processes, encouraging public participation, and strengthening the relationship between government and the communities it serves.”
State Rep. John Roth is the only Republican sponsor of the bill to create the reparations commission.
CBS News Detroit has reached out to the Michigan Republican Party for comment on the bills, but has yet to hear back.
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