Michigan is headed to Chicago to face Alabama in the Sweet 16, which means it is time for a preview pod. Dylan and Eric preview Alabama’s offense and defense, run through a brief personnel scout (33:00), then wrap up with keys to Friday’s game (50:00).
The UM Hoops Podcast · Episode 245 · 1:04:37
Show notes
Dylan Burkhardt and Eric Shapiro break down Alabama, a team of extremes: the fastest high-major offense, 54% of attempts from 3, and almost no turnovers forced. They cover its drive-and-kick scheme, ball screen rejects and spacing tricks, plus a defense that is solid on 2s but weak on the margins.
The back half is a personnel scout led by Labaron Philon, Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell, with Aden Holloway likely out. They close with keys: 40% offensive rebounding, 20 transition points, physicality at the point of attack and limiting catch-and-shoot 3s. Both see Michigan as the clearly better team in a one-game setting.
- alabama
- offensive rebounding
- transition
- ball screen defense
- labaron philon
- scouting report
- three-point shooting
Worth hearing
26:43 · Alabama's defense
“I think rebounding, it just has to be like first, second, and third for Michigan offensively.”
Dylan Burkhardt
Prediction1:02:25 · Final thoughts
“Michigan’s the better team. Michigan is like clearly the better team to me, but it’s a one-game situation and that’s why we love the tournament.”
Eric Shapiro
1:02:12 · Final thoughts
“Michigan has more outs in terms of like ways that they can win.”
Eric Shapiro
11:36 · Spacing details and early offense
“They’re literally 365th last in the number of non-steal turnovers they create, and they’re 358th in opposing turnover percentage.”
Eric Shapiro
Chapters
- Intro and preview plan
- Alabama's offense: pace and 3s
- Spacing details and early offense
- Wisconsin comp and Michigan's coverage
- Offensive rebounding and Texas Tech
- Alabama's defense
- Cadeau matchup and balanced view
- Personnel scout
- Texas Tech oddities
- Keys to the game
- Final thoughts
Games discussed
- Michigan vs. Alabama W 90-77
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Join the conversation · 29 replies on the forum
The conversation
29 repliesJoin the discussionsuede
me rn:
GoBlueNJ
My daughter sent me this photo from the NY subway (this was from Saturday, presumably the SLU preview pod).
Davis104
Can’t be the SLU preview pod. The person would have his head in his hands from despair listening to it realizing our season was coming to an end soon.
Unbelievable courage from Dylan and Eric playing with sickness to bring us these elite previews. I’m going to listen to this podcast as many times as Nate Oats has made a morally dubious choice in his coaching career. I Better clear my calendar.
Dmassaro27
That is a legendary photo lol
Dmassaro27
Loved the pod. Still need to listen to the back half of it.
When watching highlights I noticed this and then hearing you guys discuss how their big man (can’t remember how to spell his name) stands in the corner a lot. I wonder if this makes things a bit easier on Mara. If there aren’t as many ball screens he has to defend. I’m not expecting him to be stationary for 40 minutes, but he may be able to stand a few closer to the basket and be in on help defense and rebounds a bit easier. I kind of expect them to be ok with some catch and shoot there with the big man. It’ll make it a bit easier to switch 1-4 without having to worry as much about Mara being able to stick with his man. Maybe I am missing the mark a bit but that was what I started thinking about with the pod.