In Reply to: Michigan at UCLA preview posted by mh on January 06, 2025 at 11:31:20
The Bruins have shown they can lose to teams they should beat, and this opponent appears to be a strong one—so nothing is guaranteed. That said, I’m not entirely convinced of how good they really are. They’re 1-2 in Quad 1 games, with their only significant win coming against Wisconsin. However, Wisconsin hasn’t defeated any notable teams either, except for a decisive victory over Arizona at the Kohl Center—a notoriously tough venue for visiting teams. Beating Big Ten teams at home is no easy task, as we all know. Still, both Wisconsin and Michigan are solid opponents.
Their bigs are a concern, but overall, we’ve held our own against strong interior players. Gonzaga’s Ike stands out as someone who gave us trouble—he pretty much imposed his will, but that was more about his strength than his height, as he’s only 6’9. Oregon’s Biddle also had a strong performance, though it didn’t feel dominant; it was more about being in the right place at the right time. As I mentioned earlier, we can’t rely solely on Biladeau to handle their bigs. Dailey isn’t a particularly strong post defender either, so contributions from Kyle and Mara will be crucial.
I favor Mara in this matchup. Despite his slimmer build, his length can disrupt opposing big men—seven-footers aren’t used to shooting over someone even taller. If Mara doesn’t get significant minutes, or when he’s off the floor, I expect we’ll double-team depending on their positioning. That strategy has worked for us before, but whether it will work tomorrow remains to be seen.
All things considered, if our shooting shows up, I like our chances.