I thought we would generate a separate discussion on UofM because there’s so much significance in playing UofM which is ranked #20 and at the magnificent Little Cesar Arena.

I’ll return shortly to post but your thoughts?

Can EMU win?

What are the keys?

I will be attending with 7 friends and hope that the game is competitive to the very end.

Emoni and Noah gotta get hot early and often and we can win this game.

I'll be there with 3 of my friends getting rowdy in the upper deck.

UofM projected top 10 rotation:

PG #13 Jaelin Llewellyn, GR
SG #2 Kobe Bufkin, SO
SF #13 Jett Howard, FR
PF #5 Terrance Williams, JR
C #1 Hunter Dickinson, JR
PG #0 Dug McDaniel, FR
SG #11 Isaiah Barnes, SO
SF #15 Joey Baker, GR
PF #14 Youssef Khayat, FR
C #32 Tarris Reed, FR

EMU Top 10 rotation:

PG Noah Farrakhan
SG Tyson Acuff
SF Jailyn Billingsley
PF Legend Geeter
C. Emoni Bates ( Heath strategically placed Emoni here)

G. Orlando Lovejoy
F. Colin Golson
G. Luka/Rice
F. Pranger
C. Randle
C. Ballard/Jihad

Can we win? Absolutely.
Will we? I can't confidently say.

The way we played against Grand Valley and Wayne to open up would put us down by 25 against a team of U-M caliber.

I'll be interested to see what defensive strategy is employed. Let Dickenson get his and make the rest of the Wolverines beat you? With our lack of size inside I'd guess that's what we'd do.

(11-09-2022 01:15 PM)truEMU07 Wrote:  Can we win? Absolutely.
Will we? I can't confidently say.

The way we played against Grand Valley and Wayne to open up would put us down by 25 against a team of U-M caliber.

I'll be interested to see what defensive strategy is employed. Let Dickenson get his and make the rest of the Wolverines beat you? With our lack of size inside I'd guess that's what we'd do.

UMich played Purdue-FortWayne about the same as EMU played Wayne St. So UMich should be expected to win as a top 25 team, but UMich is not exactly a “Goliath” nor is EMU a “David” with Noah and Emoni on the team. But I do agree with your post, the frontcourt needs to shoot a little better and be more aggressive in the post than they have been AND Acuff can’t shoot 1-11 as he did against Wayne St.

Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

(11-09-2022 03:05 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

One huge difference between 2022-23 team and 97-98 team is that the latter team had great rebounders at 4 positions: Ezugwu, Zajack, Head and Dial.

Actually, I think this might be a really even game. Comes down to how good is Dickinson going to play:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (Even)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (EMU)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (Even)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-7 Baker (UM)
BF 6-6 Golson VS 6-10 Reed (EMU)

(11-09-2022 03:22 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:05 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

One huge difference between 2022-23 team and 97-98 team is that the latter team had great rebounders at 4 positions: Ezugwu, Zajack, Head and Dial.

Phenomenal point! Dickinson and Reed #32 who's 6'10" 260, if we can somehow keep them off the boards, or simply pounding it down low, then the game will be competitive! Juwan Howard will possibly play A box and one on Bates! If Bates and Noah combined score over 50 then the game will be competitive! If not we'll probably lose by 20! Geeter and Billingsley need to play like 4 star recruits as well! This is a enormous opportunity being on national TV!

Michigan is good young team. But only three Michigan players scored well in it's first game. EMU is also a young, reconstituted team that is learning to play together. EMU probably has better shooters, but perimeter plays should avoid driving to the hoops In half-court court as Michigan's Center Dickerson will be lurking to swat everything away. Do not see EMU bigs being able to score inside.

If EMU doesn't foul, Michigan is not likely to lose no matter even if it hits a decent amount of two's. But EMU more likely to lose if they don't force Michigan to miss three's by forcing UM players further out to shoot three's. If EMU defensive perimeter players don't play above the three-point line, EMU will likely be in deep do-do. Always want to make opponent beat you on two point jump shots.


EMU should play a aggressive defense on the perimeter and try to force turnovers so they can get some easy hoops in transition. Should also fast break at every opportunity off of defensive rebounds. Both Billingsley and Bates must rebound the ball as much as Geeter does.Noah, Acuff and Golson must also rebound.

Dickerson will get his points, but that's ok if EMU players don't place him at the foul-line. Randle needs to guard him without fouling.

EMU will need to shoot well on 2 and 3-point jumpers, and neuter Dickinson's defensive play. Even EMU's missed three's may result in some offensive rebounds.

When EMU played Indiana last season, the team was both organized and confident, and was not ruffled when playing in Michigans home court. Expect nothing less playing Michigan.


Do hope Noah, Bates, and company play a good game, and keep Michigan off the foul-line. The home refs are probably going to help Michigan get to the foul-line. Best to keep hands off their opponents, and make Michigan take bad shots.

While EMU may have no answer to deal with Dickinson, it's a team game so I don't put much stock in the other match-ups. Do want to see EMU stop Michigan's three-ball and keep the offensive rebound differential rather close. All EMU hands will be needed on deck going at different times for offensive rebounds as that would keep EMU in the game as Michigan likely to dominate the defensive boards. Others must get back in transition.

(11-09-2022 03:29 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:22 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:05 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

One huge difference between 2022-23 team and 97-98 team is that the latter team had great rebounders at 4 positions: Ezugwu, Zajack, Head and Dial.

Phenomenal point! Dickinson and Reed #32 who's 6'10" 260, if we can somehow keep them off the boards, or simply pounding it down low, then the game will be competitive! Juwan Howard will possibly play A box and one on Bates! If Bates and Noah combined score over 50 then the game will be competitive! If not we'll probably lose by 20! Geeter and Billingsley need to play like 4 star recruits as well! This is a enormous opportunity being on national TV!

Oh another big difference is that our 97-98 were seniors and this team has freshman and sophomores - huge undertaking

(11-09-2022 04:36 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:29 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:22 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:05 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

One huge difference between 2022-23 team and 97-98 team is that the latter team had great rebounders at 4 positions: Ezugwu, Zajack, Head and Dial.

Phenomenal point! Dickinson and Reed #32 who's 6'10" 260, if we can somehow keep them off the boards, or simply pounding it down low, then the game will be competitive! Juwan Howard will possibly play A box and one on Bates! If Bates and Noah combined score over 50 then the game will be competitive! If not we'll probably lose by 20! Geeter and Billingsley need to play like 4 star recruits as well! This is a enormous opportunity being on national TV!

Oh another big difference is that our 97-98 were seniors and this team has freshman and sophomores - huge undertaking

Hope Billingsley can continue to stretch the floor and hit the three-ball.

(11-09-2022 03:05 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

I was there. There was one referee that called 13 fouls on us and not against UofM. Around 50 of us waved my flag and sang the fight song all around the concourse level.

(11-09-2022 03:29 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Actually, I think this might be a really even game. Comes down to how good is Dickinson going to play:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (Even)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (EMU)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (Even)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-7 Baker (UM)
BF 6-6 Golson VS 6-10 Reed (EMU)

Thanks Ramy because this is exactly what I wanted to do with this thread:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (EMU)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (Even)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (EMU)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-2 Dug McDaniel (Even)
BF 6-6 Golson Vs 6-7 Baker (EMU)
BF 6-10 Randle VS 6-10 Reed (UM)

Score prediction coming soon

(11-09-2022 09:25 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:29 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Actually, I think this might be a really even game. Comes down to how good is Dickinson going to play:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (Even)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (EMU)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (Even)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-7 Baker (UM)
BF 6-6 Golson VS 6-10 Reed (EMU)

Thanks Ramy because this is exactly what I wanted to do with this thread:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (EMU)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (Even)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (EMU)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-2 Dug McDaniel (Even)
BF 6-6 Golson Vs 6-7 Baker (EMU)
BF 6-10 Randle VS 6-10 Reed (UM)

Score prediction coming soon

Before or after the game? Just kidding. Emoni can put himself back on the NBA map with a strong game. This is a HUGE game for him. I think he will show flashes, you know he has had this date circled for awhile. No answer for Dickinson, who is an absolute beast. U-M 78 EMU 60. Emoni Bates 22 points. I hope I'm wrong.

(11-09-2022 04:36 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:29 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:22 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:05 PM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Flashback to watching Earl and Co beat UM with Tractor Traylor at Crisler back in the 97-98 season. OT game. Couldn't talk the next day.

One huge difference between 2022-23 team and 97-98 team is that the latter team had great rebounders at 4 positions: Ezugwu, Zajack, Head and Dial.

Phenomenal point! Dickinson and Reed #32 who's 6'10" 260, if we can somehow keep them off the boards, or simply pounding it down low, then the game will be competitive! Juwan Howard will possibly play A box and one on Bates! If Bates and Noah combined score over 50 then the game will be competitive! If not we'll probably lose by 20! Geeter and Billingsley need to play like 4 star recruits as well! This is a enormous opportunity being on national TV!

Oh another big difference is that our 97-98 were seniors and this team has freshman and sophomores - huge undertaking

Best bet is to defend both Dickinson and Reed is to be on their hip and try deflect away passes to them.

EMU is too undersized to stop either Michigan big on the defensive boards. Best thing for EMU to do is to pressure the ball abd run at every opportunity and to shoot a higher percentage from the floor by not going inside in half court sets, and garnering as close to as many offensive rebounds as Michigan does.

Best to not challenge Michigan bigs inside. Best to keep away from them and deprive them of their defensive prowess. Easier said than done.

(11-10-2022 06:55 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 09:25 PM)Luckeyone Wrote:  

(11-09-2022 03:29 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  Actually, I think this might be a really even game. Comes down to how good is Dickinson going to play:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (Even)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (EMU)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (Even)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-7 Baker (UM)
BF 6-6 Golson VS 6-10 Reed (EMU)

Thanks Ramy because this is exactly what I wanted to do with this thread:

PG 6-2 Noah VS 6-2 Llewellyn (EMU)
SG 6-4 Tyson VS 6-4 Bufkin (Even)
SF 6-9 Emoni VS 6-8 Howard (EMU)
PF 6-8 J-Bill VS 6-7 Williams (Even)
C 6-7 Legend VS 7-1 Dickinson (UM)
BG 6-2 Lovejoy VS 6-2 Dug McDaniel (Even)
BF 6-6 Golson Vs 6-7 Baker (EMU)
BF 6-10 Randle VS 6-10 Reed (UM)

Score prediction coming soon

Before or after the game? Just kidding. Emoni can put himself back on the NBA map with a strong game. This is a HUGE game for him. I think he will show flashes, you know he has had this date circled for awhile. No answer for Dickinson, who is an absolute beast. U-M 78 EMU 60. Emoni Bates 22 points. I hope I'm wrong.

Looking forward to seeing Emoni's decision making, and non-shooting stats. He needs to fill-up the stat sheet with rebounds, steals. And no more than 1 turnover or foul every 17 minutes he's on the floor. Should shoot well on three's in he doesn't shoot from far out. He has a tendency to leak out rather than go to the boards. EMU needs rebounds from him. If he can get some offensive rebounds from him that will be money in the bank.

EMU has a a number of good shooters and scorers. No reason for any player to force shots up if their off.

I agree with everyone that EMU’s rebounding needs major improvement. You would expect to win the rebounding battle against D2 teams- and EMU missed the mark in both games. But I think UM lost the rebounding battle against Purdue-FortWayne 44-38, and Purdue-FortWayne is very small. So not sure it will factor too much in this game.

I do think our bigs need to play good defense WITHOuUT fouling. I like Randle and Prager a lot, but I don’t think either are ripe enough yet. I want to see a 3 frontcourt rotation primarily of Legend, JBill, and Golson most of the game. Otherwise, expecting Noah and Emoni to be fine and assuming/hoping Acuff does not have another completely cold shooting night.

Prediction: EVEN.

Ready for a HOT TAKE? EMU is going to play UM harder than they played Wayne state or GVSU. our boys are going to want to go big game hunting and show up and play real dang hard. the previous two games mean less than nothing.

(11-10-2022 07:58 AM)RamyEMU Wrote:  I agree with everyone that EMU’s rebounding needs major improvement. You would expect to win the rebounding battle against D2 teams- and EMU missed the mark in both games. But I think UM lost the rebounding battle against Purdue-FortWayne 44-38, and Purdue-FortWayne is very small. So not sure it will factor too much in this game.

I do think our bigs need to play good defense WITHOuUT fouling. I like Randle and Prager a lot, but I don’t think either are ripe enough yet. I want to see a 3 frontcourt rotation primarily of Legend, JBill, and Golson most of the game. Otherwise, expecting Noah and Emoni to be fine and assuming/hoping Acuff does not have another completely cold shooting night.

Prediction: EVEN.

I agree, refs may favor Michigan and look for any excuse to call a foul and receive approval from mostly Michigan fans.

Michigan
In first game they made 9 three's for 27 points, and and scored 75 points in the game. If EMU concentrates on stopping the three ball, and can hold Michigan to 5 three's or 15 points, they will likely score less than 70 points, unless they go to the foul-line a lot. EMU force Michigan's three-point shooters to dribble.

EMU needs to score way more three's than Michigan does. EMU has the players who can do so.

If so, they won't be beaten by Michigan shooting two point shots well. My fear is Heath will be more concerned about defending the rim than the perimeter. EMU can't overplay defensively inside and see inside passes kicked-out out to Michigan perimeter players for open three's. EMU's perimeter players must stay at home.

In Michigan's first game, they had but 4 offensive rebounds, opponent had 13. Even if ORs are close, EMU is in good shape. Defensive rebounds more dependent on shooting percentages.

Need some height defending inside. Randle can provide that. Can use his quickness to deflect inside passes away and make steals. Just needs to learn not to commit so many fouls.in a short period of time. If he does that he'll stay on the court longer and really help EMU's defense.

Lovejoy is another nightmare to deal with. Is fearless and plays with such intensity. Love his quickness.