IU Coach Tom Crean talks Iowa win, visit to Michigan

As the men’s basketball team prepares to travel today to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the Wolverines, IU Coach Tom Crean shares some insights and observations about the Hoosiers’ next opponent.

IU beat Michigan on Jan. 5 at Assembly Hall, 73-71.

Michigan’s strengths
“They are tremendous with the ball screens, and they mix their defenses well. I think the one thing they are doing this year — not just judging from our first game with them this year, but overall — is (that) they are rebounding the ball so much better.”

Changes in Michigan’s offense
“I don’t know that there is a lot different (from last year). I think they have really continued to build on what they have done since John (Beilein) has been there. I think you are going to deal with a unique system of offense with a lot of cutting and movement.”

Michigan’s senior captains Stu Douglass and Zack Novak
“They’re getting older, and those guys (Novak and Douglass) that have been through it. They have done such a great job of providing leadership in that program.”

Freshman Trey Burke’s effect on Wolverines
“Trey Burke has made a big difference in their team. They’re doing so much more with pick-and-roll basketball, with ball screens, and one of the hardest things to defend with them is how they play up-top.

Underrated Michigan players
“One player who maybe does not get mentioned enough is Jordan Morgan. When he plays well, the team follows, and we have to be very aware of him.”

103-89 victory against Iowa
“There are a lot of things to shore up, but our guys did an excellent job of taking what the game gave them, really following the game plan. Everything we practiced for, they did, and we took some of it away. Some of it we didn’t, but there’s still a lot of improvement for this team with a lot of season left.”

­— Sean Blue