MGoPodcast 17.29b: The New Wisdom, 2>3

11 snips

Mar 23, 2026

A fast-paced Sweet Sixteen preview focused on Alabama’s three-point heavy attack and which wings create matchup problems. Detailed looks at frontcourt battles and whether Michigan’s bigs can exploit rebounding gaps. Bracket implications explored with Iowa State and Tennessee as potential hurdles. A recap and preview of Michigan women’s NCAA run, including stylistic contrasts with upcoming opponents.

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INSIGHT

Alabama Is A High-Tempo Three-Point Juggernaut

Alabama's offense is elite and extremely three-heavy under Nate Oates, making tempo and perimeter shooting their core identity.
With Aiden Holloway out, Labarn Philon becomes the primary creator and his heavy minutes plus inconsistent shooting could be an exploitable fatigue factor.

INSIGHT

Alabama's Size And Rebounding Are Major Weaknesses

Alabama lacks physical size and defensive rebounding, making them vulnerable to teams that attack the rim and win the glass.
They rank near the bottom in forcing turnovers and defensive rebounding, so offensive boards and post play can swing the game.

ANECDOTE

Seth's Old Photo Of Aiden Sherrell

Seth Fisher recalled photographing Aiden Sherrell as a middle school recruit when Sherrell visited Michigan, illustrating long scouting ties to the player.
Sherrell was a McDonald's All-American and drew early comparisons to Michigan's recruits but hasn't matched that upside yet.

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53 minutes

The Sponsors

Thank you to Underground Printing for making this all possible. Rishi and Ryan have been our biggest supporters from the beginning. Check out their wide selection of officially licensed Michigan fan gear at their 3 store locations in Ann Arbor or learn about their custom apparel business at undergroundshirts.com.

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Segments 1-3 were in MGoPodcast 17.29a yesterday.

4. Sweet Sixteen Preview: Alabama

Starts at 0:51

We hate facing three teams in the Tournament because of randomness. Bama is the Nate Oats show: he wad doing efficiency before it was cool.

PG Labarn Philon isn't Aden Holloway but is lengthy can can get to the basket—Nick Boyd was his #1 comp on Hoop-Explorer. Darius Acuff was on that list too. SG Latrell Wrightsell is a shooter; he was 6/9 from three vs TTU, 38% career from three, hit 45% two years ago (on a team with Sam Walters). OLD. Wing Amari Allen is a 6'8-205 and NOT JUST A SHOOTER. The book on Allen is don’t let him shoot from the left side of the arc: 47% on 47 attempts from the left wing, 4 or 10 from the corner. But 32% straightaway on 31 attempts, 24% on 46 attempts from the right side. He’s just 61% at the rim. The other wing is a timeshare between a JAS, a freshman, and an Egyptian stretch four.

At center they're lacking, sorta. Aiden Sherrell is a Detroiter—Seth sent a phot of him as a recruit to Brian once—McDonald’s AA—kinda reminds us of Morez. Had major struggles at the free throw line last year (46%) that he’s largely fixed. Backup is... can Charles Bediako play? No? Well Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson is actually Noa Viljamsons from Latvia; he was #1 in usage and #1 in defensive rebounding in the Patriot League but severe dropoffs all over the map in their few chances against better competition.

[The rest of the writeup and the player after THE JUMP]

5. Elite Eight Preview: Iowa State or Tennessee

Starts at 22:13

Iowa State spent a lot of the season on the 1-seed line. HUUUUGE loss (unless it's better than it looked) in Joshua Jefferson (KPOY #2), who's high-usage Yax and really gave ISU their identity. PG Tamin Lipsey is Tre Donaldson. Wing Milan Momcilovic is the sniper of the year. Three different SGs with three different skills, and then they have some decent but not world-beating centers. It's really about stopping Jefferson.

If it's Tennessee that's an easier matchup but maybe not a great one for Michigan because Ja'Kobi Gillespie gets his own shot, Nate Ament is mini Joshua Jefferson, and they throw these huge bodies at the offensive glass.

6. Women's Basketball: First Weekend Recap and Sweet 16/Elite 8 Preview

Starts at 43:47

Firsts for Michigan WBB under Kim Barnes-Arico: 2-seed, 16-win season at Crisler, 27-win season. Muppets! Rote beatdown of Holy Cross was rote; the WBB Tournament is even more chalk as the top talent is so much better than the rest. Michigan is the best of the teams that doesn't have an All-American, but some teams have multiple. NC State game was a fun matchup that Michigan took over as soon as their threes started going down. BQD-ass game where she took over at times by swarming a team that normally doesn't turn it over with the press.

Looking forward: Louisville is NC State but can shoot—they're all large and can stretch, though not very quick. Laura Zeigler was the top recruit in the portal, Taj Roberts is a tall sniper, Imari Berry looks like an undead from WoW. If they get past Lville it's almost certainly going to be 1-seed Texas, which just rolled Oregon, which is a bellwether (when not in a legendarily badly officiated game). Madison Booker is WBB Yaxel, Rori Harmon is a thief, Breya Cunningham and Kyla Odacre are way bigger than anyone Michigan can put on them.

MUSIC:

"Sunday Morning"—Alcatraz
"Video Life"—Chris Spedding
“Across 110th Street”—JJ Johnson and his Orchestra

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