Scott Rich

The other guy who is going to jump off the page the most is actually not Yaxha Lindenborg, I think, even though he's going to be a lottery talent.

It's Adai Mara because he's 7'3".

He's the closest thing to Zach Eadie that we've seen in the college game in the couple years that Zach Eadie's been gone.

He's almost the sole reason why that two-point distance statistic defensively is so astronomically an outlier for Michigan.

He just eats up the paint defensively.

He uses every inch of that 7-plus foot wingspan.

He's, like you mentioned, one of the top block guys in the country.

He also does something a little weird defensively, which I want Duke fans to know before the game.

If he gets switched out onto a three-point shooter,

You're going to see him jump straight in the air with two arms above his head and not try to block the three-point shot.

It's a weird little nuance that the Michigan staff picked up from the NBA game, from the Celtics, called the Cornette Contest.

And it's something that they have coached into Ademara and the other bigs to essentially say, do not foul three-point shooters.

You're not going to block that shot.

Get into their eyeline.

It's weird the first time you see it.

You will say, what the heck is that guy doing the first time it happens?

But it will happen during this Duke-Michigan game, and it is something that is specifically coached into this team that they picked up from the pro ranks.

The other thing to note about Mara defensively, as good as he is, as much of a positive impact as he's had on this Michigan team.

In Michigan's one loss, Wisconsin took advantage of Ade Mara, and they took advantage of him shooting from the perimeter.

He has a real challenge guarding stretch fives.