Michigan earns below-average marks, including an 'F' on defense
The Michigan basketball team struggled on defense in a 71-65 loss Thursday to an Indiana team struggling with an injury-depleted lineup.
Offense: Michigan found its two shooters again in Zack Novak and Stu Douglass. The rest of the Wolverines played like they were lost. DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris may have been in double figures but neither player looked particularly sharp. The bench gave the Wolverines 6 points total. Other than a hot flurry early, Michigan looked discombobulated and rushed shots. GRADE: C-
Defense: Michigan committed silly fouls, allowing Indiana to play merry-go-free-throw-line. The Wolverines allowed too many layups and were carved up by Indiana’s passing. They also allowed a lot of open 3-pointers in the first half. The 2-3 zone, played out of necessity once Harris and Sims got into foul trouble, wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great, either. Considering Indiana's troubles, this might have been one of the worst defensive efforts of the year. Indiana shot above its averages from the field (46.9 percent, 44.6 percent average), from the 3-point line (38.5 percent, 37.3 percent average) and from the free-throw line (69 percent, 65.8 percent average).That’s not going to cut it. All this after losing freshman Maurice Creek, the Hoosers' leading scorer and best field goal and 3-point percentage shooter. GRADE: F
Coaching: Michigan looked ill-prepared and made mistakes. The fouls were uncharacteristic of a John Beilein team and while Michigan responded to runs, it always seemed to come from shots from Stu Douglass or Zack Novak. Beilein also had some odd substitution patters, in part forced by foul trouble. When Manny Harris picked up his second foul, Michigan looked lost. That’s on coaching, too. GRADE: C-
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
KeepingItReal
Fri, Jan 1, 2010 : 3:58 p.m.
Michigan should never have been in the NCAA tournament last year and the only reason they were there is because of reputation. It gave unrealistic expectations for this year's team and if we had studied that team carefully, we would have seem this coming up. Until Michigan recruits a different type player, they will not be successfull in the B10. MSU will eat them alive.
Salinegoblue
Fri, Jan 1, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.
Why is it we hire two coaches from a program with great programs in BB and FB and they continue to get better and we continue to stink?
XTR
Fri, Jan 1, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.
Beilein's gimmick results with a soft basketball team who has a hard time defending, rebounding and scoring inside where the percentage are much higher. In this game, the threes went in for Novak and Douglass but if you do not defend well, the other team will score on layups and 3's as well. This team disrupted the offense of Manny Harris by defending well. DeShawn Sims is the key to this team, if he scores and controls inside, this team is a power, but if Sims plays like a guard, this team will go nowhere. Too bad, Beilein is just a gimmick coach and will produce the same kind of team in the remaining years of his contract. These will be another dark days of Michigan basketball.
Salinegoblue
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 11:28 p.m.
Poor defense, no rebounding, shoot the 3 and keep your fingers crossed. We should have beat IU, what happens next year when Manny is gone. Based upon last years results we should be further along than we are at this stage of the season. We stink!!!
Amaize-n-Blow
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 9:21 p.m.
Ummmmm. I think a C- is too high for a losing effort against Indiana.
Jaxon5
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 8:19 p.m.
At this point, even the NIT is a dream. I don't think they'll get there. I'm holding to a prediction of 9-22 W-L record.
Detroitrocks
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 7:15 p.m.
IU looked like they put on a clinic because they are well-coached. Michigan looks terrible because they rely on the "huck a three" offense. The grade for Beilein is too high. This loss put this team squarely on the bubble - for the NIT.