Michigan basketball team must plug holes after being exposed at Old Spice Classic

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein argues a call during the first half against Alabama on Sunday in the Old Spice Classic tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Photo: Associated Press)

Yes, it’s early in this college basketball season and yes, Michigan coach John Beilein has a history of teams that peak late in the season, but even the third-year Wolverines coach said after his team’s 1-2 showing in the Old Spice Classic that there are holes in his offense and defense.

“We get exposed all the time by different teams, and then we have to find ways to get unexposed,” Beilein said following Michigan’s 68-66 loss to Alabama. “So there’s different things we have to do, getting into this tournament you play three games in three days with no practice time.

“It’s not like you can change your philosophy, even for (Boston College) on Wednesday, it’s just hard to do all those things.”

The first things Beilein will probably look at are his team’s performance from the three-point line and how teams reacted to Michigan's 1-3-1 zone after halftime. Those two areas popped up as consistent concerns throughout the three-game, eight-team tournament.

The Wolverines (3-2) were abysmal the last two games beyond the three-point line, shooting under 25 percent in both games. In each tournament game, at least one opposing player found his way to a big game by slashing through the lane. First, it was Creighton’s Justin Carter (21 points, 8 rebounds). Then came Marquette’s Lazar Hayward (22 points, 9 rebounds) and finally Alabama’s JaMychal Green (20 points, 7 rebounds).

“We definitely were prepared and knew what they were going to do,” Michigan senior forward DeShawn Sims said following the Marquette game. “It’s just, the simulation of the game, actually playing in it and scouting is totally different.

“They had some great guards that were really quick, and they got the best of us in that area.”

Shooting was another concern, as seemingly every Michigan player appeared to slump at the same time. Sims said after the Marquette game those things can be contagious, like a flu spreading throughout a team.

The schedule doesn’t get easier and the upcoming stretch is critical to building a significant pre-Big Ten NCAA tournament resume. Games against Boston College on Wednesday and at Utah a week later will serve as important barometers.

None of this, though, seems to concern Beilein.

“How I can, as a coach, teach and coach to get us better,” Beilein said. “What’s the best approach now to get us better and I don’t have a plan other than watch the tape, summarize what’s happened over three days and then put it in a 24-hour shell so I can do whatever we can before the BC game.

“I don’t have answers right now other than try to make us better than what we have.”

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.