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Posted on Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 7:40 p.m.

Michigan coach John Beilein pulls back the green light on some of his shooters

By Michael Rothstein

The woes continue from game to game, save for a flash of making shots here or there. But maybe this should have been expected all along.

After all, Michigan coach John Beilein said Monday he hasn’t had a three-point shooting team up to the caliber he would like since he arrived at Michigan three years ago.

“We haven’t shot it well in the three years I’ve been here,” Beilein said. “Our typical teams shoot between 35 and 38 percent. Some of that is personnel driven. Some of that is for whatever, a lack of confidence, what would it be, trying not to miss instead of to make and I guess that would be a lack of confidence.”

Beilein already is making changes to what Michigan has been doing. He said Monday he might consider having his team shoot from the outside less and then Monday evening said he’s already spoken with some players, telling them they no longer have as open a window to shoot in anymore.

“There’s no more green light,” said Beilein, who wouldn’t divulge who he has made that statement to. “We have made that adjustment.”

Beilein pointed to his first year as having a team where no one other than then-freshman Kelvin Grady who could really shoot the ball well. Grady played for Beilein the past two seasons, but left the team in the off-season to join the Wolverines’ football team, where he is a slot receiver.

“I think great shooters are 35-40 percent from three and 50 percent over,” Beilein said. “I don’t think any of those in that first line of guys we inherited would be put in that category. I think Kelvin Grady was a very good shooter and then the next year we had freshmen doing it, Laval (Lucas-Perry) and Stu (Douglass) and Zack (Novak) who all shot in the 33 to 35 range.”

This year, Michigan has two players shooting 35 percent or better - senior forward DeShawn Sims, who has made 35.3 percent of his three-pointers and freshman Matt Vogrich, who has hit 46.2 percent. Vogrich, though, has made one three-pointer since the first game of the season.

Otherwise, Michigan has one other player -Laval Lucas-Perry at 34.2 percent - over 30 percent for the year.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan 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

XTR

Tue, Dec 22, 2009 : 7:47 a.m.

The "green light" for the 3 point shot only applies to those who have the aptitude for the 3 point shot. Douglass, Harris, LLP, Novak and Vogrich. Sims? Force that big man to score and drive inside!!! Sims was a big threat last year inside! All those in-your-face dunks! Now he plays soft like a guard trying to pull threes instead of driving to the hoop and play it strong! Gibson and Wright? I do not see the logic why these guys should take threes, they should be rebounding and playing defense inside plus the occational put back in case the shooters miss (which they often do). Make the players play specific roles and be specialized. I don't believe that Gibson was forced to take threes!

InRichRodWeTrust

Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 10:23 p.m.

There going to start hitting shots sooner or later. Michigan videos Michgan videos http://www.youtube.com/user/InRichRodWeTrust