GRADES: Michigan basketball team earns average-to-above-average marks against Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Posted: Dec 5, 2009 at 6:36 PM [Dec 5, 2009]

Another game, another average-to-above-average performance from the Michigan basketball team in its 67-53 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. It's something that would have been a lot worse if not for Manny Harris.

The Wolverines graded out better than it did against Boston College on Wednesday, but there's room for improvement. Grades after the jump.

Offense:

Michigan's DeShawn Sims, center, powers between Arkansas-Pine Bluff defenders Tyree Glass, left, and Tavaris Washington to drop in 2 of his 15 first-half points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. (Photo: Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com)

While the scoring wasn’t pretty, Michigan got back to its basic offensive principles of backcuts and precision passing - or so they say. The Wolverines still looked lost and rusty at times. Michigan’s 3-point shooting was horrendous - 6-of-24 overall and the combination of Stu Douglass and Zack Novak were 1-of-11. DeShawn Sims was effective in the first half and stayed in the post more often, where he was more efficient and looked comfortable. He helped Michigan in the first half. But Manny Harris was simply spectacular in the second half and carried the Wolverines. Again. Sensing a pattern?
Grade: C+ (Harris A)

Defense:
Michigan forced 22 turnovers. The Wolverines held Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a team shooting 41.5 percent for the season, to about its average at 41.7. The Wolverines shut down the Golden Lions in the second half, forcing them into 6-of-22 shooting, UAPB’s second-worst half of the year. They also held UAPB to no field goals in the first 6:06 of the second half. Granted, Arkansas-Pine Bluff is not on the level of the teams Michigan faced this past week, but it’s a start. The first half was shake (14-of-26), which hurt. But when the Wolverines needed it, they got big stops.
Grade: B

Coaching:
Michigan still can’t figure out its 3-point shooting woes but John Beilein’s decision to simplify the offense was an intelligent one. It allowed Darius Morris to at least look more comfortable and improve on his 0-fer stat line from Wednesday. He also experimented more with using both Sims and senior Zack Gibson at the same time. Plus, he got his team to win a game and take over in the second half.
Grade: B