John Beilein knows that his struggling defense is a major culprit in the Michigan basketball team’s early-season difficulties.

So in the days leading up to the Wolverines' trip to No. 1 Kansas on Saturday (noon, ESPN), the Michigan coach has reverted to basics. He placed cages over the basket, keeping his team's focus on its ability to stop opponent from scoring rather than on its ability to put points on the board.

Michigan ranks 219th in the country in field goal percentage defense and allows opponents to shoot 44 percent. Against the Jayhawks, the Wolverines must contend with a demanding inside-out combination that is shooting 51.2 percent from the field.

And if the task of trying to upset the country's No. 1-ranked team at home isn't large enough, Michigan faces the obstacle to trying to correct its defense enough to remain competitive against a 9-0 Kansas team averaging 81 points a game.

"It will be a team defensive game for us," Beilein said on Wednesday. "We'll have a plan of what we'll try to do, but it won't be, 'We have to stop this guy, we have to stop this guy.' Our team has to stop Kansas."

While the main challenge remains trying to contain the Jayhawks' multi-faceted attack, Beilein says he can't lock in on just big-name performers. Without a true post defender, stopping 6-foot-11 center Cole Adrich becomes a concern. But so does trying to keep All-America guard Sherron Collins in check.

Beilein said while there will be rebounds above the rim his team will need to concede to Kansas' bigs, the key will be for the Wolverines to secure the loose balls and rebounds they can to limit the Jayhawks' second-chance opportunities.

Household names aside, Beilein knows if he doesn't account for Kansas' other top players - like freshman guard Xavier Henry, who is averaging 18 points a game and who shoots 55.6 percent from 3-point range - the Wolverines could be in for a long afternoon.

"They're tough to defend," Beilein said. "When you play these types of teams that have 2 or 3 really high-level guys on that team, many times, it's the other guys that end up beating you because they're just filling in those spots and they rebound and they guard and they have assigned tasks and that makes it very difficult to stop."

Beilein said his team has spent more time on defense than perhaps any other time this season. He has run players through fundamental man-to-man defense drills along while also focusing on blocking out.

"We're not doing a good enough job (defensively) to win, so we’ve definitely picked it up," sophomore guard Zack Novak said Wednesday. "In practice, we’ve made more of a focus on that.”

Big game, big opportunity Michigan's trip to Kansas marks the second time in two seasons the Wolverines have faced the nation's top team. The Wolverines traveled to top-ranked Connecticut last season in the midst of its Big Ten campaign. Despite losing on the road, the game provided the Wolverines with the experience of facing a top team in a hostile environment.

Without a signature win this season, Beilein's players understand the opportunity they have this weekend.

"We definitely need (a big win)," senior forward DeShawn Sims said Wednesday. "There's not going to be too many more opportunities besides the tough teams in the Big Ten. So we need a win - just for our sake, not even for a (NCAA Tournament) resume' or anything like that."

Novak agreed.

"You don't get too many opportunities to play the No. 1 team in the country," Novak said. "We need to go in there and make the most of it."

Harris resting Beilein kept junior guard Manny Harris out of practice Wednesday and Michigan has an off-day Thursday before it travels to Lawrence. Harris, who is averaging 22.2 points per game, has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury all season and hasn't had time to recoup in a season that has included a Thanksgiving tournament in Orlando and a trip west to Salt Lake City. Harris experienced no complications with his hamstrings during a long practice Tuesday, Beilein said.

Going green Saturday's game will be ESPN's Get Green telecast. The broadcast will include green initiatives being used at both universities, and Beilein and Kansas coach Bill Self will discuss the importance of conservation. ESPN will also use LED lighting for on-air personalities during segments as well as rechargeable batteries in its equipment. Adidas will sponsor warm-up shirts for both teams made from organic cotton while Allen Fieldhouse concession stands will serve popcorn in paper bags rather than plastic containers.

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at jeffarnold@annarbor.com or 734-623-2554.Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.