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Posted on Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 5:34 p.m.

A year after its worst performance, Michigan basketball faces Utah again

By Michael Rothstein

zachnovak_file.jpg

AnnArbor.com file photo

Zack Novak barely remembers listening to the game inside his Salt Lake City hotel room.

It’s probably better that way.

Novak and the Michigan basketball team traveled to Utah last season to face the Utes. During a pre-game shootaround, the only basket Novak hit was a garbage can. Unable to play due to the flu, he missed the Wolverines' worst performance of the season.

He couldn’t even watch the game because the hotel Michigan stayed in didn’t carry the proper channel.

“It was not fun,” Novak said. "During the game, I don’t remember much. I was out of it. I remember watching the film and it wasn’t one of our better games.

“I felt bad because I really wanted to be out there.”

One year and one day later, Novak plans to be on the court Friday night when Michigan hosts Utah (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).

With Novak out, Michigan played then-freshmen Matt Vogrich and Eso Akunne extended minutes.

For Vogrich, it was a struggle as he scored one point in nine minutes. Akunne, in his first substantial action as a Michigan player, had three points in 17 minutes during a 68-52 loss to the Utes.

Junior guard Stu Douglass looked at the film of that loss and saw a lack of focus and a lack of effort. At the time, it was Michigan’s fourth loss in five games.

“It was when we sort of sputtering,” Vogrich said. “We had a lead at the start of that game and then we just collapsed and that was a rough one.

“A rough one for us.”

Utah had an older, talent-filled team last year. Although forward Kim Tillie and guard Marshall Henderson are gone from that team, Utah returns 7-foot-3 center David Foster, who blocked five Michigan shots last year. It also added junior guard Will Clyburn, who is averaging 20.3 points a game.

"They've changed," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "But they've been able to patch it together."

Utah, at 6-2, hasn’t been tested this year like it was a year ago. Its only game against a quality opponent, Utah State, resulted in a 79-62 loss. Otherwise, the Utes have beaten up on less-talented teams.

Against Michigan, that will change.

The Wolverines are a different team now than the one former Michigan State assistant coach Jim Boylen’s team beat up last year. Instead of relying on two stars - Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims - it has more of a team approach.

At 6-2 and riding a three-game win streak, Michigan enters Friday night’s rematch with Utah a lot more confident team than it was then.

And, in case the Wolverines forgot the complete failure in Salt Lake City a year ago, watching film of that game this week reminded them.

“It was an awful experience,” Douglass said “I don’t remember us playing as bad as we did at Utah the whole season.

“So, really for me, not even Zack because Zack didn’t even play, but me and Darius, we’ll try to get a little redemption.”

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

Michael Rothstein

Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 11:25 p.m.

@Tulsa: I have much respect for the Summit having lived in Fort Wayne for four years. But this year I think the league is very top-heavy. But the top six in that league should be competitive. @Sparty: Ha. Nothing to do with that. Syracuse, right now, is a team I can't figure out. Don't know which Orange are the real ones the one that was offensively challenged against Michigan, William & Mary and Detroit or the one that annihilated Michigan State the other night. My guess is somewhere in the middle. But that had no bearing on the Michigan-Concordia game. I've already gone on record and will again that Michigan is playing better than I expected right now.

spartyisyourlilsister

Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 9:14 p.m.

Or Michael, were you a little upset that Michigan made that game against your Orangemen a little too close for comfort!!

tulsatom

Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 9:02 p.m.

After Oakland gave Illinois a good fight the other night in Champaign, IUPUI giving Ohio State a good game tonight in Columbus and Oral Roberts beating Utah at Utah earlier, maybe the Summit Leagues deserves a little more respect.

Michael Rothstein

Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 8:55 p.m.

Sparty, IUPUI is a little bit different than Concordia. IUPUI is one of the better teams in the (admittedly weak) Summit League. But IUPUI would beat Concordia by a good amount. Don't know if I was overreacting regarding stories about the game but, yes, the close game for most of it raised some concerns for me for sure.

spartyisyourlilsister

Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 8:45 p.m.

Wow the Buckeyes were actually down by close to 10 points in the second half against IUPUI!!! They are still having trouble pulling away late in the game. Will the Columbus Dispatch and the entire fan base panic like Annarbor.com and the Michigan fans did when Michigan ended up winning by 20 against Concordia? Rothstein wrote a weeks worth of articles about Michigan's "close" game against Concordia.

tulsatom

Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 8:06 p.m.

Michigan should win this one fairly easily. Oral Roberts Univ, who is a team from Oakland's conference (Summit League) beat Utah this year at Utah 78-70, so I'm thinking that Michigan should be able to win this one comfortably if they bring their 'A' game.