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Posted on Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 7:39 a.m.

After losing to Wisconsin, Michigan looking to turn things around against Purdue

By Michael Rothstein

Michigan's loss to Wisconsin had barely sunk in when DeShawn Sims pondered whether there were any positives to be taken away from the narrow defeat.

Considering the way the Wolverines played Wisconsin extremely close in the almost-impossible-to-win Kohl Center, it was a fair question. 

His answer? It depends on how the team responds in its next game.

DeShawn-Sims-012210.jpg

DeShawn Sims goes at Connecticut senior Gavin Edwards.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

“We have to get ready for Purdue," Sims said. "Definitely have to pick ourselves up, put this behind us.”

The Wolverines (10-8 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) know they squandered a chance for a big road win that would have placed them back in the NCAA tournament bubble conversation against Wisconsin. Now they’ve got another chance against another top-25 team, No. 13 Purdue, to prove they belong in the postseason conversation.

They'll face the Boilermakers (15-3, 3-3) on Saturday at 4 p.m. in West Lafayette, Ind. (TV: ESPN; Radio: WWJ 950-AM, WTKA 1050-AM).

Purdue finally won Tuesday night at Illinois after losing three straight games. The Boilermakers remain in the Top 25 and are still considered among the nation's elite, which makes Saturday a critical game for Michigan.

For 30 minutes on Wednesday, Michigan looked like it could contend. But ahead by nine points with nine minutes left, they collapsed and saw their chance at a big win disappear.

“With four minutes to go we’re leading the game and we can win the game,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “For 36 minutes, we can play with people.

“We’ve just got to get better, just got to get better.”

Time for that is slowly running out.

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

XTR

Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.

JB is making manny an excuse

oscar

Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 1:29 p.m.

Michigan wins by 4? LMAO!! What are you smoking? No Manny..Purdue 77 - 63