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Posted on Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.

Latest loss leads to failing grades for Michigan basketball team

By Michael Rothstein

As well as Michigan played in the second half Thursday and for a small portion of Sunday, the Wolverines collapsed in the second half of Northwestern's 68-62 win over Michigan.

The result included the Wildcats' Bill Carmody outcoaching Michigan's John Beilein.

Offense: There were points, especially in the first half, where Michigan looked like a precision passing team, finding open shooters and getting the ball inside to DeShawn Sims. Then, as Northwestern found itself on offense and it translated to defense, Michigan wilted. The Wolverines shot 34.6 percent from the field in the second half and 3-of-11 from the 3-point line. They turned the ball over 11 times (18 overall) and played without confidence. They looked tentative against a zone they see often in practice. Also, unlike the half performance that led to a win against Penn State, this led to a loss. Grade: F

Defense: Another game, another Michigan opponent shooting over its average from the field. Northwestern used a 56.5 percentage in the second half to shoot 44.2 percent overall - over a point higher than its 43 percent average. Michigan forced 9 second-half turnovers, but didn’t do much with them. The Wolverines allowed Drew Crawford go on a personal 11-point run in the first half. That Michigan kept John Shurna, one of the Big Ten’s best players, from his sixth consecutive 20-point night (he had 11) saves the Wolverines a lower grade. Grade: D-

Coaching: Known as two of the masters of the 1-3-1 defense, Northwestern’s Bill Carmody looked more the guru than Michigan’s John Beilein. Actually, Beilein’s team looked like it had never faced a 1-3-1 in the second half. Carmody rallied his team. Beilein left Crisler Arena wondering where his team’s chemistry is and where his leadership is going to come from. It’s now the middle of January and that’s a question that should have been answered long ago. Grade: F

Comments

pero

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 9:55 a.m.

How's the swim team spashing these days........

guns4me

Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 8:46 p.m.

Like i said from day 1, M 7th in BIG TEN.