Michigan basketball drops its sixth straight game, 69-64, to Minnesota
Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. and Minnesota guard Al Nolen battle for a loose ball during Saturday night's game at Crisler Arena. Hardaway tied a career high with 20 points, but Minnesota handed the Wolverines their sixth straight loss.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Updated 10:42 p.m.
Michigan needed a talk. So after John Beilein left the locker room following a 69-64 loss to Minnesota on Saturday night, the Wolverines spent an extra 10 minutes behind closed doors, talking it out amongst themselves.
The players-and-assistant coach meeting was something Michigan needed as it tries to find any sort of solution to what the Wolverines have been looking like the past three weeks. The loss to the No. 15-ranked Golden Gophers at Crisler Arena was Michigan's sixth straight.
Players said assistant coach LaVall Jordan did the majority of the talking, trying to impart some messages to Michigan’s players.
“No, not overboard (negative),” junior guard Stu Douglass said. “Coaches are going to tell it how it is, not going to sugarcoat anything. Just telling us that we really have to take pride in the jersey and coming together as a team and taking pride in our teammates.
“We keep saying it, unity and all that stuff ... what we’re trying to build with this team. We’re just not playing together.”
The Wolverines didn’t look like it for most of Saturday's game. As sloppy as Minnesota (15-4, 4-3 Big Ten) played, with 17 turnovers, the Michigan defense fell apart. It let Gophers drive the lane with ease, make proper cuts and hit open 3-pointers.
Offensively, there didn’t seem to be as much ball movement as usual and the cohesion Michigan (11-9, 1-6 Big Ten) usually plays with started to disappear.
“The team concept on defense is not what it was,” junior guard Zack Novak said. “We need to get it back to five on the ball.”
Michigan allowed Minnesota to shoot a season-best 63.4 percent from the field. Four players scored in double-figures, led by 13 points from forwards Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III.
All the while, it felt like Michigan was unraveling.
Sophomore point guard Darius Morris didn’t score in the first half and had three of his four turnovers before halftime. Forward Jordan Morgan had no points and no rebounds in the first half. He finished with eight points and no rebounds.
The Wolverines let Minnesota go on a 7-0 run to end the first half and then another 7-0 run to start the second, opening up the game. Michigan came back, even taking a one-point lead, 41-40, after back-to-back 3-pointers from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Morris, but the Gophers responded with a 12-3 run to close out the game.
“Just talking stuff out, making sure we don’t make the same mistakes again that we did down the stretch, putting our hands on (Blake) Hoffarber, letting them get to the line,” Hardaway said of the meeting, which came after the freshman forward tied his career-high with 20 points.
“…Everybody was talking about how we felt about the loss and what we need to do to get better.”
For a team searching for a win — and with its top rival Michigan State coming up on Thursday — Michigan needed to find something. Because, clearly, what the Wolverines had been doing since Big Ten play started on Dec. 28 is not working.
“We had a lot of confidence coming in, I don’t know if it was over-confidence or if we lost sight of what we did to succeed in the first half of the season,” Douglass said. “I thought Purdue (an 8-57 loss) was going to teach us a lot. I thought we learned a lot, but we haven’t been able to apply it late in games.”
Michigan isn’t happy with the trajectory of its season. The Wolverines have now lost six consecutive games for the first time since 2007-08, Beilein’s first season in Ann Arbor.
Beilein, doesn’t like the mental errors and consistent foul trouble from forwards Morgan and Evan Smotrycz, but isn’t worried about his team’s cohesiveness.
“Oh, I’m not concerned with our chemistry at all,” Beilein said.
Four of the six losses during that 2007-08 season — a year where Michigan finished 10-22 — were by double-digits. Three of the six losses in this stretch have been by double digits.
“That’s what teams do, they work it out,” Beilein said. “They get together, team chemistry is fine. They just have to understand there’s more to it than just all being great friends and whatever.
“There has to be a spirit about us and a will about us to get things done both mentally and physically.”
Michael Rothstein covers 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
rocco
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 8:58 p.m.
Beilein and RichRod suffer from the same problem. They are not complete coaches. Rich Rod coached offense and neglected special teams and defense. Beilein has a rigid scheme that doesn't adapt to his players. He couldn't coach Manny Harris and now Harris is starting for a pro team (scored 32 points recently). Can you imagine a team (Michigan) that can't rebound with anyone in the Big 10? How did recruiting over four years result in that fiasco. Beilein is a fair coach but not a Big10 coach. Frankly, he's out of his league. I had to laugh when I read in a blog that one of our players had been recruited by Harvard and Siena college. Are those schools in our league? We've fallen so far in both football and basketball that we seem more like a division II school than a Big 10 school. Let's change this. Brandon, stop rewarding mediocrity in hoops. Having watched Michigan basketball for decades, we're so not on the right track with this coach.
Mick52
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
Total rebounds Minn: 38 Mich: 13. Two Michigan players with only three rebounds. Rebounding is more of a key to winning basketball than most people realize, especially offensive rebounds which result in another shot. Part of the defense is rebounding. On this team when a player takes a shot, all five run to the other end of the court. You cannot win playing like this.
goblue1978
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
Four years in and Beilein hasn't found a recruit that can outrebound Zack Novak. That speaks volumes about the program! It doesn't look like any big men are coming next year either. You would think there's one in MI, OH or IL that wants a Michigan education.
LB
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
John beilein's brand of bb just doesn't work in the big 10. We need big guys inside to rebound. How many times do you see the 3 point shot, and nobody inthe paint to rebound? Zach Novak at 6'4" seems to be the only one to get in there to scrap with the big boys. Time to start looking for a new HC!
Mick52
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
Agree 100% see below.
rensational
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 5:46 p.m.
I actually haven't seen Morris try to take over a game during Michigan's losing streak...then again, it's to a point where it's never been for me--I just don't even finish watching some of Michigan's games. But my observation has been that Morris has been relatively absent in these games, particularly these last three, for various reasons. Another article on this site mentions that Morris has been struggling. There might be things here or there Michigan needs to do to compete for a Big Ten title in the coming years, but I think it's pretty clear Beilein's not going to have the team do those things. That's why we will always be in the bottom half of the conference with him as the head coach. The biggest problem I see with Michigan right now is, interestingly enough, similar to the biggest problem I see with Michigan State right now. When Michigan was winning and being competitive against better competition this season, Michigan was getting into the paint, making high-percentage shots more often. Now Michigan looks more like last season and the season before, i.e. generally not even thinking of anything but 3s and undersized. Unfortunately, under Beilein, that's Michigan's philosophy--take open 3s. MSU just flatout doesn't seem to understand that they are not a 3-pt/jump-shooting team. Well...it's gonna be interesting, then, to say the least, on Thursday. Everyone's just going to hang out around the 3-pt line and miss a whole buncha shots. Final score 38-35 or something ridiculous like that.
Buster W.
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.
@InsideTheHall My guess is Morris has lost confidence because his teammates aren't capable of catching his awesome passes. They've made they clear over and over. Then - out of frustration - you can then see Morris try to take over the game by himself.
Mick52
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
You raise an interesting point, but I have not seen any evidence of missed awesome passes. A good passer, who can get you the ball should make players stay awake, watch the ball and always be ready to catch a pass. What I see is players open who do not get a pass that should have been made.
stunhsif
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
The BB team is trying to make the FB team look good. At least Michigan has a good hockey team but almost no one cares about hockey.
Mick52
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
?? They sell out every game don't they?
Greggy_D
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.
What is it going to take for this team to drive towards the basket? In the first half, the Wolverines only had SIX 2 pt attempts. The rest were 3's. If you drive the lane you are going to pick up some easy points or you are going to force the other team into foul trouble.
InsideTheHall
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.
Morris has lost confidence and is playing tentatively. Not sure he is the solution running the offense and recruiting a point guard to create competition at the position appears to be required. OR Eso can get himself in shape by dropping 15 pounds. Coach B*Line is not doing Evan S any favors by playing him in the post. He is not a post player! All it does is wear him down and it shows in his second half shooting percentage. MR can you confirm that? Compare Evan S first half 3 point percentage compared to second half for the season. Novak at 6'3" (maybe) guarding the 7' foot Sampson III is not sustainable. B*Line needs to recruit a couple polar bears to go with Morgan. Michigan was 7-19 on three's at the half, a good percentage yet trailed by 2 points. Once again the B*Line philosophy fails in Big Ten play.
ypsidog
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.
In t he paint performance is non-exixtent, they look scared when the ball goes inside the 3 point archand can't kick it back out fast enough. I don't even think there is a player that can score a lay up on the U of M squad. the dog, glad my tickets were free!!
ChelseaBob
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
This team is just a step away from being able to compete for big ten title. Other posters have hit on the main problems. There is no inside game, and that's because no one is looking for it. Cutters to basket are ignored, and big men post up and call for the ball and are ignored. We have to change that. Even dumping in to a big man and having him kick it back out would help. That frees up the threes. Rebounding is abysmal, as everyone watches the shot and no one crashes the boards. Correct those two problems, and we could play well the remainder of season and win the big ten tourney.
Mick52
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
Good point. I see that too often, open players cutting who don't get a pass. Lack of rebounding too. After a shot, they run the other way. No one follows their shot, which was basic BB when I played.
Dennis
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 5:03 a.m.
As long as the 3 pointers are failing so goes the Wolverines fortunes! Another blatant example of how the Wolverines need some additional help/height on the inside. Minnesota's game plan was to get the ball inside and they did. When you have a young man that stands 6' 4" who leads your team in rebounding that pretty much tells the story. JB is starting a young man who is 6' 9" who couldn't jump over the Saline Phone Book. It is going to be another long and disappointing Big Ten season and how much is JB getting paid? Thank you Mr. Martin!
ahell
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 4:49 a.m.
Brandon, what are you waiting for. 4 years now, and Beilein has shown that he can't take this program to where it should be or recruit.
alfonso
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 4:03 a.m.
A fish rots from the head down. The same with U of M sports. It started with Bill Martin and Mary Sue Coleman and continues with David Brandon and Mary Sue Coleman. Time to broom them both.
Buster W.
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 3:48 a.m.
I was at the game. Apparently, coach Beilein doesn't understand that rebounding is a big part of the game and having five guys planted around the three point (at the same time) line isn't going to cut it. Also, why isn't there much movement toward the hoop when someone does launch the three? No second chances.
OSUbeBetter
Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 2:47 a.m.
On the road Without Al Nolan (leg) Without Austin Hollins (Belly) 11 freshmen and Sophomores Still beat Michigan They Stink! Hey im no basketball coach, but i do play one on the internet boards, but if I was Beline I would call a Time out and Punch in the face any player who launched a ball from 3 point land. Let the excuses roll in below.