Michigan basketball team overcomes free throw struggles to beat Indiana, 73-69
Darius Morris (4) and Zack Novak (0) exchange a fist bump as Morris heads to the free-throw line late in Michigan's 73-69 win over Indiana at Crisler Arena on Saturday.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Updated 8:34 p.m.
Darius Morris took the blame. All the way back in the first half of Michigan’s 73-69 escape-from-free-throw-ineptitude win over Indiana, he missed consecutive free throws.
He didn’t know what to think of the rarity. But he didn’t expect things to turn as ugly as they did late in Saturday's game at Crisler Arena.
Michigan led the Hoosiers 66-44 after Morris made a layup with 5:26 left. Then began the miss-after-miss procession that almost cost the Wolverines the game.
Clang!
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Evan Smotrycz missed a free throw with 4:57 left. Then Morris missed one with 3:37 left. Slowly, Indiana crept back, cutting the Michigan lead to 12, 66-54. Then came some turnovers.
All of a sudden, the Hoosiers started to gain some confidence, some belief. What looked like a Michigan rout led by Tim Hardaway Jr.’s career-high 26 points was somewhat in doubt.
“It’s been weird,” Morris said. “Sometimes that’s going to happen. Nobody’s perfect. Sometimes you’ve just got to will to win and just think you’re going to make the next one.”
More often that not, Michigan didn’t Saturday.
Clang!
ANNARBOR.COM THREE STARS
-
First Star: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Ho-hum. Hardaway establishes another career high with 26 points, shoots an insanely-efficient 9 of 11 from the field and makes 4 of 6 shots from 3-point range. He also grabbed three rebounds, made two steals and most of his points came when Michigan needed to extend a lead. Another good night for potentially the best rookie in the league other than Jared Sullinger. -
Second Star: The sound of misses
No other way to put it: Free throw shooting was atrocious. Michigan made 19 of 37. Indiana hit 13 of 22. The sound of the ball hitting iron helped Indiana turn a blow out with 5 minutes left to a one-possession game in the final minute. Not what Michigan wanted to see. -
Third Star: Zack Novak
The junior guard had a quiet-but-effective night, scoring 10 points, grabbing seven rebounds and making six assists in 37 minutes. And on a night when everyone in a Michigan jersey was missing free throws, Novak made 5 of 6. Good enough Saturday night.
Smotrycz made 1 of 2 free throws. Then Morris made 1 of 2 free throws. A 70-percent free throw shooting team on the season, the Wolverines usually feel confident when the game is going to be decided from the line.
They usually relish those situations, icing the game with a cool demeanor — the same one that disappeared on them Saturday.
Christian Watford made a 3-pointer for Indiana. Then he made a jump shot as part of his team-high 14 points and the 22-point lead had dwindled to seven, 68-61, with 1:05 left.
Clang!
Hardaway who made 4 of 6 shots from 3-point range on Saturday, including two early in the second half to give Michigan a double-digit cushion, missed three of his next four free throws. Indiana’s Matt Roth made a 3-pointer and then, there was real question as to what was happening.
The Crisler Arena crowd, a loud hodgepodge of noise a half-hour earlier, was in disbelief. A woman in the stands yelled ‘Seriously?!?’ after each missed free throw as the Wolverines lead dropped to four, 69-65.
Clang!
Morris split free throws and then Watford made a jumper, turning it into a one-possession game, 70-67, with 27 seconds left.
“We’re a good free throw shooting team,” Michigan junior Zack Novak said. “A couple people miss and it starts to become mental. I don’t know, sometimes the ball takes weird bounces.
“It happens.”
Swish!
Michigan made three of its last six free throws, helped by Indiana missing two straight 3-pointers, allowing an escape and an exhale after a third-straight win.
But it didn’t come the way Michigan (16-10, 6-7 Big Ten) expected. Not after Hardaway's masterful night, four players scoring in double figures and a team that has made a move from ninth place to sixth in the Big Ten standings in the span of a week.
It looked like it might be a game Michigan would win handily while making 70 percent of its 3-pointers in the second half and 53.3 percent for the game.
But struggles at the free-throw line -- where Michigan attempted a season-high 37 shots, missed a season-high 18 and made a season-high 19 -- put the game a bit closer than Michigan would have liked.
In all, Michigan made just seven of 18 free throws after the Morris basket that gave the Wolverines a 22-point lead.
Clang!
As the lead dwindled, Michigan’s coaches tried to stay positive on the bench. Assistant LaVall Jordan kept yelling encouragement through what Michigan coach John Beilein considered an anomaly.
“Make a couple in a row, four or five of those were like in-and-out,” Beilein said, gesturing with his hands. “We had a couple of bad misses, but most of them, we thought they were going in.”
For whatever reason, the shots weren’t and it turned Michigan’s 16th win of the season, officially assuring a pre-tournament finish of .500 or better, somewhat of a Twilight Zone moment.
Michigan is learning how to win even if it isn't playing perfectly and learning how to hold off opponents, apparently, in every way possible.
“I don’t know about everybody else,” Morris said. “But I will be shooting a lot of free throws.”
Practice.
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
81wolverine
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 6:27 p.m.
A good win, that should not have been that close. If we had a normal free throw shooting game, it never would have been in doubt. Young teams are going to have games like this. But, if we're going to win more Big Ten games this season, the team must hold their composure down the stretch. In this respect, I think Beilein needs to call timeouts to settle the team and get them to refocus. In any case, it was a learning experience for the young players that they'll learn from. But, this season has gotten a lot more upbeat at least with this winning streak.
Blu-dogg97
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.
@daianman.. Coach B-line wasn't out there shooting free throws and after hearing Dave Brandon on WBBL radio friday,he's not going any where either.. The sports radio host Micheal Grey asked Dave Brandon in the radio interview about some fans asking about replacing Coach Beilein ?? Dave Brandon firmly answered " if I fired coach Beilein I'd have to find another coach Beilein' and thats not easily done" good win, the young Wolves have had several come back close calls this season and are learning how to win.. some great experience for them going down the stretch!! Go Blue..
Veracity
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.
For these seasoned players missing free throws was a mental problem, likely from being stung by Indiana's change of play that gave them an opportunity to win. On the same day, Ohio State led Wisconsin by 15 points and then lost the game. I guess that no lead is too big in any game and every team should stick with the style of play that is successful for them. Momentum lost is difficult to regain. Go Blue!
aareader
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 4:17 a.m.
Whew!!! I noted when Zac, and Stu came in 3 years ago they were making Michigan Basketball interesting again. They, along with the current players, certainly have done that big time. Keep up the winning streak and there may be some good times in the post season. Go BLUE!
Cain
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 3:46 a.m.
Susie Q.... Denard was there. It was a fun game to watch even though the boys had free throw illness today. Good Job Boys. Hello Big Ten!!! Thank you Wisconsin!!!!
azwolverine
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 3:11 a.m.
A win is a win...and they need everyone they can get. Go Blue!
Susie Q
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 2:28 a.m.
Good win, but a little too scary towards the end. The kids looked tired. Good defense throughout most of the game. Did I see Denard Robinson come in at halftime & sit in the 2nd row next to the tunnel?
Buster W.
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
@dacianman I wouldn't blame bad free throw shooting on coaching unless it was an ongoing problem this season. That's not the case. They are big boys that should be able to focus on their free throws 3/4 into the season, especially playing at home.
johnnya2
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
@dacianman Tell us all oh wise one who this great coach that has never had this happen? I guess Thad Motta sucks since his team let off against Wisconsin and LOST the game. They were up 15 points. Its happened to Pitino, Calipari, Coach K, Roy Williams, Bill Self, and Tom Izzo. But don't let facts get in the way of your story.
dacianman
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 3:42 a.m.
really good coaches never let up - if the players are to be properly coached to play to their potential.
tater
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.
It's really funny how a team with no seniors that lost its two best players to graduation is 16-10 overall and 6-7 in the Big Ten, but some "fans" are still finding excuses to whine about the coaching. I know that nobody does "indignant" like Ann Arbor, but some of this stuff from so-called "fans" is ridiculous even by Ann Arbor standards. The comeback was a "perfect storm" scenario. The refs were calling the game ridiculously close, Indiana coaches figured it out and had their team play aggressively, and Michigan missed too many free throws. As young as this team is, it could easily have blown this game, but it didn't. This was another big win. Style points don't matter. The only thing that is going to be noticed by the rest of the country, and the only thing that will count in the standings, is the "W" for Michigan. I'm just happy that we are even being teased with the possibility of an NCAA berth. I still think this is an NIT team, but even an NIT berth looked far-fetched this fall.
clarklaker
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 12:37 a.m.
nice win,what happened with the free throws?
mookienation
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 12:27 a.m.
@dacianman: The same thing happened to the Louisville Cardinals today. I guess Rick Pitino needs to learn how to coach as well?
dacianman
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 3:43 a.m.
Pitino goes to opposite of Beilein - he's like a madman throughout! neither extreme is work well - does it?
dacianman
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
it's official - Beailin needs a coach to teach Him how to keep the players focused down the stretch. It's simply inexcusable to watch a 22 point margin evaporate at the hands of an inferior team. The guys have a lot of talent but it's the coaching that's letting them down. He's got to figure out how to get some intensity going and teach them how to concentrate. The Coach has a lot to learn - and he'd better do it soon!
johnnya2
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 3:49 a.m.
Must be the coaching. I know OSU had a 15 point lead against an inferior team as well and ended up losing the game. I think the Buckeyes should fire him. Kansas lost a lead to an inferior Michigan team as well. I guess Bill Self needs to be fired. By the way, Michigan did NOT lose a 22 point lead. They WON the game. Intelligent people understand the difference.
Dirtgrain
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 1:31 a.m.
22-point margins evaporate often in college basketball. Beilein's team won.
vi4mi4
Sun, Feb 13, 2011 : 12:09 a.m.
..Free Throws and Finish..still a good Team win..big road trip coming up.. Go Blue! v
Theo212
Sat, Feb 12, 2011 : 11:42 p.m.
Michigan 73 illini 70