Michigan basketball holds on to beat Saginaw Valley State in exhibition
John Beilein wanted to play as many guys as possible, try to get a feel for what his team might have.
After all, the 68-59 exhibition win over Saginaw Valley State on Friday night at Crisler Arena doesn't really count. But still, what the fourth-year Michigan basketball coach saw couldn’t have made him completely happy.
The Wolverines looked a lot like last year in areas they can’t afford to. Michigan shot the ball poorly. Three-point shooting was abysmal and free-throw shooting was inconsistent.
“We have to play pretty efficient games to be successful, very efficient,” Beilein said. “So the little things count.”
The Wolverines started the game looking as good -- if not better -- than the experienced team they had last year. They ran the offense well, played good defense and redshirt freshman center Jordan Morgan, who started over Blake McLimans, was grabbing rebounds.
“That’s what you go out trying to do, so I guess we kind of expected to do that,” said freshman forward Evan Smotrycz. “But I guess in a way it kind of lulled us into a false sense of security because they kind of crept back up on us.”
Whatever it was, Michigan watched a game-opening 20-5 run disappear.
Then the other Wolverines showed up. The ones that looked a lot like the guys who couldn’t shoot last year. They made just 2 of 11 three-pointers in the first half and went the final 3:31 of the half without scoring.
Michigan made 3 of 21 three-pointers in the game, a 14.3-percent performance worse than any Wolverines' game a year ago. They made 1 of their final 19 three-pointers.
And they got the free throw line 41 times, but only made 27 (61.8%).
Midway through the second half, the same Saginaw Valley State team that Michigan State drilled, 88-44, on Tuesday night was within seven points of the Wolverines, 39-32. Guard Greg Foster led the Cardinals with 16 points.
Michigan then pulled away a little bit, led by 18 points from sophomore guard Darius Morris and nine points and 15 rebounds from Morgan, who solidified his role as the team’s starting center.
“It’s an exhibition, I just wanted to get people in there, but make no mistake about it: We’re not the Boston Celtics out there,” Beilein said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
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
InsideTheHall
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 6:36 a.m.
Its gonna be a long long winter in A2. The fact is we do not have one player who would start on another Big Team. There is only one Big Ten body and that is freshman Morgan. Love Johnny B but it is now clear he cannot attract Big Ten quality players to Ann Arbor. Michigan either accepts being a bottom dweller in the Big Ten or make a change.
bobr
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.
Any chance you can bury the team's performance on a secondary page for this season? It sort of hurts to have headlines like this one in your face.
daddio422010
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 10:24 a.m.
You nailed it braggslaw, "They are what they are" this is the adage that somes up both our basketball and football programs. Thanks Bill Martin for ruining both programs with these West Virginia losers!
Somewhat Concerned
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.
How can it be that UM with all its resources and reputation manages to stumble so badly, years in a row, in both basketball and football? It's not as if we don't put enough emphasis on big-time athletics. It's not as if we're a tough place to attract recruits. Are we just incompetent?
ChelseaBob
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.
Exhibition game where everyone played and first game jitters. Don't worry, this team will win some games, and sneak into NCAA this year. Beilein will be Big 10 coach of year. Go Blue!
2sweetblue
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.
Maybe we should consider the MAC
joey z
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
Yeh it is going to be a long season. WE can only watch and wait and hope for some good games. Go Blue
win
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 8:01 a.m.
gonna be a loooooooong year for this basketball team. Beilein will have to coach em up 30 times. They will be out matched in talent, size, speed and strength in 20 of those 30 games. Maybe 15 wins this year.
braggslaw
Sat, Nov 6, 2010 : 6:17 a.m.
They are what they are. They are the worst team in the big 10. I don't see any improvement until next year.
Marshall Applewhite
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 10:50 p.m.
This team is going to get better throughout the season. I look forward to watching all the youngsters grow this year!
bigtenknight
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 10:37 p.m.
"Midway through the second half, the same Saginaw Valley State team that Michigan State drilled, 88-44, on Tuesday night was within seven points of the Wolverines, 39-32." Let's translate: Whether the Wolverines play Michigan State in East Lansing or at Crapler Arena, Michigan will get drilled. Two consecutive sports seasons with disappointing results in line for UofM fans. Couldn't happen to a better university.
Steve@Clearwater
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 10:21 p.m.
"Michigan basketball holds on to beat Saginaw Valley State" headline says it all, doesn't it?
orlandomichfan
Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 9:54 p.m.
good start. gooo blue...