Michigan basketball team searches for answers as it deals with 5-game losing streak
EVANSTON, Ill. — Standing by a practice court just outside the visiting locker room at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena late Tuesday night, Michigan basketball coach John Beilein searched for answers.
Michigan hasn’t won since beating Penn State on Jan. 2, and the current five-game losing streak includes games at home and on the road, against some of the top teams in the country and some of the worst in the Big Ten.
Michigan basketball coach John Beilein on his team's five-game losing streak: "We are playing good competition, and we just have to keep getting better. That’s all you can do. You don’t even worry about all that stuff."
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
All in all, the results are the same. Loss. Loss. Loss. Loss. Loss.
Beilein wants his team to forget about it, to think only of the future. At least that’s what he told his players Tuesday after they were blown out for the second straight game, this time a 74-60 decision by Northwestern.
“I say, ‘Think of who we just played. Three of them are nationally ranked, and the other two are on the road, and it’s just very difficult,’ ” Beilein said. “I don’t think (there are) many teams that would have come out with a positive record. We are playing good competition, and we just have to keep getting better. That’s all you can do. You don’t even worry about all that stuff.
“You say hey, it’s another day, another practice, I don’t care if we’d lost 10 in a row, forget about it. It’s the next day, it’s the next game, that’s what’s important right now.”
It is possible, that an 11-8 record (1-5 in the Big Ten Conference) isn’t outside of expectations. Michigan was picked to finish near the bottom of the conference in most preseason polls after voters looked at a team with four true freshmen and no seniors.
A somewhat soft preseason schedule - games against Kansas, Syracuse, Clemson, UTEP and Oakland buffered an otherwise weak non-conference slate - and a hot start ratcheted preseason expectations. Talk of a run to the National Invitation Tournament or even the NCAA tournament took hold.
“This team wants more than anything to win, to win for our teammates and Michigan and that sort of stuff,” junior guard Stu Douglass said. “There’s no selfishness, I don’t know. Maybe it is just a little bit of youth kicking in, the experience is getting there.
“They are getting a taste of what it feels like, what it is like to really just get killed on the road, and what it takes to win.”
The good news for Michigan: It goes home. Bad news: The next opponent is No. 15 Minnesota on Saturday (7 p.m., Big Ten Network), which could be a nightmare matchup for the Wolverines, who have struggled with athleticism and talented size this season.
The Gophers have an improved Ralph Sampson III in the middle, perhaps the most athletic player in the Big Ten in Rodney Williams on the wing and arguably the best defensive point guard in the league in Al Nolen.
That’s not even mentioning one of the league’s best shooters, Blake Hoffarber, and the automatic double-double that forward Trevor Mbakwe usually supplies.
“We’ve got a four-day prep for Minnesota, and we just have to go back, watch the film and learn from it,” Michigan guard Matt Vogrich said. “We’re young, and we’re all about learning and getting better and at the end of the year playing our best basketball.”
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
shane smith
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
Some very good posts on Beilein.Him just like Rich got lucky and have some great players at WVU.Look what happened to Urban Meyer at Fla.Lost some great players,then he wants out of Coaching.One person said on here is hard to get Basketball players to Michigan.I'm in the Auto Business,so i know a little about this.The State of Michigan has changed alot in the last 5 years.I think its going to very tough for Hoke to get players up there too.One last thing on Beilein,if they hit the 3 its ok,because the 3 sets up everything else,and if not ITS UGLY.He could care less about rebounds.He coach's strange Basketball,and alot of kids don't like it,and don't want to play it either.He's a Ivy League coach,and a control freak.Worse than Rich was,just smoother about it.
mr_annarbor
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
I think those that point to recruiting have hit the nail on the head. You can't compete if you don't have the players. The question then is whether or not Beilein and staff could have done a better job recruiting. I think it's just really tough to recruit basketball players to Michigan. It's never really been a basketball schoool, the fan support is tepid, and the facilities are marginal compared to places like the Breslin Center. I think even the most elite coaches would find it hard to succeed with all those things working against them.
sasmjjsly
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:12 a.m.
I, too, called for Beilein to go last year. His "system" is not working...I'll beat this dead horse until he is fired or decides to change: if you do not recruit legitimate big men, YOU WILL NOT WIN---PERIOD! Stop making excuses (i.e. the team is young). Beilein needs to follow RichRod out the door.
goblue1978
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
The "young & inexperience" excuse doesn't cut it. You either have talent to compete or you don't and this team lacks Big 10 talent. I remember a team of five freshmen wearing Michigan colors in the final four. Whatever you might think of that team one thing is certain..they had talent. Belien better find some real players or he's gone.
a2roots
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11:47 p.m.
I called for Beilein's ouster last year after the end of season loss to osu. Even though I like the guys on the team I am not convinced they are Big 10 talent. Crushed by an awful IU team and then by Northwestern only magnifies the pitiful coaching this team is getting. Orr, Frieder and Fisher all were proven winners here and there certainly must be a coach out there that can get us out of the abyss.
vi4mi4
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.
..Play Hard..Play Smart.. Win games.. Go Blue! v
RWBill
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
I feel I should repost what I said after last game. Also add another similarity with Rich's football team is that they are way too dependent on one player. Darius' percent of team total of FG made plus assists is the highest in the Conference by a "long shot". RWBill at 11:39 AM on January 16, 2011 The 26 month countdown for John Beilein begins. I thought he was a good hire, still could turn out that way. A coaching change can be a devastating set back, but when you watch Michigan BB you have to be concerned. The similarities with Rich Rod are eery. Both arrive with the promise of potent, glitzy offenses. The philosophy is based on perimeter, edge play. They can't compete in the physical Big Ten. Three years in to their deal and their roster is still filled and dependent on freshmen. They lack fundamentals. ============= Zero rebounds in the first 10 minutes, 4 in the first half... 4 rebounds. The leading scorer in the first half had 4 points. Did I mention this was against the winless, bottom team in the league? The offense consists of setting screens, passing, and shooting 25 feet from the basket with no one inside to rebound. They rank 9th in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage. Maybe that time frame should be 14 months, not 26. How will Dave evaluate this program "at the end of the season"?
heartbreakM
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.
So, if a tree falls in the forest but no one is there to hear it, does it make noise? That's what I feel about basketball at Michigan. Does anybody care? There is NO way that Beilein's results would stand in football or hockey, but in bball, they are well tolerated. Part of it is because Beilein is a respectful, composed, non-cocky guy and fits in with Michigan ideal, so to speak. Part of it is because it's the overshadowed sport. So he has got a big leash. But I do not understand why these upper class guys have not progessed at all--guys like stu Douglass, Novak, etc. That's on the coaching staff. The coach also seems to be averse to getting true big man and pounding the ball. You look at OSU, and they seem to be able to support strong football and bball, and have rebuilt several times already under Matta. I just don't see it happening here.
shane smith
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
I've said this before,and will say it again.Beilein has done a worse JOB than Rich.Beilein is just a better BS'ER.He has been doing worse each year.Rich won more games each year,Beilein is losing more each year.Beilein has never stayed longer than 5 years at any place,thats because his knows how long his BS works..So get ready for another Coaching search.Two years MAX.Tell Pizza Man to get out his roladex out.The other Coach at San Diego State is doing OK.You remember him.See there is life after Michigan.
Greg
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 9:24 p.m.
The reason they are losing is that they are young and lack experience.
Pjohn3
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
I watched the entire game last night and thought it was terrible. Our offense is either taking a a 3 point shot or driving to the hoop. So many times on the pick and roll, Morris never made the pass but instead tried to beat his man off the dribble. Then, their offense just ate us up and made them look really bad. Another bad WV experiment with an offense that has not proved can win championships. If I hear the excuse that the team is young and inexperienced again I am gonna scream. It's like RR all over again.
robotmonster
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.
This program will languish until they recruit talent fit to play in the Big Ten and stop playing a gimmick offense. Neither will happen with the present coach. Doesn't matter if they're freshman, heck, there are talented freshman all over the country taking over games and programs.
obama from kenya
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.
I thought the problem was starting 7 true freshmen on defense.
tater
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
Well, let's see: They play elite teams tough at home, but lose to terrible teams on the road. They really haven't created much of an identity, individually or as a team. They get pushed around a bit in the middle. They don't shoot very consistently. They get killed by patient teams. Nobody has stepped up as the "go-to" guy for more than a game or two at a time. Does this sound like exactly what we should expect from a young team with no seniors? It certainly does to me.