Blowout at Northwestern is Michigan basketball's fifth straight loss
Updated 12:10 a.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. — Awful.
Right now, there isn’t much else to say about the Michigan basketball team. Five games. Five losses. Three of them by double-digits, with the latest being Northwestern’s 74-60 crushing of Michigan in another game where the score wasn’t nearly as close as the game.
Michigan never led Tuesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wolverines tied the game twice, the last time at 10-10 with 15:42 left in the first half.
Northwestern, at one point, led by 22 points and just continued the Michigan carnage from the past three weeks.
"Everyone's frustrated," junior guard Stu Douglass said. "It's tough. You can talk all day about how tough of games we had in the stretch of the last nine days. We haven't been performing the way we can or the way we should, so it's not the best of moods."
Northwestern sure has improved under Bill Carmody. Right now, the Wildcats are just better than Michigan. Much, much better.
“Yeah, it’s true. It’s a fact you have to face,” Douglass said. “We can’t come in telling ourselves we’re better and come out playing like this and not execute our game plan.
“They are a team - a very, very poised team - and play their game. They’ve had success against great teams and they just stick to their game plan and don’t try to be heroes. When that happens, it turns out (John) Shurna gets 22 points and he is the hero.”
Junior forward John Shurna, who has been battling an ankle injury, destroyed Michigan in the first half. He scored 22 of his 24 points in the first 20 minutes, beating the Wolverines from the inside and the outside. He hit open shots and contested shots.
He had a personal 12-point run midway through the first half that gave Northwestern a 37-24 lead that essentially ended the game before halftime.
In some ways, the loss can be a positive for Michigan. There is nowhere to go except for up.
Michigan’s defense, which the Wolverines depended on as they lost close games to No. 2 Kansas and No. 1 Ohio State, failed them for the second straight game. Against Indiana on Saturday, Michigan let guard Verdell Jones III score 24 points and take over the game. On Tuesday it was Shurna and Northwestern senior guard Juice Thompson, who had 10 points, seven assists and no turnovers.
The Michigan offense may have scored points, but most were well after the game was decided — much like it was Saturday against Indiana. Only two players scored in double figures for the Wolverines, Douglass with 17 points and Darius Morris with 16.
“We missed layups and open shots and free throws,” redshirt freshman forward Jordan Morgan said. “We still put up a good number of points.
“They put up way too many, way too many points.”
Michigan, which hasn't won a game since Jan. 2, is now a team searching for anything to cling to.
And this was a game, especially after that loss to Indiana, Michigan knew it needed to win. It knew it needed to show up and play well.
Instead, the Wolverines are scrambling to keep their team on the correct path and confident.
“It is just a process, go through this process of learning,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “(Northwestern) team won 21 games (last year), had everybody back but one player. We won 15 games, they beat us twice and we have one or two guys on the floor that played last year. It’s part of the process.
“There’s not too many teams that are going to come to Northwestern and (win), we certainly weren’t one today.”
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
KeepingItReal
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
A2Rez: Good Thought. Although Jalen is a "Michigan Man", he's also African American. That combination simply does not work for M.
stan
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.
I was always a Rich Rod supporter and was hopeful he'd get a fourth year. He didn't and now it's time to support Coach Hoke, his staff and most importantly, THE TEAM. Having said that, there was an undeniable upward trajectory with the football team at least in terms of overall record. With basketball, there is no easily discernable direction for the program. I want John Beilein to be successful. I'd like to see him win enough to stick around another couple years and retire from Michigan, but if he doesn't have a winning record this year, you can't really justify keeping a coach with 3 losing records in 4 seasons, especially in light of the statements made by Dave Brandon regarding the football program.
Dennis
Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 5:23 a.m.
The TEAM concept was started by a great coach who was a proven winner 40-17-3 prior to Michigan. The best coach in my humble opinion was a true Michigan Man in Baton Rouge and Mr. Brandon is on record that he didn't even offer Les the job. I heard the following comment in the Big House one time; "to be a fan does not necessarily constitute needing to be an addict". I concur, based on the outcome I suggest that it was a poorly executed process.
A2 Rez
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.
I think Coach Beilein should be given one more year, and if there is not major improvement, it's time for a new coach. My choice for a new coach, and I'm not kidding, is Jalen Rose. I realize he has no coaching experience but I think he would have the ability to recruit talented players from the State of Michigan who would be willing to come to UM and attempt to restore the program to where it belongs. The team is lacking passion and swagger. We would have a "Michigan Man" leading the program. This is worth a try and couldn't be any worse than it is now.
willievrine
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
Hey RichRod wait up! You forgot something...John Beilien!
timeatwork
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
how many more years will coach b get before dave brandon fires him? or maybe coach b will get a free pass, as db can only concentrate on one failing team at a time.
cnorman
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
this i honestly believe----john beilein may be the classiest, most honest man in college basketball. this i also believe-----he CANNOT recruit talent needed to play at this level. we have GREAT kids who play hard------they just lack the size and skill to compete. it isn't the coaching that fails us---it's the woeful recruiting.
ahell
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
How long is Michigan going to put up with losing basketball. Time to hire an elite coach that will recruit and get us to the tourney every year. Basketball is just as important these days to a sports program as football. Brandon, time to fire Belein!
chiro19
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
What happens when good teams can not shoot from the field? They get it to their post player. This style of basketball is garbage without that type of player. The reason- Michigan will not win a game when they shoot poorly from outside (that is the large majority of games). Part has to do with being young and just taking really bad shots and not driving to the basket. The other part is that there is no threat down low to keep defenders off of the shooters outside! I am hockey guy though, so I am just saying what I see when I get the games! Here is to shooting 40% the rest of the season from 3 land!
KeepingItReal
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11:32 a.m.
Martin fired Amaker because the fans was unhappy and hired Beilein with his "system" and even extended his contract before the "system" was proven to work. We've been watching that system for over three years now and M is not one whit better than when Amaker was here. I hope the fans are happy that they have a "system" man as a coach. Quite frankly, I'm still trying to figure what his "system"is.
sasmjjsly
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 10:31 a.m.
Once again, no post presence means no win. This is beyond frustrating; this type of basketball will NEVER win anything. Please Mr. Brandon, relieve Mr Beilein of his duties. Please hire a coach who values a big men who play like big men...not like guards! Enough with his "system".
larry kramer
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 5:33 a.m.
what a disaster--I really feel sorry for the players. Maybe we should drop basketball as a varsity sport. Belein should resign. I hope Brandon steps up to the plate and cans him. I long for the days of my freshman year--power basketball at its best. Where have you gone Cassie Russell?
Dennis
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 5:25 a.m.
Not to worry, JB has it all covered. They have been and are young for 3.5 years now. Brandon might review him after the season and then he'll wait until July to fire him. Then he'll hire a coach that has a losing record , but, is peppy with a lot of potential. The price will be right.........
Buster W.
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 4:20 a.m.
I can't figure this team out. Beilein builds his teams on shooting the three pointer, yet they have the worst 3-pt. percentage in the Big Ten??? Many thanks to Bill Martin for extending Beilein's contract through 2015-16. Hard to believe Martin is a successful businessman.
ahell
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
Glad Martins gone, Brandon needs to clean house in basketball also.
aareader
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 4:12 a.m.
Arrrg! Where is the team that played great games against Syracuse, and OSU. It appears they have forgotten how to score, defend, and play the game. Hopefully they will "get well" at home.
Jaxon5
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 4:08 a.m.
Disappointing game, to say the least. Michigan has played well against some of the best team this year in Syracuse, Kansas, OSU, and struggled (and lost) to some middle of the road teams in Indiana and Northwestern. Also, it has not played well versus the top tier Big 10 teams so far (Wisconsin and Purdue). The road ahead is rough.