Ohio State uses several players to contain Michigan basketball guard Manny Harris
Ohio State's Evan Turner, right, dribbles past Michigan's Manny Harris in the second half Saturday. Ohio State won, 66-55, and Harris was held to 10 points. (Photo: Associated Press)
It left Harris, usually a slasher who can create and get to the foul line with ease, floating around the perimeter, waiting to find a way to create that rarely came.
“I got the ball late shot clock,” Harris said. “Nothing to do but force up threes. Could have attacked more, but just how the game went.”
Harris, Michigan’s leading scorer at 18.1 points per game, eventually was able to drive late in No. 9 Ohio State’s 66-55 win over Michigan (13-15, 6-10) on Saturday afternoon, mostly because Michigan started to run plays that allowed him to slash.
The junior guard was 1-of-8 shooting Saturday, including 0-of-5 in the second half. He did get to the line nine times, which allowed him to score 10 points and keep him from not reaching double-digit scoring for just the second time this year. Still Harris has been held to 15 points or less in four of Michigan's last seven games. And most of his points Saturday came late in the game when Ohio State (23-7, 13-4 Big Ten) was firmly in control.
“They got long defenders on him and stayed right on him,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “Every time he got the ball, there’d be one on him and two gapping him and that’s when, he’s got to keep the ball moving and look for the next opportunity. Sometimes he just waited a little too long and their gaps would get better.
“But he is learning every day about that type of thing.”
Ohio State coach Thad Matta was less technical about Harris’ struggles. Yes, he had his players focus on Harris, who had one of the better games of his season against Ohio State in Ann Arbor on Jan. 3 when the Buckeyes didn’t have Turner and were struggling.
But it went beyond that. Simply, Matta said, Harris, averaging 16.6 points per game in Big Ten action - second on the team to DeShawn Sims’ 18.1 -missed shots he usually makes.
“A lot of times those shots go in for him,” Matta said. “Every shot I’ve watched him shoot this season going into this game, he’s a guy that takes and makes difficult shots.
“I just, he still got to the foul line nine times, but we wanted to do the best job we could on him to take him away.”
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
TRIGG6
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:56 p.m.
No dominate teams in BIG TEN. WOW.im glade i dont live in that BLUE world.
TRIGG6
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 5:21 p.m.
No dominate teams in BIG TEN. WOW.im glade i dont live in that BLUE world.
1989NCAACHAMPS
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
My 2 cents for Coach J.B. & wolverines players & staff: How to approach the last 2 regular season games. Allow Wright, Gibson, & Vogrich to get more playing time then normal. At least 15 minutes per player. Run plays for them. The reason for this is that the only way Michigan can make the tourney is to win the Big Ten Tourney. So allow all of your players to get some confidence as you head into the tournament. Plus you will need to play more players since the games are back to back if you advance. Coach needs to stress that its possible to win the tourney!! Be upbeat & hopefull! Anyone can beat anyone in the Big Ten. There are no dominate teams! Go Blue!!
chosen1
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 10:03 a.m.
Theo predicted a win again and reality was a loss. Now Theo is blaming the refs. Are we back in football season again? Same song and dance from Theo. Novak did a good job for us Saturday, but Manny wasn't a factor at all. I think Manny's played his way off the all big-ten team.
ypsinational
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 10:55 p.m.
Pften against OSU, Manny touched the rock early in the shot clock and would give the ball up to continue running around the perimeter in Beilein's "5 guys run around the 3 point line until the shot clock gets under 10 seconds" halfcourt offense. When Manny actually tried to get in the lane, he was fouled numerous times. The fact is when Manny wants to score, Manny can find a way. It's Beilein's uncreative schemes that are holdng him back. Can we see Manny's stats in 1st halfs vs. 2nd? I'm guessing when they're losing coming out of halftime, Manny starts looking for his shot more and the team actually scores. I would rather see him force up shots than anyone else. We won't see the tourney again until Patrick Beilein succeeds his father!!!
2sweetblue
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 9:02 p.m.
It is easy to defend Manny because they can leave Stu Zack and Darius open. They can't hit the ocean when they are open
NoBowl4Blue
Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 6:30 p.m.
Always an excuse with some. The game I watched the officials were calling fouls on the Osu players when they cleanly blocked shots and when the ball bounced off U of M players out of bounds Michigan got the call. I guess in somes eyes Rich Rod is king and Beilien is a Prince so when they lose it never is their fault. Big Dance???? Now that's funny.