Maryland 77, Michigan 70 Comment Count

Ace



Maryland outmuscled Michigan in the first half. [Marc-Gregor Campredon]

Michigan struggled to get started against a good defensive team. On the other end of the floor, they made a mediocre offense look excellent.

Sound familiar?

Unlike Wednesday night's game against Penn State, Michigan didn't have it in them to finish off a comeback effort against Maryland. The Wolverines fell behind by as many as 11 in a first half marked by pathetic post defense and wayward outside shooting. Maryland center Damonte Dodd, filling in for injured starter Michal Cekovsky, scored 11 of his career-high 15 points in the opening half. Michigan's post players didn't fare much better on the perimeter—and, in this case, didn't get much help, either:

Michigan connected on just 3-of-11 three-pointers, meanwhile. A nine-point halftime deficit would've been larger if not for a strong closing effort by Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who scored three buckets—all in the paint—over the final five minutes and change. He'd finish with 12 points and four steal in the best game he's had in a while.

After being limited by foul trouble in the first half, Moe Wagner had a stellar offensive showing, pouring in 15 of his 17 poitns in the second stanza; he took Maryland defenders off the dribble by alternating his spin and behind-the-back moves, hit pick-and-pop threes, and worked through contact. While Wagner had gained Michigan an edge in the paint, however, they lost it on the other end with shoddy perimeter defense; the Terps went 6-for-9 from beyond the arc—several of them open looks off of dribble penetration.

The Wolverines were able to get within two points on three different occasions only for Maryland to respond. On Wednesday, Michigan won a game they should've lost. Today, they lost a game they should've lost. There are signs of promise—today, from Wagner, MAAR, and Xavier Simpson—but this team so rarely puts it all together that it's becoming harder and harder to hold out hope for a strong run through Big Ten play.

Comments

HarbaughorBust

January 8th, 2017 at 9:39 AM ^

I wonder how far the program has to sink before Brian writes about it?

JB is headed down a road where he's going to leave the program in the same shape or worse than when he took it over... That's insane.

If we are being honest, Amaker's final year's team more than likely beats JB's last 3 teams.

JB earned the right to walk away.  I pray he realizes he's entering Bobby Bowden territory.

Trader Jack

January 7th, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^

This season is effectively over, IMO. Hoping the loss of Irvin, Walton, and Donnal will be addition by subtraction next year. Great kids but not good enough players to be the focal points of a good team. I think giving X and Moe more time and adding Matthews, Livers, and Poole (I'm assuming Brooks won't play much) to the rotation will help. Should be better next year.




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Trader Jack

January 7th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^

It might not be better next year. But the guys who'd be making the difference aren't sitting on the bench while Irvin and Walton play over them; they're not playing right now because they're not eligible. Next year it's 1. X 2. MAAR 3. Matthews 4. DJ 5. Moe. Duncan, Poole, Livers, Teske off the bench. I think that will be better than this year has been, we'll see though.




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Stringer Bell

January 7th, 2017 at 6:16 PM ^

X has been a disappointment thus far (compounded by the fact that Winston has been a pretty good player for State), MAAR has really struggled this year, and I'm not sure how much to expect from the incoming freshman class.  I mean, we all expected a lot more out of this year's freshmen.  At this point the problems go deeper than certain individual players.  While Walton, Irvin, and Donnal aren't great by any means, there's nothing to suggest that their replacements will be any better.

TrueBlue2003

January 7th, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^

and Michigan made the initial "leap" when they were brought in, so maybe the assistants not only weren't the problem, maybe they were the reason for 5-6 years of success.

Crazy because all evidence the first couple weeks pointed to a much improved defense.  M was up to 35th in kenpom defensive efficiency - which is higher than any Beilien team has ever finished.  They've been downright awfule since then, down all the way to 108th (!!!) That's very difficult to do considering the good start.  Means they've basically been about 150-200th since then.

The embedded video says it all.  Atrocious defense.  They're like matadors with their feet in cement out there.

bronxblue

January 7th, 2017 at 6:14 PM ^

I think it's still a team figuring itself out, weighed down a bit by the ceiling of the seniors in this offense. It still looks like a fringe tourney team, but this is a building year for them.

bronxblue

January 7th, 2017 at 7:23 PM ^

I don't think they're terrible, they are just average players.  Walton can't really shoot anymore but is a decent rebounder, and Irvin has his moments but is bad on defense and seems unable to consistently hit the outside shot.  They are #3/4 players on a good team, but as we've seen when you put them in a top dog role, they struggle.

bronxblue

January 8th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^

Wagner is a sophomore, Wilson is a RS So, Simpson is starting to see more time.  I mean, I get that people around here just like to dwell on the current product and fire the head coach; I'm used to that.  But if you removed Irvin and Walton from this team, it would be a squad that I think people would have more optimism about.  And both Livers and Poole look like solid recruits.  Again, I guess I don't expect as much out of Michigan basketball as some.

bronxblue

January 8th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^

Haha, you give me too much credit.

I honestly just lived through so much crap after the Fisher fiasco that this feels fine.  I'd love to see them compete for conference titles and go deep in the tourney, but it doesn't happen every year and I still, at my core, believe Beilein is a solid coach who can make the odd Sweet 16/Elite 8 run with the right team.  But he's not going to recruit the way you need to compete consistently, and this just feels like a missed cycle.  Other teams, they can flip the roster quickly and try again, but that's not how Beilein works or how he recruits.  So when you hit, you get the Burke-Stauskas years.  When you miss, you get this run...which isn't terrible, just underwhelming.

Of course, if they go under .500 in this conference, I'll absolutely bitch about it.

schreibee

January 9th, 2017 at 3:35 AM ^

OK, I still wish you'd hold the hoops program to a higher standard, but I guess all I can say is I at least will hold you to promising you'll bitch when this team doesn't meet ANY reasonable expectations.
Meanwhile, let's look out for the Tom Herman or PJ Fleck of college hoops. I think it's time to go younger

schreibee

January 9th, 2017 at 2:57 PM ^

OK, I still wish you'd hold the hoops program to a higher standard, but I guess all I can say is I at least will hold you to promising you'll bitch when this team doesn't meet ANY reasonable expectations.
Meanwhile, let's look out for the Tom Herman or PJ Fleck of college hoops. I think it's time to go younger

Mannix

January 7th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^

If the D is supposed to hedge those ball screens, Mo didn't. It was terribly soft hedge, giving Melo plenty of room to split. Second, DJ was first help defender and didn't stop drive, he just flailed at the ball. The two corner defenders (Walton & Irvin) had no shot. Normally, Irvin is the bad help defender/off ball defender, as he gets beat quite often on hard cuts while being late with help on ball side. This wasn't one of those times. 

This team if filled with guys who would be or are good complimentary players. None of these guys should be the guy to lean on in crunch time. That's the main issue with the recruiting and of this team. 

No dudes. Can't really fault Irvin and Walton for thinking they're the alpha's because they've probably been told this a few times this year.

Mo and DJ are the only enjoyable dudes to watch play.  

Shop Smart Sho…

January 7th, 2017 at 6:15 PM ^

It's been discussed that the Harbaugh offense is effective, in part, because teams can't prepare for it because they don't see it or have the personnel to replicate it in practice.



I'm beginning to think the reverse is true for Michigan basketball.  The team doesn't have a real center on the roster, and hasn't since Morgan.  Each year we get to watch average opponent centers have big games against Michigan.  Is it because Michigan doesn't have a single player on the team that knows how to play with their back to basket?



I know Ace would shit on this idea if he read the comment because of efficiency numbers, but Ace isn't some sort of infallible expert.  I'm sure there are some basketball coaches amongst the readers, and I'm curious as to what they think.

Mannix

January 7th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^

On most ball reversals, if DJ or Mo is the game, (mainly Mo), they are either in the short corner or close to the block with their back to the basket in a iso type set. 

Not always, but they've gone to some more post up stuff with those two. Mo and DJ work all over the court but there is more of it this year. 

Bertello NC

January 7th, 2017 at 9:47 PM ^

Yup! I really think it's deeper than that. It's Beileins mentality that rubs off on the players. It's soft, it's finesse, it's " float around the 3 point arch and hope I can get open or backdoor. There's no fortitude, no attack mode, no swagger. You have to have the mindset that your opponent is not your budddy. To lay it all out they need to have a mindset where you wanna cut off your opponents head and shit down their neck! As graphic as that may sound that's how you have to play. Ya can't pussyfoot around. In any area of your program. And I hate to say it but that's where we're at right now. No D, no post play, no toughness within 5' of the bucket. Just pillsbury doughboy softness. With an exception of a couple dudes.




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snarling wolverine

January 7th, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

It seems difficult for this team to play hard for 40 minutes.  Two games in a row we sleepwalked  in the first half and dug a hole for ourselves before giving a better effort in the second.  A team with three upperclass starters shouldn't be doing this.

ijohnb

January 9th, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^

don't know who you replace him with.  I have come nearly 100% the other way after supporting Beilein this off-season.  I thought they would be better.  The are decisively not, and their defense, which was a nice surprise early the season has regressed and appears to be even worse than last year.  I just don't know who you hire if you get rid of him.

NYMICH

January 7th, 2017 at 6:50 PM ^

as long as Beilien is there.  This is his ceiling.  The thought that he would bring superior coaching with access to better recruits was a good one.  But it hasn't worked, obviously.  He did accidentally recruit several pros at the same time.  That was fun.  Hands up for anyone who thinks he'll do that again.  Didn't think so.  

He runs a clean program and reliably produces bubble-ish teams that are a threat to win a game in the tournament.  At some point the administration has to decide if this is all they want.  If so, fine.  But hopefully they realize that most Michigan fans will not care about a mediocre team.  For example, look at this blog.  There is ten times more interest in football recruiting than an actual game that was played just a little while ago.  Sad.

 

alum96

January 7th, 2017 at 6:54 PM ^

SOMB.
Same Old Michigan Basketball. The faces change, the piss poor turnstile defense, lack of athleticism, reliance on outside jumpers all day stays the same. We play a mid major style of play with some big 10 talent out there. It's become so repetitive and there is no change coming . This is what we are and will always be unless 5 NBA players show up at once like happeed that 1 time. I will be writing this same post in 3 yrs because all the admin cares about in bball is staying clean and competing for the top half of the big 10 . It's good enough for them.

NYMICH

January 7th, 2017 at 8:10 PM ^

because we'll care even less by then.  We won't be writing anything unless things bet better.  

There are around 200 responses to the latest Aubrey Solomon rumor and only 40-ish comments- so far- for an actual conference game that ended several hours ago.  Few care now and that number will continue to dwindle.