Michigan 72, Northwestern 63 Comment Count

Ace

I doubt any Michigan basketball fan is quite as excited as the team's official account, but despite a hideous start and an underwhelming game in general, the Wolverines kept their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

For that they can thank Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, the only consistent offensive force for Michigan, which played in front of a subdued and sparse crowd of brave souls undeterred by the winter storm. Rahkman scored 19 points and made 8/12 shots inside the arc as he gained the paint again and again.

Michigan's early energy matched that of the audience. Northwestern jumped out to a 10-0 lead; the Wolverines missed their first eight shots—including five by Duncan Robinson alone on a series of good looks—before Zak Irvin finally snapped the dry spell with a layup nearly six minutes in.

Certified Wolverine-killer Alex Olah kept the Wildcats comfortably ahead for most of the half, with Rahkman the main reason Michigan remained within striking distance, before the Wolverines crept back into it despite their shooting woes. Robinson hit the team's first three-pointer just before the first-half buzzer sounded; at that moment it looked like Michigan would pull away when they found their rhythm in the second stanza.

Instead, the second half began much like the first. Northwestern opened with an 8-0 run keyed by back-to-back Aaron Falzon triples before Rahkman stemmed the tide with a layup. Rahkman finally got some help in the form of Aubrey Dawkins, who seemingly found the shot Robinson has lost. His two three-pointers in the span of three possessions tied the game midway through the half. After the two squads went toe-to-toe for five minutes, Dawkins gave the home team the lead for good with his third triple after running the floor off his own defensive rebound.

Rahkman had one more big play, putting back his own miss to extend the lead to five, and the Wolverines were able to ice the game at the line—Derrick Walton (16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) went 6/6 from the charity stripe down the stretch.

While this game won't blow away the committee by any stretch, Michigan managed to avoid a resumé-crippling loss. It's become a common refrain this season: in a home game against a crummy opponent, the Wolverines made it look tougher than it should've been. They probably need to win one of the final two games against Wisconsin and Iowa if they want to make the tournament. They definitely need to play better to do so.

Comments

Wolverine In Iowa

February 24th, 2016 at 9:58 PM ^

Anyone else think that Beilein was more ebullient than usual in the on-court interview after the game?  He also heaped praise on NU's coach and Olah...maybe he knows we're in the tournament.  Anyways, nice game by MAAR, please finish a fucking dunk, Dawkins, and let's get the shooting back to normal now.

Prediction:  we lose to Wisconsin, and then we beat Iowa (with Spike and Levert playing), causing a clusterfuck for the B1G title.

ThatGuyCeci

February 24th, 2016 at 10:08 PM ^

My gut tells me we beat either Wisconsin or Iowa. Either way one win in BTT should put us in it beating Wisconsin would clear any doubt. Both teams on the bubble winner is in imo.

chuckdogg2

February 24th, 2016 at 10:24 PM ^

One more win wherever and I think we are in. Also I think our offense has to play thru Muhammad Ali right now. He is so good at getting in the lane, finishing with both hands, and now finding the open man ! This kid is gonna be gooooood!

Cr64

February 24th, 2016 at 10:24 PM ^

We will get stomped at Wisconsin and handled by Iowa at home. The Wiscy coach know how to coach defense and toughness....ours puts up with no defense and no intensity. Caris is nothing but a distraction....put him in a suit and tell him his UofM career is over....he quit on this team weeks ago in favor of a weak NBA career. Beilein won't get a sniff of another final four in his career. Very disappointed in UofM basketball....just look at Beileins career record against MSU, OSU, Wisconsin and Indiana. The guy is mediocre at best.

Cr64

February 24th, 2016 at 10:24 PM ^

We will get stomped at Wisconsin and handled by Iowa at home. The Wiscy coach know how to coach defense and toughness....ours puts up with no defense and no intensity. Caris is nothing but a distraction....put him in a suit and tell him his UofM career is over....he quit on this team weeks ago in favor of a weak NBA career. Beilein won't get a sniff of another final four in his career. Very disappointed in UofM basketball....just look at Beileins career record against MSU, OSU, Wisconsin and Indiana. The guy is mediocre at best.

Gucci Mane

February 24th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^

He has done pretty well against Izzo, especially when you consider Izzo isn't scared to get the expensive recruits. If beilein recruited dirty like Izzo and matta Uofm wins a natty. Wisconsin is more impressive than msu or osu because like Uofm they don't get dirty.

jsquigg

February 24th, 2016 at 10:43 PM ^

Until recently he's been competitive with Izzo and had a great streak going against OSU until this year.  Thanks for sharing your insider knowledge on the Caris situation.  I don't know what you Beilein haters are going to do when he clears the low bar you've set.  It's almost like you'd all rather be right than the team win.

jsquigg

February 24th, 2016 at 10:38 PM ^

I know this game performance wasn't mind blowing, but Northwestern isn't terrible and Michigan found a way to win while hitting just 4 threes.  I think both remaining games are tough but winnable.

smwilliams

February 25th, 2016 at 12:56 AM ^

Issue is that the committee only consider D1 wins of which we have 19 (won against Northern Michigan). So, if they only win their BTT opener that puts them at 20-11 with an RPI in the 50s, a poor record in their last 10, 4 wins against the RPI Top 100 (unless Northwestern and/or PSU sneak in), and a non-conference SOS in the high 100s. That is a very borderline tournament record and that would mean that everything is riding on that opening game in the BTT. I'd very much like to avoid that as a fan. Beat Iowa and I think they'll be okay depending on the rest of the bubble. 

funkywolve

February 25th, 2016 at 1:13 AM ^

as you mention the number of wins UM has against Top 100 teams in is flux.  Either NU or PSU could sneak in there, or possibly both.  At the same time NC State is something like 93 in the rpi.  The lost tonight and have a couple more tough games left - there's no guarantee they stay in the Top 100.

And as you say, a lot depends on what happens with the other bubble teams - although I think a win against Wisky or Iowa just about secures a spot, especially if they can win their opener in the BTT.

DancingWolverine

February 24th, 2016 at 11:29 PM ^

Is anyone else getting a kick out of the improvement of Dakich?  He's completely turned around from a liability to a hustle player who can spark the team with active hands on the defensive side of the court.  He's also not going to put up a lot of points, but his ability to distribute is not a negative on this team where a good pass can make up for our lack of ability to slash to the hoop (MAAR excluded).

blue90

February 25th, 2016 at 8:51 AM ^

but I wouldn't get too happy about that or look in to it at all.  He'll never get over 5 minutes a game, especially with Simpson and then Poole coming in.  Our team consistently does poorly when he is on the court and that isn't going to change much in the upcoming years.  He has 13 assists in the 17 games he has played in and is averaging 0pts and 0assists in his past four games...

funkywolve

February 24th, 2016 at 11:51 PM ^

in a home game against a crummy opponent, the wolverines made it look tougher than it should have been.

After 30 games isn't that who UM is?  They're an okay team - nothing great, nothing bad.  When they play really well they can pull or an upset (Purdue, Maryland) but on a night in and night out basis thiey are who they are - an average team.

Denarded

February 25th, 2016 at 12:36 AM ^

I'm am afraid of this team besides walton and Rahkman being the only guys that can create inside but I think one more win between wisco/Iowa/big10tourny can get us in its sad that we can't get our way inside of the paint. A tournament bid is the pinnacle of this team and that's it.

Shaken

February 25th, 2016 at 7:44 AM ^

My beef with this team is defensively, specifically how our bigs will chase a guard off the ball screen for 6-8 dribbles putting them completely out of position.  Our guards need to do a much better job of fighting through the screen to recover, we should not have Donnal or Doyle chasing the ball above the 3 pt line and being so far out of position that they can't recover.  How many of Olah's wide open looks last night were the result of this and the failure of the other guys on the court to recognize and rotate over.  And yes I do realize you can't give the opposing guard a free run off the screen but there is no need to chase as long as we do.

nroumel

February 25th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^

With about 1:07 left in the game, I was only half watching, someone from NW heaved a half court shot. Did he think it was :07 left? Was the shot clock down? Was it a Harlem Globetrotter trick? i can't find reference to it in any news story...

Harlein45

February 25th, 2016 at 10:43 PM ^

When it comes, "who should be the starter?" it is hard to have a clear answer. As a whole, I do believe Robinson is more of a complete player. Dawkins is stronger and faster, yet he is not a great defender and neither is Duncan, who is not as strong or fast as Aubrey. Despite having those qualities, I don't think it separates AB vs. DR.

We know they are great pure shooters and recently Dawkins is doing better, especially with his showing last night, Duncan's basketball IQ is definitely higher and sees the floor much better than AD. That is the main reason why I would put DR over AB. 

One question I have is, within Beilein's offense, is feeding the post shunned upon? I know we see Doyle, Donnel and all the other big men at the top of the key, but I rarely see the ball fed into one of them even when seeing their chest on the block or just outside of the block. Donnel can see the floor a bit too so I don't know why they don't get the ball to him. on the block, hopefully have a defender lose site of the man he is guarding and have Donnel hit him or a skip pass. I'm curious to hear people's insight when it comes to this. 

Go Blue!