Michigan 82, Purdue 70 Comment Count

Ace



Derrick Walton capped his Crisler career with a vintage performance. [Bryan Fuller]

"We're not done yet," said a triumphant Derrick Walton, addressing the Crisler Center crowd after a Senior Day victory over Purdue that all but locked in Michigan to a NCAA tournament bid.

The Wolverines looked the part of a team capable of making a run in March. They scored on their first possession against the current Big Ten leaders, getting a Moe Wagner layup off a Walton assist. Those two would lead the way in a game Michigan never trailed.

The matchup of Wagner and national player of the year candidate Caleb Swanigan took center stage in the first half. The German big man didn't just hold his own: he dominated. Forcing the burlier Swanigan to defend in space, Wagner poured in 22 first-half points, making five of six two-pointers and raining in four of his six three-point attempts. While Swanigan had an efficient nine points in the half, timely Michigan double-teams forced two turnovers, and he couldn't get the defense to collapse—the normally hot-shooting Boilermakers went only 5-for-16 on threes.

"That's just my guy, man," Walton said of Wagner. "I've got an absurd amount of respect for him. We go through [the pick-and-pop] so much in pregame, that's just our little thing. He knows where I'm at. I know where he's at. With a defense like that, I feel it was my priority to get him the ball in space."

Purdue adjusted in the second half, putting Vincent Edwards on Wagner and switching on every screen, but by then it was too late. Duncan Robinson's corner three-pointer sent Michigan into halftime with a 15-point lead, and the Wolverines would push the margin as high as 22 points before a last-gasp Boilermakers comeback made matters uncomfortable for a couple possessions.



Wagner scored 22 of his 24 points in the first half. [Fuller]

Fittingly, the seniors to play a huge role in fending off that comeback. Zak Irvin struggled to score again today, but he made his mark with a big defensive play, chasing down Carsen Edwards to force a fast break miss when Purdue had a chance to cut the lead to single digits. The Boilermakers subsequently got it to a six-point game with 2:14 to play. Walton ended the threat by ducking under Swanigan to hit leaning three-pointer that beat the shot clock and effectively ended the threat.

"I silently thanked God because there was no reason I should've made the shot," Walton said. "It was probably one of the worst possessions we had all game. You just kind of dribble the ball around for six seconds. It's just one of those times. We had a lot going against us this season. It was one of those moments where it was kind of 'okay then, we finally got a good bounce of the ball.'"

"I was actually about to chase it. It was not a good shot."

Walton finished with a very Walton stat line: 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting, 11 rebounds, five assists, no turnovers, and a steal. Robinson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman both finished in double figures on combined 7-for-9 shooting. DJ Wilson added nine points and a critical stint at center in the second half when Mark Donnal proved ineffective. Xavier Simpson got into the act, hitting both his field goals—a transition corner three and an eye-opening layup after driving past Swanigan—and dishing out a pair of assists.



Xavier Simpson gave the fans a taste of what's to come after Walton. [Fuller]

The team was in high spirits in the aftermath. Asked if Irvin cried, Walton couldn't help but laugh, then said loud enough for his fellow senior to hear, "I think he choked up on the mic. He did. I looked at him."

"No I didn't!" Irvin yelled from across the room.

They know there's still more to accomplish, however. 

"We already experienced something like this where we've had some success," Walton said, referring to the wins at Madison Square Garden. "We want to show who we really are by consistently bringing the same effort."

"You've just got to spend a film session with me to know that they know they haven't punched any ticket," said John Beilein. "There's a lot of work to do. You don't know what can happen down the stretch here with teams that are trying to get in there."

Northwestern fits that description. Michigan will head to Evanston on Wednesday in the midst of their best stretch of basketball all season. The team we've seen the last few weeks could make quite a bit of noise in March. Today's win made it much more likely they'll get the chance to do so.

Comments

bronxblue

February 25th, 2017 at 8:34 PM ^

Great showing by the seniors, and a special acknowledge for Conlon, who really has made this a competent defensive team.  Michigan is currently 94th in Kenpom adjusted defense, which doesn't sound all that impressive until you remember they were in the 200s for parts of this season.  It'll never be a shutdown team, but when you have the #8 offense in the country putting out what (I assume) is currently a top-50/60 defense will win you a lot of games. 

Stringer Bell

February 25th, 2017 at 8:45 PM ^

The defense was very impressive. We handled Swanigan and Haas in a way that few teams have been able to do, and of course forced them into one of their worst 3 point shooting nights of the season. If not for that Carsen Edwards dude making some tough shots this defensive performance would've looked even more impressive.

stephenrjking

February 25th, 2017 at 10:40 PM ^

And it's easy to forget that the reason he is redshirting in what would be his send-off season is because for two years in a row he torched a redshirt because Michigan was so banged up that we actually needed him to play quality minutes. Which affects other areas of performance, of course.

BLHoke

February 25th, 2017 at 9:34 PM ^

Two things... 1. Now we can stop speculating IF we'll make the tourney and start speculating how high we're seeded if they can manage to win out and take a couple games in, or even win the Big Ten Tourney. 2. I'm starting to imagine what DWJ's potential might be at the next level. The first half of the season I wasn't so sure he'd even make it. With his play down the stretch, surely scouts are starting to take notice.

MichiganMAN47

February 26th, 2017 at 11:53 AM ^

Walton could definitely be a second round pick.

Wagner could be a lottery pick next year. Spin moves, behind the back dribbling, three point shooting, and now defense. If Wagner can become a better rebounder he will be special at the next level. I love watching Wagner's style of play, it's very pure.

Wolverine In Iowa

February 25th, 2017 at 9:51 PM ^

When I said I'd be happy if we didn't lose by more than 12, I meant I'd be really happy to win by 12.  What a performance after a really listless night in Piscataway (or whatever that shithole is called).

robpollard

February 25th, 2017 at 9:53 PM ^

Among the many positive developments over the last month (e.g., Walton playing like an All-American; Wagner becoming an offensive force) has X showing he belongs as a BIG player. He can now ably sub for Walton, who now doesn't have to play 38 mins each game. X has a ways to go, particularly as a scorer, but you can see the path forward.

None of that would have been possible if we kept Spike. A number of folks on this board gave Belein shit for cutting Spike loose, but it was clearly the right decision for both players, and for Michigan as a program, which will desperately need X to play at a quality level next year to make a run at a B1G title (which I think is probable if Moe and DJ keep developing).

Belein certainly has not done a great job at rosterling management these last couple of years, but he definitely got this one right. 

 

Michigan4Life

February 25th, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

when JB let Bielfeldt go because he wanted to develop Wagner and Wilson going forward.

JB is forward thinking in terms of player development. Spike was a special case because he retired and JB wasn't sure that he was going to be 100% effective which he was right. He wanted to give Xavier some experience so he can build onto the sophomore campaign.  PG is a hard position for any player to master in JB's offense which is why he recruited PG in three straight classes so they can fill in when they leave the program. Xavier -> Eli Brooks -> David DeJulius. All three bring something different to the table.

biglarson1981

February 25th, 2017 at 10:09 PM ^

I find it hilarious how everyone wants to dump coach b a month and a half ago. Guys the best basketball coach the University of Michigan has had in a really long time and recruits the right kids that he can coach up and sometimes it just takes alittle longer for his players to gel than others. I just shake my head and wonder why this guy shouldn't be afforded the complete control of when he wants to leave.

TrueBlue2003

February 25th, 2017 at 11:21 PM ^

And had we continued on the path we were headed after the OSU game, which was straight for the NIT, it would have been a massive underachievement.

This team has way too much quality experience (two seniors and an old junior in the backcourt) and too much talent (two likely NBA players who were 4 stars in the frontcourt and the two seniors were 4 stars) to be playing in the NIT.

It is still an underachievement that we didn't compete for a conference title, because we're every bit as good as Wisconsin and Purdue, but we're now finally playing to our potential these last six games.

I'm not saying he should have been fired had we ended up in the NIT (and knock on wood, if we lose out, I don't know if we're a lock) and I don't agree with anyone who though that, but they were right to be upset that for a stretch, a senior led team wasn't playing hard or focused.

OkemosBlue

February 26th, 2017 at 8:15 AM ^

With all due respect (which is a lot), the criticism was not as valid as you would like to think.  Your expectations that the team should have competed for the conference title are way too high and unfair to the players and Beilein.  In particular, ratings for recruits are a very inexact science--just look at Swanigan, last year he was a five star  "bust," this year he's a legitimate player of the year candidate--and our seniors had always underperformed compared to our expectations for 3 years because of injury and other reasons.  Two of our key players inside were unheralded and inexperienced--DJ Wilson had done very little offensively or defensively last year after bulking up and Mo Wagner came over from Europe and showed offensive promise but little else last year.

        We had a new defensive coordinator with a proven track record, but changing the culture and teaching young players had to play defense is difficult for anyone.  This is what Beilein does.  He takes players that others overlook (Morgan) and develops them.  He had some spectacular, immediate successess with Trey and the other player, but they were, unfortunately, likely to be rare.  It takes more time with the others.    

funkywolve

February 26th, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^

How was Swannigan a bust last year?   He averaged 10 pts and 8 rebounds last year, was one of 63 players to be invited to the NBA draft combine, was 1st team on the freshmen all big ten team and honorable mention all big ten on the media's team.

Wilson and Wagner were both 4 star recruits.  Since when are 4 star recruits unheralded?

Michigan returned their entire starting 5 from the 15/16 season,  If it's unreasonable to expect a Michigan team to compete for the Big Ten title when they have their entire starting 5 returning, when, if ever, should there be expectations for the men's bball team to compete for a Big Ten title?

TrueBlue2003

February 26th, 2017 at 3:52 PM ^

A talented, veteran team in a down conference should have had every expectation of competing for a conference title.  I'm sure the players and coaches expected it more than anyone else.  If that wasn't their legitimate goal this year, than there was something wrong.  Dan Dakich predicted us to go to the final four before the season because his son was in every practice telling him how good DJ and Wagner and the rest of the team were.  And we looked incredible in NYC early in the year.  The mid-year slump was not a youth or talent issue.

You are correct that often individual guys with high ratings don't pan out (Swanigan certainly doesn't fall into this category though).  There are no individual gaurantees.  Kam Chatman was a bust, which happens. Some of our 4 stars have been merely average (Irvin) or worse (Donnal), which also happens. But if you have a rotation with six of the top eight guys as 4 stars - like we do - with 5 of them in the third or fourth year of the program, and you don't make the tournament because your players aren't competing hard, you've failed.  You can miss on some guys, but you can't miss on all of them - which we didn't - so they better be playing hard and smart.

They weren't doing that for a good stretch in the middle of the season to the point where MAAR was openly questioning why guys weren't playing hard.  Youth can be a legitimate excuse.  But we aren't young and there was no excuse for an experienced team not playing hard.  That's why people were right to complain.  For a tenth year head coach to need to institute, in your words, a "change in culture" is somewhat alarming.

Credit to the coaches and players for finding the fire they needed to play the way they should these past six games.  Very exciting to see them play up to their potential.  I hope Walton is correct that they aren't done yet.

 

WolverineHistorian

February 25th, 2017 at 10:11 PM ^

Looking ahead to our next game....

Northwestern just crapped the bed against Indiana.  Blew a 7 point lead in the final minute, gave up a layup with 2 seconds left for an and 1.  The free throw magically bounced high off the rim and somehow went in to give Indiana the 63-62 win. 

NU is trying to make their first NCAA tournament in school history.  What looked like a sure thing a month ago doesn't look official just yet.  They have been in freefall and now are going to be extremely angry over blowing this game when Michigan comes to town this week.

This will be a very tough game.  Need to play a complete road game from start to finish...which isn't exactly our thang.  

Blue Durham

February 26th, 2017 at 6:28 PM ^

the NCAA's.

As a matter of fact, they might be a paper tiger.

First, they have lost 5 of their last 7. But more importantly, their Big Ten schedule has been loaded with the bottom 6 teams (cumulatively 32-62 in Big Ten play), where they are 7-3. Their other 2 wins are against 8-8 Iowa and Wisconsin.

They have played only 1 game each against the top 5 in the Big Ten, going 1-4 (they have an additional game against Purdue to close the season).

Northwestern is in free-fall, and going 0-3 and missing the NCAA's is a very real possibility. They don't have many good wins (Notre Dame, Dayton and Wisconsin).

I like Michigan's chances, particularly the way they are playing.

Dan84

February 25th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^

I just want to give Dan Dakich a shout out for calling a floor a "low ceiling." You can't find that kind of commentary just anywhere.

Anyway, great win on senior day! Keep it up and there's a chance of making a real run.

umfanchris

February 26th, 2017 at 7:43 AM ^

Beilien almost gave away this game by dribbling out the clock starting at 6 minutes left in the game. If it wasn't for a last second off balanced duck under Swanigan hail Mary 3 By Walton with a minute left, then this is a lot closer or a loss.
Also I'm sure this is on Irvin. But around 2 minutes left they were up 8 and we had a 3 on 2 fast break after beating the press. Both defenders committed to Irvin who was dribbling and the 3 point shooter. Wagner would have had the easiest dunk of the night. Yet Irvin pulls up and dribbles back. We didn't score. That would put us up 10 and give some momentum back to us. Instead we force a shot and miss and Purdue quickly scores to be down 6. I understand don't force it if not there, but that was free points. You always take those.

A Lot of Milk

February 26th, 2017 at 3:22 PM ^

Swanigan was scoring every single time he touched the ball in the post at the end, the only way you can stop that is by limiting their possessions and forcing them to be perfect from the floor for the rest of the game to catch up to the lead we built. I don't usually like being passive but I had no problem with it yesterday

Harlein45

February 26th, 2017 at 6:04 PM ^

I agree about milking the clock over the last 6-7 minutes. At first, I thought it was a wise decision to take atleast 20-25 seconds per possession, but it was obvious that the playing against the clock led to nothing but poor shots. 

Across the board, the team has vastly improved and that is what Beilein is all about. I'm curious about Walton's future? Originally, I didn't see him being in the NBA, but I could see him being a late 2nd round pick. His defensive rebounding is awesome.

I respect Beilein and like him as a coach. One of the pieces I am still not getting is about the double teaming against good bigs. They still double sparingly. I'd rather make most team shoot instead of good looks down low and Wagner getting in foul trouble.

Pepto Bismol

February 26th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^

Can we give the Fire Beilein/Keep Beilein shit a rest for the remainder of the season? 

We know.  Beilein sucks and even though they're winning, it's just because the B1G stinks and he still can't recruit.  This is a perennial bubble pogram and we should expect better.  I get it.

And we know.  When all of those haters wanted him fired you were the one who always believed in him.  After all, he's the best we've had in some time and hey, at least it isn't Ellerbe.  I feel you.

 

The team is playing well and it looks like we'll get to see some important March basketball. That's fun.  This is the fun part.  Everybody shut up and let's have fun.  We can argue about it in April.

 

Blue in Denver

February 26th, 2017 at 11:28 AM ^

Midseason I hated this team.  It's one thing to lose, it's another to lose because you're soft.  I'm so impressed with the way they've buckled down and competed.  I'm sorry I doubted you, guys.

Unfortunately I don't see a tournament run, not because they're not playing well enough, but simply because of the seeding.  We'll very likely draw a 1-seed in the 2nd round.  That's a pretty tough road to the sweet 16.

Bertello NC

February 26th, 2017 at 12:03 PM ^

Yes that may be the way it shakes out in the tourney as far as running into a 1 or 2 in the second round but to be honest, I've watched quite a bit of non UM basketball games and imo there isn't a clear cut dominate team. Gonzaga, Villanova, Kansas, ucla, Arizona, Oregon, and a few others while being very good teams, on a neutral court I think we can make those interesting games if nothing else. UCLA might be the best team in the country and we played them tough for 30- 35 minutes. If we continue the trajectory that we've recently witnessed with this team and keep the intensity and focus I like our chances especially with Beilein in a tournament setting. I'll be honest I was one of the Beilein doubters a few weeks ago, I will admit this team has proved a lot of my doubts wrong. Beilein might have finally reincarnated his pittsnogle in Wagner. If we keep up the defensive intensity and shooting stays hot, and get a little more from Irvin, and Wilson we could make some noise in the tournament.

tnixon16

February 26th, 2017 at 1:58 PM ^

What we're seeing now is exactly what the detractors were calling for mid-season. They WERE soft, they WERE unfocused, they WERE defensive sieves, they WERE seemingly lost on every offensive possession. That was on Beilein. Credit to him for righting the ship, no doubt. But this doesn't prove we were wrong...it proves we were right. Most of these players are veterans, so they shouldn't have needed a half season to figure it out.

Again, credit to Beilein for recent success...but the early disappointments are on him, too. So no crow, and no soup, for me...one year!

Go Blue...let's make it a stretch worthy of this comeback.

UMGaucho

February 26th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

in thinking about senior day, I started wondering what happened to Dakich's side-line antics. in his first year or two, he was a human highlight film of sideline fun. do you think coach b or some of the players put the kibosh on his antics?

MichiganMAN47

February 26th, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^

This team really was a Big Ten Title contender that had some bad breaks in close games. The games @Wisconsin, @Iowa, @Minnesota, and OSU were all there for the taking. If we don't get screwed here the refs in a couple of those we'd be in position to win the title. I'm happy with the turnaround, we are playing as well as anyone in the country right now, we can beat anyone. This team is a matchup nightmare with Wagner and Wilson.