Michigan 91, Nebraska 85 Comment Count

Ace



Derrick Walton, who called a players-only meeting last night, led M's late charge to close out a much-needed win. [Marc-Gregor Campredon]

If Michigan's players think John Beilein is the problem, they aren't showing it. Last night, in preparation for today's must-win game against Nebraska, Derrick Walton called a players-only meeting at the team hotel.

"The coaches don't need to say so much," said Walton. "We talked about this last night as a team at the players meeting last night. They make the calls. They make the adjustments. They make the subs. It's on us to make the plays out there."

"As Coach [Beilein] says, there's a point where he can only say so much. It's up to us to make plays and get stops."

The defense may have remained abominable, but with the offense hitting on all cylinders and the team's two seniors coming up big down the stretch, Michigan made just enough plays and got just enough stops to get their second Big Ten win.

Both teams showed little ability to stop the other. Moe Wagner exploited Nebraska's nonexistent pick-and-pop defense to score a career-high 23 points, making four-of-six three-point attempts. When the Huskers finally adjusted to the pick-and-pop, Derrick Walton took over, hitting three second-half three-pointers from virtually the same spot on the floor before icing the game on the line on his way to 20 points. On the other end, Michigan had no answer for Tai Webster, who scored a game-high 28 points on 12-for-20 shooting, operating off the high screen.



Defense: optional. [Campredon]

While the Wolverines never trailed, it was a tight game throughout. Michigan's lone double-digit lead, after a Wagner triple early in the second half, lasted all of one possession. Each time they threatened to blow the game open, Nebraska hit back, usually with a drive from Webster. After a quiet first half, Husker guard Glynn Watson Jr. kept them within striking distance late, scoring 20 of his 22 points in the second half. With his best half of play since the SMU game, however, Walton—with some help from fellow senior Zak Irvin, who made all seven of his second-half free throws—kept the Huskers at bay.

"That consistency is what we're both trying to get for [Walton]," said Beilein. "That's what he's capable of."

DJ Wilson was the fourth Wolverine in double-figures, needing only seven shots to get his 11 points, and Duncan Robinson came off the bench to hit a couple critical shots. As usual, Michigan took excellent care of the ball, and they forced some timely turnovers that proved to be the difference.

"Going forward, I think, a meeting like that, where you see guys so passionate about wanting to win—[we] really did it justice tonight," said Walton.

"There's only so many games left."

Comments

spencerdsbaily

January 14th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^

It could have looked much worse but at least the offense is clicking.  Why doesn't Derrick start out of the gates like he ended?  I swear if there was a stat that should percetnage of points scored in the fin 8 minutes of games, Derrick's would be 95%.

The defense was completely non-existant once again but good thing our offense clicked.  I'm beginning to think Donlon was just a bad hire.  Yeah he is known as a defensive coach but it was Wright State...how good can he be?  Go blue, lets get some more wins and turn this season around, if not Beilein will be shown the door sooner than later.

Stringer Bell

January 14th, 2017 at 6:10 PM ^

It's remarkable how our defense gets worse and worse every single year.  Nebraska is a bad offensive team and they scored 85 points against us?  They got a ton of points in the paint too, despite us playing bigger lineups than we have in years past.  I wonder if Beilein even has them practicing defense, it's appalling how easily other teams can score.

bronxblue

January 14th, 2017 at 6:17 PM ^

The defense was bad, but teams don't shoot 50%+ from 3 completely because of bad defense. The defense has to get better at some point, but it's going to be a lot of these games in the interim. Still, this was a game UM never trailed in, which I'll take.

MGoGrendel

January 14th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^

but while I was at the vet I checked in here.  From the game comments I read, it sounded like we were getting blown out.  

I check ESPN to see how bad only to find out we were up by 8 with 46 seconds to play.  

Tough crowd! 

ghostofhoke

January 14th, 2017 at 8:46 PM ^

If I were a coach it would really irk me that my destiny is in the hands of Walton and Irvin. Sorry, that's the truth. They are two of the most disappointing players in recent memory in terms of development vs potential.




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Ronnie Kaye

January 14th, 2017 at 8:50 PM ^

HAHAHAHA!

Ace, after acknowledging the call for Beilein's job for the FIRST TIME, takes a swipe at the fans and reinforces his Coach B fan boy stance. After a win against Nebraska. Where they gave up 85. 

Ha.

 

NYMICH

January 15th, 2017 at 3:49 AM ^

55 comments (so far) for this thread, 200 comments on Antjuan Simmons, a linebacker Michigan didn't really want, committing to MSU.  4x as many comments.

Didn't get a chance to see the game, but I wonder how many students showed up?  Was the arena at capacity?  90%?  50%?  Bet it was a lot closer to 50% than 100%.

snarling wolverine

January 15th, 2017 at 12:06 PM ^

People tend to comment more after bad things have happened.  A guy from Ann Arbor committing to MSU is kind of a bad thing (it doesn't really affect us but it helps Sparty) so people comment.

If we had lost this game there'd be several "snowflake" and "Fire John Beilein" threads, and this thread would be over 100 posts, I'm sure.

 

 

 

NYMICH

January 15th, 2017 at 4:15 PM ^

Michigan lost to Illinois a few days ago, and the thread topped out at 108 comments, to your point.  108 comments is not a lot no matter how you look at it and I contend is a sign of fan apathy.  The AD may put up with a lot from the BB program, but students not giving a shit will force him to do something eventually.  The idea that the trials and tribulations of football recruiting generate 4 or 5 times as much interest as an actual basketball game is a symptom of a much larger malaise.  It can't continue.