Michigan 91, Nebraska 85
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."
January 14th, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^
that your age is attached to your account so we know how old you are. My guess is that you are under 17.
January 14th, 2017 at 9:33 PM ^
Nope,,, I'm over 40. I'm a man.....
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January 14th, 2017 at 5:47 PM ^
Nice. Good win.
January 14th, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^
score 91 and still a tight game. this is richrod in bball
January 15th, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^
Does that make it "football on hardwood"?
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January 16th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
I never thought I'd see this team give up 80+ points to a team that ranks 221st in PPG and basically can't shoot from two or three point range, at home.
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.
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.
January 14th, 2017 at 7:55 PM ^
What's particularly striking is how badly they get beaten on certain actions (like the ballhandler splitting the hedge on the PNR). It really looks like they have no idea how to guard it.
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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.
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!
January 14th, 2017 at 6:53 PM ^
It's the same reaction every game, regardless
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January 14th, 2017 at 6:29 PM ^
Go Blue!
January 14th, 2017 at 6:38 PM ^
did someone say:
"They make the subs" ?
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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January 14th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
Well the coach of this team willing hitched his wagon to those guys by not recruiting a viable replacement in the last 4 years.
January 14th, 2017 at 9:33 PM ^
I didn't think Walton was bad as a freshman
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.
January 15th, 2017 at 5:52 AM ^
Don't call out Ace like you know him. You just a loser on a message board.
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January 16th, 2017 at 9:40 AM ^
... Says the loser on a message board.
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January 14th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
Even a blind squirrel gets a nut.
January 15th, 2017 at 12:44 AM ^
I was crossing my fingers simply hoping for some better basketball.
Good to see some resolve and improvement.
Hope we continue to turn it around.
Onwards!
Go Blue!
January 15th, 2017 at 2:56 AM ^
If I don't go full chub for a win against Nebraska. Will remain at half-chub for now
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%.
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.
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.
January 15th, 2017 at 6:07 PM ^
Football is king. As has been always will be.
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January 15th, 2017 at 8:37 AM ^
Who here thinks we will come within 25 points at Wisconsin?
January 15th, 2017 at 9:09 AM ^
says we'll only lose by 12. Lets give Beilein 10 more years!
Disclaimer: I have no idea what kenpom predicts for the Wisc game.
January 15th, 2017 at 11:07 AM ^
We actually have tended to play them fairly competitively at the Kohl Center under Beilein, though we've only won once.
January 15th, 2017 at 9:07 AM ^
was fun to watch. Happy for the win.
January 16th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
was NOT fun to watch!
January 16th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
was NOT fun to watch!
January 16th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
was NOT fun to watch!
January 16th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
was NOT fun to watch!
January 16th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
was NOT fun to watch!
January 16th, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^
was NOT fun to watch!
January 15th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^
Better Today than Yesterday. Better Tomorrow than Today.
So simple it just might work.
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January 15th, 2017 at 5:17 PM ^
Offer Tony Bennett- Virginia
January 16th, 2017 at 1:00 AM ^
Bennett has no reason to leave Virginia for Michigan.
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January 16th, 2017 at 8:15 AM ^
I'd prefer Josh Pastner. I his 1st yr at Ga Tech he's already beaten Cuse, and several other ACC big dogs on the road. Dude can flat coach.
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January 16th, 2017 at 10:41 AM ^
Bennett runs the most boring basketball in America. He's worse than Bo Ryan. Do not want.
January 15th, 2017 at 12:36 PM ^
Fun fact:
- Michigan is the only team in the Big Ten Nebraska has not beaten in Men's Basketball since joining in the 2011-2012 season.
January 15th, 2017 at 5:13 PM ^
Of course not. First, it's Beilein, who cannot recruit, secondly, will he want to come to a school who barely makes the NCAA'a?
January 15th, 2017 at 8:17 PM ^
Tournament this year, it will be a miracle.
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