Michigan State 89, Michigan 73 Comment Count

Ace



[Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog]

That felt all too familiar.

For the second straight game, Michigan got run off their home court in a contest far uglier than even the lopsided final score would indicate. Within ten seconds of the opening tipoff, MSU guard Bryn Forbes drilled a three-pointer. He'd sink seven more before taking a seat; taking an early seat due to the blowout was the only thing preventing him from tying and likely breaking the Crisler single-game record of nine made three-pointers.

With Denzel Valentine and Eron Harris chipping in, State sunk ten of their 14 first-half 3PA; Michigan couldn't stick with shooters whether in man or zone, allowing MSU to pick them apart with impressive passing. The Wolverines simply had no answer on the other end, making 4/16 first-half 3PA—3/6 for Derrick Walton, 1/10 for everyone else—and tallying only four assists to MSU's 11 in the opening stanza.

Matters didn't improve in the second half. Apparently tired of lighting Michigan up from the outside, MSU's first four second-half buckets came in the paint, including a demoralizing steal-and-slam by Matt Costello, who also embarrassed Mark Donnal with a subsequent spin move and reverse dunk on a post-up. The Spartans lead ballooned to as many as 30 points with 2:48 to play, at which point they were on pace for the best single-game eFG% mark of any team in the country this season; only a solid showing by Michigan's garbage-time unit made the score look half-respectable, and a series of missed shots by benchwarmers brought MSU's eFG% down to a mere 78.0%.

For the second straight game, Michigan displayed little ability to get anything going towards the basket, and they couldn't free up shooters as a result; Duncan Robinson finished with two points and missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. Zak Irvin did his best to keep Michigan within reach, scoring 19 on 16 shots, but he didn't get close to enough help from the supporting cast on either end. Aubrey Dawkins chipped in 14 points, but 12 of those came in the second half after the game was well in hand.

Michigan gets a badly needed chance to regroup Wednesday at Minnesota, which is still winless in the Big Ten, and they'll need to figure out what's wrong in a hurry; a rough final seven-game stretch starts next Saturday when the Wolverines host Purdue.

Comments

Schmiege

February 6th, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^

The recruiting front doesn't show much hope for the future. Pretty much have to overlook the 2016 class and start hoping for changes in 2017. So far they have Poole in the fold. Need to push hard for Brian Bowen. From there could we please try to get a BIG for a change? Teske and Davis don't fill that void in this year's class so it looks like that gaping hole could remain open for years to come.

One Armed Bandit

February 6th, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^

Just seems to be, "Let's outshoot everyone. Rebounding and defense and everything else be damned." With that, when it's good, it's really good. When you can't, you get the last two games.

For those wanting Beilein on the hot seat, he hasn't gotten there yet. Manuel will sit down with him at the end of the season and figure out what needs to be done to make us more competitive next year.  If things continue like this, then we'll see. But Warde will make every effort to make sure Coach B has the right people in place, no matter what that means.

alum96

February 6th, 2016 at 5:12 PM ^

Can we stop with the "look at where UM was before Beilein got here" as part of any analysis go forward?

I agree with all that Beilein took us out of the darkness.  There were probably 8-10 other guys who could also have done that.  Beilein was ours.  For that we appreciate it. 

The question is what can we do go forward?  Some coaches are good at getting you a base, some guys take you to the summit.   Is Beilein the former or latter?  If not the latter are you content with "this" for another 5-6 years.  If you want more then you need to thank him and look for one of those other guys who can take the next step - cognizant you can f*** up that hire as the football program did.

We wont be dirty with Beilein so the type of recruits we get are the nice guys who are undervalued and then try to find diamonds in the rough.  Apparently Izzo sent out Dwayne Stephens to do the dirty work Coach K, Coach C and the like are happy to do themselves.  We wont have such a guy on staff as long as Beilein is here. 

What is sad is we were told after the big run 3 years ago it takes 2-3 years to really appreciate that in the recruiting cycle since its a longer time frame than football.  Here we are those years later and we are just in the same phase of losing out on top guys and hoping guards ranked in the 80s are the next Trey Burke.   And getting the same type of big men we have had for years on end save Mitch.

So in short - thank you Beilein for getting here and being a very great man. I dont see Manuel doing any changes for at least 2 years since he wont rock the boat so soon and guy just signed an extension.  But yeah looking at this team next year is about the same as this year, and with the type of recruits we are getting 2017-2018 looks pretty mediocre as well.  I guess Manuel has a decision at that point.

cp4three2

February 6th, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^

I've never understood the look where we were before Beilein. Michigan has traditionally been a good basketball school. We killed our program because people overreacted to what happened with Webber. We then hired a mediocre coach. That allowed Sparty to take over the state in basketball and we've been behind the 8 ball since. Beilein's been fine here, but let's not act like we're Nebraska or PSU. The state has high level basketball recruits, it's absurd he can't get consistently good classes




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Archibald Meatpants

February 6th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^

I hate to bash Beilein because of the train wreck he walked into.  At least people care about the hoops team again thanks to him.  But, he has to at least find an assistant with a proven track record with recruiting when the season's over.  This clearly isn't his strength.  He has the resources to have a consistant winner.  And, for the love of god could they at least spend some time learning how to block out, finish at the basket and maybe get the ball through the hoop when they dunk?        

 

 

 

Cr64

February 6th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^

How in the world can a coach not recut off the 2013 run, Only one coach in Amercia could achieve that level of mediocrity, one Mr. John Beilein. We won't make the NCAA's this year or next due to his horrible recruiting. Mr Manuel...see what you can do. Bunch of sorry, soft losers.

blue90

February 6th, 2016 at 5:28 PM ^

Everything was terrible about that.  Everyone sucked.  No D, no 3-pt shooting, no coaching, no anything.  PLUS that is the second game in a row.  Awkwardly enough I still think we make the tourney and Beilein stays for a while hahaha

I'm sorry but this is completely normal for every shool except for six maybe?  Outside of Duke, UNC, Kentucky, MSU, Kansas all schools have a few good years for random reasons and then they are 15-15 or 20-10 for the rest of the seasons.  That is part of the way college ball is but it is also due to the fact that we don't care about basketball the way we care about football.  I want better for this team and for this program but as I have said in the past Beilein is the type of coach who gets a 30-8 year every five or even tens years and maybe (though rarely) a bit better but it is not his regular. Look at the other Big ten schools.  MSU is the only one consistently good.  Maryland, Ilinois, PSU, even Purude, OFTEN struggle to make the tourney, just like us. 

Keep in mind even the great teams in college have sucky seasons every 5 years.  It also takes years and years to make a dynasty.  These schools that all of us hope we were started somewhere and it took them a damn long time to get where they are right now.  How do you think Kansas football feels?  Or Duke football?  They feel sucky every year but once or twice every ten years.  That is our basketball team.  You can want more and you should want more but you won't get anywhere.  Michigan WILL NEVER BE a school that goes 25-5 every year in basketball.  It's not us and it's not Beilein.  We have never been good at basketball except for at a couple of random moments (fab five, etc) and expect it to stay that way.   

blue90

February 6th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^

These schools are not consistently good.  ever.  Wichita state has been terrible every year for fifty years until Gregg Marshall.  So was VCU until Anthony Grant...know your teams before talking about them.  All the programs you mentioned are consistnely bad except for random spurts of good runs, just like Michigan.

blue90

February 6th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^

Not good.  Wisconsin has recently been good but completely sucked until Bo got there which is exactly my point.  OSU is somewhat consistent but not really, how many elite eights has Matta been to in 12 years? 2.  How has Florida been recently? Terrible.  Louisville is under sanctions that are only going to get worse so they got their wins by cheating.  You're right on Arizona, I'll give you that.  So you're proving my point for me.  VERY FEW teams have records that are consistently more than 25 wins.  It just doesn't happen that often except at ELITE ELITE programs which Michigan isn't and never will be in the near future.  Some programs, like Wisconsin have had great years and are starting to create themselves as basketball schools and that is only until recently.  If you're expecting Michigan to consistently make the tourney and even make runs in it then you're setting yourself up to be let down.  

Stringer Bell

February 6th, 2016 at 9:43 PM ^

Matta's been to 2 Final Fours and another Elite 8, and also 2 Sweet 16's.  That's a hell of a lot better than Beilein's tenure at Michigan.  Florida was a perennial power under Donovan.  A great coach can win consistently at Michigan, one who actually recruits well and coaches all aspects of the game, not just 3 point shooting.

GoBlue C4

February 6th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^

Robinson needs to find a seat on the bench if he's not going to shoot 40% from 3. I would much rather see him come in a as a 6th or 7th man for 15 minutes a game and Jack a few 3s than be a starter. Beilein needs to shake things up and start a bigger more athletic line up, maybe-
1- Walton
2- Irvin
3- Dawkins
4- Chatman or Wilson
5- Donnal
This way Michigan would be bigger and more athletic and have a deeper and better bench with RAWK, Robinson Doyle and the other 4 that doesn't start.

Also Michigan needs Levert back

Cr64

February 6th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^

seen this coming.  This could have been predicted after the SMU and Xavier games.  Michigan basketball is so out of step with Big Ten basketball, and how it is played, that it has become painful the last few years.  Coming off a National title run, and look at our recruits.  Changes need to be made, and if it includes the coach, well, so be it.  Manuel comes from a college that knows a thing or two about basketball.  Go ahead Ward, get tough.  Recruit Bennett like Harbaugh was recruited.

 

funkywolve

February 6th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

10-8 would probably have them on the bubble heading into the conference tourney.  That is 3-4 in the remaining games and 2 of the 3 victories would probably be Minny and NU.  Neither of those wins is going to do much to help their NCAA resume.  A loss to Minny would be devasting.  

Cr64

February 6th, 2016 at 6:40 PM ^

Did anyone see JB's press conference?  Very classy to compliment the other team and the players....both IU and MSU....but....John, why does MSU and IU have such superior talent, per your comments?  Why could you not recruit coming off the NC game?  Frankly, the press conference was a real admission to some horrible recruiting and even worse coaching.  He basically threw up his hands and admitted that they have no idea what to do, but "work harder".  What a bunch of crap we have on our hands with this team and staff.  Remember, this is the guy who said after the Indiana game "we will try to do better".  I almost choked when I heard that wimpy response.  Get tough or get out of AA John.

 

True Blue Grit

February 6th, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^

two blowout losses.  This is NOT what Michigan basketball should be.   And it is not going to improve our already mediocre recruiting of late. 

In all of Michigan losses this year we have been exploited on the inside.  This has become a hallmark of Michigan basketball in the Beilein years whenever Mitch McGary hasn't been on the floor.  In the Big Ten where tough, physical inside play is critical, Michigan is attempting to compete with one hand tied behind their back.  Recruiting is where we are being killed here.  We bring in good perimeter guys.  But, all the "bigs" we've brought in post-McGary are either not athletic enough or soft or both.  Maybe it's the way Beilein recruits - I don't know.  But if it is, it is not acceptable going forward.  Our opponents know this weakness and then devote all their resources on perimeter defense to limite our outside shooting.  And they've been highly successful at it, at least the teams with any degree of talent.

I do believe with Beilein's age, recent track record, and lack of desire to "mix it up" with the competiton on the recruiting trail, things will not improve much.  And what I mean with recruiting is he is old-school and demands a lot.  That's not what a lot of recruits want to hear these days.  They are being told a ton of things that focus on "them" and not the team.  Beilein may be right, but in the end, it isn't getting highly rated players to commit here. 

I think the new AD Manuel will need to start evaluating Michigan basketball and how long JB will be able to help Michigan meet it's high goals for being a Big Ten and national contender.

Richard75

February 6th, 2016 at 7:04 PM ^

We've played nine top-50 teams this season. We've trailed by at least 15 points in seven of those games.

The injuries hurt, of course, but they're a bit of a smokescreen. Something has to be seriously wrong to be so consistently uncompetitive. Obviously recruiting has been disappointing and defense has never been a strong suit, but I wonder also if the program doesn't have the drive it once did. It was pretty remarkable today how the players didn't really start getting after it until mid-first half, when it was clear that State might just win by 50 if they didn't.




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991GT3

February 6th, 2016 at 7:06 PM ^

He was acknowledging that MSU and IU had better players and were much better. Not once did he display any anger over the lopsided losses. All he did was praise how good MSU is amd how they have been improving as the season progresses.

Being a nice guy isn't going to cut it in present day college athletics. For those who claim that the best programs cheat that is pure hogwash and a flimsy excuse of the lack of competency of our coaching staff.

JB for the good of the program should advise the new AD he would like to step down at the end of the season.