SMU 62, Michigan 51 Comment Count

Ace



Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog

Michigan dropped their fourth straight game, unable to Harbaugh themselves past SMU. Their three-point shots wouldn't fall through the Harbaugh; the Fightin' Harbaughs hit just 8/36 shots from beyond the arc.

A nice stretch by Mark Donnal, who finished with 13 points, briefly got Michigan back into the Harbaugh in the second half, only to see the Mustangs pull away late. Caris LeVert couldn't hit the broad side of a Harbaugh, scoring four points on 1/8 shooting. Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton required far too many Harbaughs to tally 17 and 11 points, respectively.

The Wolverines are really going to have to Harbaugh in Big Ten play to have any hope of making the NCAA tournament. With only Monday's game against Coppin State left before conference play beings, they must get their Harbaugh together soon.

Harbaugh.

Comments

991GT3

December 20th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^

outmanned and is playing at a junior college level. Beilein has a lot of work to do and will prove whether he is the excellent coach we think he is.

wahooverine

December 20th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^

^ thank you.  Beilein doesn't have the benefit of a Jalil Okafor every year.  It's always a long term process of molding his players and, annually, his team over the year.  Beginning this year he lost arguably more than any other coach in the country in Stauskas, GRIII, McGary and SENIOR big men Jordan Morgan, and Horford.  What's left are very young players with only Levert and Walton having starting experience, and freshman manning the 4 and 5 positions.  Our "star", Levert is still just a kid and just doesn't have that Stauskas level swag (at least yet).  

Bottomline, IF Beilein figures this out and somehow sneaks us into the tourney, it willl only prove that he is a baskettball genius.  He doesn't need to prove he's a great basketball coach. That's been proven time and again and is not in doubt.

 

 

aiglick

December 20th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^

I think there is talent even though some of the recruiting misses have hurt. Long term next year almost everybody with the possible exception of LeVert will be back so we will finally have an experienced and older team. Injuries to Walton and Spike have not helped.

There's no sugar coating as losing to NJIT and EMU was bad but there are at least some mitigating circumstances. Our coaching staff has proven itself in recent seasons and I think next year will be a whole lot better. Beat Coppin State and then try to approach Big Ten as a new season.

Hemingway Jr

December 20th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^

Our offense is missing an inside game so badly. I feel like I haven't seen pick-and-roll pts all season. Maybe if Bacari and Ricky Doyle can figure something out we will still have a shot at a tourney.

Harbaugh.

Kfojames

December 20th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^

Yup, athletically, skillfully, as well as from a recruiting standpoint we are about on par with a mid level MAC school. We've had attrition yes, but we just haven't recruited well enough in the 4-5 positions IMO. Mitch McGary has been the lone star and we had him for just a year and not even a half. Most teams we will face the rest of the way are going to out athlete and out tough us. Gunna be a TOUGH rebuilding year but the staff has to do a better job of bringing in better athletes. I know this is sounding like a spoiled brat of a fan but my god sell the facilities you've just dumped money into and the fact you nearly went to back to back final fours and have sent an astounding number of underclassmen to the NBA in the last 4 years! The amount of Beilfeldts and dj Wilson's need to be turned into guys who can run, jump, block a shot or two, and display some toughness and just overly not be a liability. I also thought I'd never say this but John might need to tweak his philosophy just a touch and start recruiting better 4/5's. I know.. I'm probably jumping the gun. This is a young team.

JTrain

December 20th, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^

Was at the game. First time long time in crisler. WOW. That place looks top notch.
Regarding play...we just don't have a guy right now that has that killer instinct. Players looked tentative. Shooting was COLD. Why is Chatman starting? Couldn't even tell he was out there.
Oh well...we are young. It'll come. Hopefully in time for the big dance.




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SHub'68

December 20th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^

I have to put this out there again: getting Harbaugh requires a package deal with his brother-in-law in order to keep the family happy and whole. John Beilein is such a good sport that he is intentionally making himself look bad so when we have to take Tom Crean as our basketball coach in order to get Harbaugh to come, it'll be a little more palatable...it's true, I swear it.

m1jjb00

December 20th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^

whaever of Donnal's body part, I suggest that the same be applied to the rest of the team.   Effort and attention is too inconsistent, and man they take a bunch of bad shots.