Villanova 60, Michigan 55 Comment Count

Ace

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.

After a forgettable first half, Michigan and Villanova put on a show, trading big runs and phenomenal plays in one of the best college basketball games of this young season. Unfortunately, one of them had to lose.

The decisive play was representative. With five seconds left, down by a point, Michigan inbounded the ball from the Villanova baseline. John Beilein drew up a beauty of a play, freeing up Zak Irvin for what looked like an uncontested layup. Out of nowhere, JayVaughn Pinkston contested it, emphatically. The Wolverines were good; the Wildcats a hair better.

What cannot be lost is how encouraging this game became from Michigan's perspective, especially considering the first half and change. From the 7:13 mark of the first half until the 17:21 mark of the second, they didn't score a single point, allowing Villanova to turn a one-point deficit into a 13-point lead. John Beilein rotated through all four centers in the first half to poor results and lots of foul trouble. With 20 points on 30 possession at the break and an ugly start to the second stanza, a young M squad easily could've packed it in; this game would stand as last year's Duke game did, a learning experience via rote blowout.

Instead, they hit Villanova back. Zak Irvin, Caris LeVert, and Derrick Walton made consecutive baskets to make the game tight in a flash, and Spike Albrecht's triple with 11:19 left gave Michigan a lead they would tenuously hold until Dylan Ennis tied it up with a dagger from the corner with 2:36 on the clock.

The teams would trade buckets until Pinkston scored the eventual winning points with a strong—some might say too strong—move down low for a lay-in with 13 ticks left; moments later, his clean block of Irvin all but ended it. Michigan's last hope to tie it up faded ingloriously when Max Bielfeldt threw away a long inbounds attempt, but that shouldn't take away from a tremendously exciting game.

Yes, Michigan let a shot at a signature win slip away. That they were in position to get one in the first place against a much more experienced, and quite talented, Villanova team was a victory in and of itself, however; those bemoaning the loss ... well, "can't see the forest for the trees" comes to mind.

Admit it, that was a hundred times more fun than any football game this season. There will be bumps in the road, but this team is pretty darn good right now, and I can't wait to see what they're going to look like come March.

Comments

maizenblue92

November 26th, 2014 at 12:52 AM ^

It's fair for fans to bemoan the loss right after or as it happened because in the heat of the moment you want to win. Tomorrow after taking a little time to calm down and think, there will be a lot more positivity regarding this team and how far along they are already. 

Tater

November 26th, 2014 at 3:08 AM ^

1.  Michigan played a lot better than I expected.  It's like the team grew by two months during the second half.  

2.  Why did 'Nova get the Duke Defense Exemption from the "refs?"

MGolem

November 26th, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^

I have come to expect college basketball officiating to be a joke because it is every year but this game took that sentiment to another level. There weren't any egregious errors that one could point to and say "that cost us the game" but it was absolutely bush league.

charblue.

November 26th, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^

It was like the most aggressive player got the call so long as he didn't run over somebody. That was the only call Michigan seemed to be able to get. Doyle and Beilfeldt got raked in the lane on putback attempts with no whistle. On the inbounds play just prior to the half court pass to Donnal, Walton was taken down with no call. 

And yet the Wildcats were getting every touch foul in the paint called. Pinkston and the other big guy bumped, initaited contact and moved the interior guys out and then got the benefit of a contested shot. 

I just coldn't understand how a team that was initiating contact was getting all the foul calls down the stretch. Michigan never went to the line on a contested shot. And because Nova's fouls were all offensive, Michigan never got to the line on those calls. It just seemed bizarre. And Michigan was called for like six consecutive fouls. Beilfeldt drew three personals in the space of minutes. 

And this was a mixed crew of officials from the Big Ten and the Big East. But it was like a Big East officiated game. 

LBSS

November 26th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^

I didn't actually think the officiating was that unbalanced. A couple calls/non-calls went their way and I don't remember any going ours but at no point do I remember thinking the refs were robbing us.

This game makes me super excited about the basketball season. Michigan is so young -- Donnal looks like the world's biggest 10-year-old! -- and will spend the year growing and growing under Beilein's expert tutelage. Getting way ahead of myself here but this has the makings of a team that could surprise the hell out of people come March. Talented, uneven, still learning, don't always play 100% all the time. As they gel in all kinds of ways I think they'll end up being a pretty good team. 

EDIT: This is Donnal. I know football coaches talk about recruiting kids who don't shave yet because if they're good enough to get noticed but not yet growing facial hair they probably have a lot of growing left to do. But Donnal looks like his balls haven't even dropped yet. That is a good thing.

 

Blue In NC

November 26th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^

Credit to you for not criticizing the officiating.  I am usually fine with some early losses against good teams because they are growing items.  And this will be. 

But I thought that was one of the worst officiated games I have seen in a long while.  Obviously I am biased but I thought the officiating cost Michigan at least 10 points in this game.  How Villanova can just slam into post guys when backing them down and then our bigs get called for touch fouls when contesting shots is just baffling.  Late in the game on the shot Caris made and flexed for, he got raked across the arm on the shot, way more obvious and substantial than many calls that Nova got.  And the out of bounds plays were crazy where Nova were grabbing guys and grabbing jerseys.  No wonder we had trouble getting the ball in bounds.

In the end, the W or L doesn't really matter.  I thought Michigan was defintely the better team and got hosed on the calls but the bigger point is that several players really grew up last night.  This team looks poised to do very good things by the end of the year.  Really impressed with the growth in Irvin's game.  I am sure there will be some road struggles in conference and the post will continue to be an issue, but this team again looks good enough to overcome those deficiencies.  This staff continues to do magic.

schreibee

November 26th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^

It's probably been a growing strategy for awhile, but I really noticed it vs Kentucky in the tournament, and then in the rest of KY's tourney games, and again last night...coaches are taking advantage of how less likely offensive fouls are to be called.
If you lower a shoulder and drive, or aggressively hip check to clear space, it'll rarely be called. The consensus seems to be that Punkston's block was clean, but I saw charge on the previous bucket. Blatant.
So...how to adjust to such a strategy? Cost us the Kentucky game (for those who've forgotten: final tally, Michigan got called for a charge in that game but KY didn't); cost us the Nova game; what to do?

panderberg

November 26th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^

Cool term, Tater - "Duke Defensive Exemption." Perhaps you could send a little msg to Dickie V. with that phrase in it - see if he'll use it?  HAH!

*******************************

Whatever.

You guys shouldn't complain aboot the refs: they're pretty lousy EVERY game. And if you think this was bad, just wait 'til Big Ten season!

DK81

November 26th, 2014 at 12:52 AM ^

This one sting more than any loss probably since Tigers losing game 2 of the ALDS. Donnal has to get the ball to a good free throw shoot with a one point lead and a 1 and 1 coming. Also how the refs didn't call a foul when nova was grabbing Walton on the inbounds right before is incredible.




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Yo_Blue

November 26th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^

I was screaming at Donnal to pass to somebody - anybody.  My wife kept telling me, "you know, they can't hear you right?".  I had a sinking feeling when he was fouled and it proved to be correct.  Still, an entertaining game that bodes well for the rest of the season.

FGB

November 26th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^

You want the point where we lost the game (or lost the chance to the definitely win the game), it's right here.  Up 1, yes there are three guys around him but Spike is right next to him, you at least try to make that pass, and in all likelihood it's either a completed pass and Spike is going to the line, or it's deflected out of bounds.

I assume Donnal just sort of froze in the moment, saying to himself "Just don't turn it over, just don't turn it over..."  Which of course is right, but the next evolution as a successful college basketball player is "don't turn it over and get it to a good FT shooter, don't turn it over and get it to a good FT shooter..."

Stringer Bell

November 26th, 2014 at 12:52 AM ^

I was impressed.  We probably win that game if Donnal makes his FTs or passes it in that situation, but it is what it is.  For spurts, the offense looked unstoppable.  This is a game to build on for sure.

 

On a side note:  I was much less impressed with the refs tonight

ThirdVanGundy

November 26th, 2014 at 12:58 AM ^

Coached a great game tonight. Only issue I take with him was that deep inbounds pass to Donnal. That just didn't make much sense to me. Don't know if that was planned or if Spike just decided to pass it to him. If there was one moment that I have to pinpoint for the loss, that may be it.

Bagheera

November 26th, 2014 at 1:03 AM ^

It was planned.  On the timeout before that play, you could see Beilein's drawing board with a big arrow right up the middle of the court.  Better situational awareness from Donnal and Michigan almost certainly wins.

jsquigg

November 26th, 2014 at 1:02 AM ^

Look, I'm biased, but it looks like not only does Irvin get fouled from behind before the block happens, but on the follow through his arm gets taken out.  Oh well.  I've heard different interpretations on block calls where if you get the ball first follow through doesn't matter, but of course I've seen officials call it both ways.  If Michigan plays better in the middle of the game or finishes the game better those calls don't matter.  This team will be good.

Detroit Dan

November 26th, 2014 at 1:12 AM ^

I agree that the no-call on the Irvin shot was good.   But the officiating before that was bad.  What did you think of the no-call on the Walton drive just before that?  Clearly Walton was hammered.  There were so many bad calls against Michigan that it boggles the mind.  The better team lost tonight because of the officiating, in my humble opinion.  If I'm right, this will be borne out as the season progresses.  Michigan is definitely better than Nova....

SysMark

November 26th, 2014 at 1:20 AM ^

Both the big Ten and Big East play physical basketball.

My takeaway is this.  If this game is played a couple of months from now our freshman are much more confident and physical themselves and things are different.

Detroit Dan

November 26th, 2014 at 1:06 AM ^

Really bad officiating was the difference in this one, IMO.  With good officiating, M wins by 10.

Typical was the call against Irvin late in the game.  The replay showed that the Nova player (Pinkston, I think) fouled Irvin.  But the violation worked to Nova's advantage.  Then Walton drove to the hoop to clinch the game for Michigan and was clobbered.  No call.  

These calls, and many earlier in the game, were the difference.

So the good news is that Michigan is good, and getting better.

mgoblue98

November 26th, 2014 at 1:50 AM ^

The officiating did not lose the game for Michigan.  Not scoring for the last 7:13 of the first half and the first 2:39 of the second half, a time span during which they also turned the ball over quite a bit and looked pretty terrible, is what lost the game.  The went something like 0-12 during that span.  If they shoot just a crappy 4-12 during that span, they win.

Blue In NC

November 26th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^

I will disagree.  You can always go back and say "gee, my team didn't play a perfect game and that is what lost the game."  The point is that they overcame that deficit, took a lead and were poised to extend that lead but the calls down the stretch kept Nova in the game.  Good for Nova for taking advantage of that but let's not let the officials off the hook because Michigan didn't play great the whole game.

mgoblue98

November 26th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^

You don't blame the refs when your team loses.  Don't put yourself in the position of hoping the refs, who you have no control over, call everything your way.  Michigan went 25% of the game without scoring a point while turning the ball over more than they usually do.  That qualifies as playing terrible.  They didn't have to play great or perfect the whole game, as I pointed out, they just had to shoot a crappy 33% during that stretch.  Or they could have not turned the ball over leading to easy transition baskets for Villanova.

I coach football and basketball and while I certainly "lobby" refs and disagree with calls, I can't recall a single game where I blamed the refs for my team losing.  Every game that we lost was lost because we didn't make enough plays or the other team was just better than us.

aiglick

November 26th, 2014 at 1:08 AM ^

Work every day and improve from this point and they will be fine.

They may have lost a battle but they could very well win the war. This is one advantage basketball has over football. Each loss is not necessarily defining. I remember being in the BTT a few years ago and we were blown out by Wisconsin; a few short weeks later they were national runner-ups.

Just keep at it and working and good things will happen for this team. I'm very happy and proud for them even though yes the loss hurts. It's good to hurt a little again.

Senator

November 26th, 2014 at 1:08 AM ^

I was at the game. It was a thrill ride and a half. I have felt pretty lousy about certain wins in the past, but this is one of the few times I feel genuinely great about a loss. 

Before the game, I watched VCU, which got pummelled by Nova last night, do some pummeling of their own against an Oregon team we squeaked by. I was expecting a brutal learning experience.

What we got instead was a game in November(!) where our incredibly young team learned that they could hang with one of the best, most experienced teams in the country. 

In fact, they were a ludicrous block away from beating that team!

But teams learn more from losses, and losses keep 'em hungry. We have so much to grow from, and so much already there. This team needs some of Stauskas' swag in their step. They've earned it. I would have loved a win, but man, what a great loss. 

Michigasling

November 26th, 2014 at 2:30 AM ^

Last night one of Oregon's players turned his ankle late in the game, clearly in pain and having to be helped off the court.  The commentators suggested at the time he was one of their better players.  Being there live tonight, I looked for him in the VCU game, and finally spotted him in a boot and not dressed.  No way of knowing how that hobbled their team, but could have made the difference.  Not that VCU didn't look good.  (And had a great pep band.)

As for our game tonight, it was thrilling live.  When our guys played well, they played very, very well.  Ace summarized my feelings exactly.  Very impressed with their defense, especially hearing the criticism in earlier games.  And in stretches, their speed and ball-handling was dazzling.  Yes, there were the messy parts, and the questionable officiating.  

Just like last year, what a pleasure to see the youngsters early, and to see them learn so quickly!  (At least one of the Villanova players looked like he could have been the father of a couple of ours.)

panderberg

November 26th, 2014 at 1:09 AM ^

That was a TREMENDOUS journalistic effort on such short notice, Ace. Ofc, we've come to expect that out of you.

Also true: we don't lose that kind of game very often in Big Ten play, and just about never in March!

Chatman looked PDG tonight, as did our stars. The other freshmen - not so much. And our bigs are a bit worrisome, too - slow, stout guys usually don't work out very well as 5's in today's fast-paced game. Unfortunately for us - guys who are stocky & slow in November are still slow & stocky in March.

But: Sweet Sixteen, here we come!!

BK-bloo

November 26th, 2014 at 1:12 AM ^

this team is good and going to be much better. a couple more games for the freshmen and it would have been a different ending to this game. this season is going to be fun.

Mocha Cub

November 26th, 2014 at 1:12 AM ^

I was very encouraged by this game. I think with more experience for our bigs as the season plays out that this team can make a lot of noise in BIG play as well as in March. They might suffer a few lumps in the form of bad losses, but they're getting it figured out. Villanova is very tough defensively, but we still played awesome in the second half. The difference in the game were our inexperienced bigs getting into foul trouble early. If that doesn't happen (specifically with Doyle), we would have won this game by 7-10.

jenniferjgrubbs

November 26th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^

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ak47

November 26th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^

I was at the game and I thought it was a pretty ugly game honestly. It was great to see the team fight back and go toe to toe with a good team but the offense looked not great for pretty long stretches. Obviously to be expected with a young team and Doyle and chatman both showed good flashes.

The biggest takeaway for me was max is who we thought he was. He just can't handle playing the 5 defensively. Every time he was in Villanova went straight at him on the block and got an easy layup foul or offensive rebound. There was a noticeable difference from how nova ran it's offense and his being in is when nova made their run to come back after we had taken a 6 point lead. Overall good learning experience and the team will continue to improve. That's the nice thing about basketball, just get to March and get better as the year goes on.

San Diego Mick

November 26th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^

I would tip my cap if Irvin wasn't fouled more than once on that play, that block happened because Pinkston was allowed to body Zak and also hit him in the face on the follow through of the block, we got hosed but I'm still very proud of this team already.

Doyle needs to be the starting Center, that much is obvious.