Wisconsin 68, Michigan 64
mfw the evil Kohl Center vibes kick in [Patrick Barron]
Entering the contest, Michigan’s defense had been on a dreadful run of form, but the Wolverines played an ugly half of basketball to trail 26-21 at the break; Michigan’s offense was completely out of sorts outside of some nice play from Zak Irvin, but they managed to hold Wisconsin well under a point per possession as a Badger offense seemingly too committed to pounding the ball inside didn’t move the ball well. It was the best half of defense Michigan had played in some time.
An extended 17-2 stretch (which was fueled by some great effort defensively) gave Michigan a 38-30 lead in the second half, but a sequence of early fouls put Wisconsin in the bonus early and the Badgers were able to assert themselves on the offensive end – their run to take the lead was keyed by an offensive rebound on a missed free throw that led to a three.
Michigan’s defense gave up 42 points in the second half, though a decent amount of those points came as the Wolverines intentionally fouled to extend the game. Bronson Koenig had some big threes for the Badgers after the game was tied at 49 with five minutes left; Duncan Robinson – who contributed some offensively – left him wide open off an elevator screen on one, and Derrick Waltonwas juked into leaving him open in the corner on another. Moritz Wagner, who dealt with foul trouble in the second half, and the Michigan offense couldn’t respond. DJ Wilson also was limited by fouls and held scoreless after a red-hot start to Big Ten play.
All of the quintessential Kohl Center elements were present: some brick-heavy low-scoring basketball in the first half, some dubious whistles (that resulted in a few make-up calls for Michigan, to be fair) in the second, and an inexorable Wisconsin run late to seize the game and put it out of reach by hitting enough of their free throws – a pair of Nigel Hayes misses notwithstanding – down the stretch.
Michigan’s defense looked much better, despite the talented Badger big man combo of Ethan Happ and Hayes, but ultimately they gave up 1.09 PPP – and their offense wasn’t quite efficient enough to get the win (the Wolverines were just 12-30 from inside the arc). The loss drops them to 2-4 in Big Ten play, though if they can replicate their success on the defensive side of the floor, a turnaround could be in the offing. At the very least, they need to beat an Illinois team – that recently routed them – on Saturday, as they're quickly running out of time.
January 18th, 2017 at 8:01 AM ^
in the modern era of sports where we realize that a team has to overcome poor officiating as well as overcoming the opponent. The last thing this team needs is to be embraced by the "we got srewed by the refs" mentality. Michigan was on their way to doing both through good defense and hustle until Donnal let a FT rebound drop right in font of him which Wisconsin took, hit a three, and never looked back. I've heard repeated comments about how Wagner and Wilson spent the summer at Michigan working out, but I've never heard any such comments about Donnal. Judging from appearances, I wouldn't guess it either. Nice kid. Not doing much with what he has athletically. Wagner and Wilson have to learn to avoid mental meltdowns that lead to poor shots and fouls.
January 18th, 2017 at 8:37 AM ^
January 18th, 2017 at 8:53 AM ^
We didn't play a perfect game, sure. But for a team that commits the fewest fouls in the country (!) to be whistled for 10 fouls before even the midway point of the second half is absurd. No one wants to see game officiated like that. And there is no excuse for that blown out of bounds call in the final minute.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:03 AM ^
So, did Wisconsin play perfect? Of course not. So, what's your point? Michigan players had open looks at threes, too. Michigan players penetrated UWs defense and got layups. So, what's the difference?
January 18th, 2017 at 10:01 AM ^
Wisky did it in crunch time and UM didn't. Wisconsin made plays when they had to and Michigan didn't.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
Xavier dribbled in bounds.
January 18th, 2017 at 3:55 PM ^
The actual difference. Wisconsin got a bunch of free free throws and we got to put our 2 best players on the bench.
January 18th, 2017 at 8:03 AM ^
in the modern era of sports where we realize that a team has to overcome poor officiating as well as overcoming the opponent. The last thing this team needs is to be embraced by the "we got srewed by the refs" mentality. Michigan was on their way to a surprisingly gritty win through good defense and hustle until Donnal let a FT rebound drop right in font of him which Wisconsin took, hit a three, and never looked back. I've heard repeated comments about how Wagner and Wilson spent the summer at Michigan working out, but I've never heard any such comments about Donnal. Judging from appearances, I wouldn't guess it either. Nice kid. Not doing much with what he has athletically. Wagner and Wilson have to learn to avoid mental meltdowns that lead to poor shots and fouls.
January 18th, 2017 at 8:49 AM ^
The Foul Discrepancy is a direct reflection of how physical Wisconsin plays around the basket. Something I wish JB would incorporate into his offense.
We just saw why throwing it into the post is important.
It was clear from the start Ward wanted to go right at Wilson and Wagner on the block. I imagine his thinking is, 1. Wilson and Wagner are horrible post defenders and 2. Get them in foul trouble early and Michigan has nothing behind them.
What's Michigan do to exploit another team's weakness? I'm honestly asking because it sure seems like we do the same thing every game which is do a passing drill around the perimeter until the shot clock gets below 8 and then force a shot.
Great X and O's coach though.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:01 AM ^
Considering many of the fouls called did not happen in the post your comment gives the appearance that you did not watch the game. Wisconsin did not earn those fouls from posting up, besides what does it matter where the "fouls" occurred?
January 18th, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^
"What does it matter where the fouls occured"
And this is your typical Michigan Basketball fan.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^
January 18th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
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January 18th, 2017 at 9:18 AM ^
During the National Championship run, we out talented opposing teams, JB did not out coach anyone.
I think that's becoming clearer by the day with JB. There is no coaching advantage and there's a strong argument there hasn't been one since Novak's senior year.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:31 AM ^
I know you're upset with Beilein right now, and it's not necessarily unwarranted, but this is over the top.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:32 AM ^
Is it?
JB is about to leave this program in worse shape than he took it over. So, truly, is what I'm saying over the top?
January 18th, 2017 at 11:24 AM ^
You can be upset with how the program has performed the last 2.5 seasons and be concerned for the future. But going revisionist about Beilein's job performance prior to 2015 is silly. Coaches aren't unchangeable robots. They can get better and worse at their jobs over time, like anyone else.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:29 AM ^
The Foul Discrepancy is a direct reflection of how physical Wisconsin plays around the basket.That would make more sense if they were the ones getting whistled 8 possessions in a row (whatever it was), not us. What I saw was UW guys (especially Hayes) flopping around like crazy, suckering the officials into calling fouls, and it worked.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^
And that's what happens when you out phsyical your opponent. Michigan so dearly wanted to play physical back even though they have no clue how to. So they over compenstated defensively.
Wiscy took full advantage.
There's a lot more to the defensive side of the ball than just shuffling your feet.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
Dude, we were getting called for a lot of ticky-tack garbage last night. Wagner's fifth personal (to cite one example) was a phantom call. Wisconsin may be a physical team but they also know how to sell marginal/nonexistant contact to the officials.
January 18th, 2017 at 3:02 PM ^
What I saw was UW guys (especially Hayes) flopping around like crazy, suckering the officials into calling fouls, and it worked.
So why weren't we doing the same?
January 18th, 2017 at 8:58 AM ^
At one point Beilein was considering tearing his own face off the officiating was so bad. That's why it is such BS when the media grants so much credit to teams who have winning streaks at home or label venues as "tough" for away teams, because so much of it is that team getting favoritism at home. Not only is there an L instead of a potential W, but this win could have changed the outcome of the season. Bad referees piss me off because they take opportunities away from teams that deserve better.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:04 AM ^
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January 18th, 2017 at 9:33 AM ^
With Beilein being such an offensive mastermind, and maybe the best in the country at drawing up plays, why do we have such a hard time inbounding the ball?
We had two late inbounds passes stolen last night. You're telling me the best option is a bounce pass to a guy 4 feet away with his defender draped all over him?
January 18th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
Because he's none of those things you mentioned in your first paragraph. He never has been.
He has one offense. He has ZERO set plays outside of his base offense and there's no Burke or Stauskus to hide that fact.
January 18th, 2017 at 9:43 AM ^
January 18th, 2017 at 9:47 AM ^
was the same despite somewhat better defensive perfrrmance ( AT TIMES) The usual and predictable COLLSPASES at end of halfs and end of games. This team Stinks and they are left fighting for their NIT lives...JB has got to go..We are now into 3 straight poor years and sub par recruiting seasons.
This team is unbearable to watch most of the tims, CANNOT hold a lead and one bonehead play after another after another. There really isnt anything positive to say about this team
January 18th, 2017 at 10:10 AM ^
Any word on Walton's injury? This team won't get to the NIT without him.
Xavier stinks.
January 18th, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^
However, I have an even bigger beef...
For such a renowned Xs and Os offensive coach, why can't Beilein design a decent inbounds play when we're inbounding under the opposition's basket (our offensive end)?
In last night's game, we turned it over at a critical point late in the 2nd half with the WI big stealing it when we were attempting to inbound.
Inbounding from that location has been a problem for YEARS. It seems like the best the designed play can hope for is to toss the ball to the guy buried in the near corner behind a screen. The guy usually gets double teamed or struggles to get free from the spot.
It's such a simple element to the game. I've never seen a team / coach struggle so consistently with this play over several years. Inbounding in that position should be an advantage to us with the outlet being to just throw it to half court if there are no options.
Is this making anyone else on this board borderline crazy?
January 18th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
It wasn't a win but it was encouraging to me and I've been completely down on them.
Granted, I'm not the arbiter of all this- just one man's view.
Mo wanted to take those big shots at the end and although he didn't sink those back to back 3 attempts, him wanting the ball was great.
Walton lower back issue looked painful and he showed grit staying out as long as he did.
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January 18th, 2017 at 11:06 AM ^
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January 18th, 2017 at 11:32 AM ^
I get so tired of listening to the whining about refs. Refs can be terrible - that has been the case since forever.
When you don't play defense and are constantly trying to recover from defensive lapses, you are constantly switching and lunging and stuff gets called against you, because there are lots of opportunities for the refs to blow the whistle.
Offensively, when you don't attack the rim and can't create off the dribble you are going to get fewer calls.
We don't have the talent or scheme to get any breaks from the refs. Stop bitching and play better, plain and simple.
January 18th, 2017 at 11:49 AM ^
there were multiple factors to our loss -- our play (though better, overall) & determinedly shitty reffing.
There has to be some way to fight back / address both.
Glad to see, though, that we played with some life & determination.
Donnal has to buck up, bring some maturity to his situation. Demotions suck, but then you do the reflection & work to come back.
January 18th, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
January 18th, 2017 at 1:51 PM ^
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