Michigan 68, Maryland 67
sure.
It was your typical trap game. Playing 51 hours after a season-defining road win in East Lansing, Beilein’s clearly exhausted Michigan squad barely scraped together 20 points in the first half. Then, as trap games go, they erased the 10-point deficit right out of the break, pushed it to a 10-point lead thanks to a little-used freshman sparkplug, lost the 10-point lead, went down by 1 point with 3.5 seconds, and won on two MAAR free throws, just another couple of points in a career that’s seen a thousand of them.
WITH TWO MADE FREE THROWS TO WIN THE GAME @theprophet_5 REACHES 1,000 CAREER POINTS!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/8FBqWMRzC6
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) January 16, 2018
Michigan certainly came out like they’d just played the biggest game of their season two days ago, missing layups, dunks and open threes as the Terps opened a 30-20 deficit at the half. In the frame the Wolverines shot just 31% from the field without getting to the line. MAAR in particular was scuffling,
Maryland, on five days rest, was able to collect a few early buckets in transition and capitalize on more than a few bounces. Michigan played strong defense, forcing the Terps to use the entire shot clock and take five desperation heaves—their eight points off of those low-percentage attempts were most of the 10-point difference in the half.
As Mr. Bridges noted after Saturday’s game, Michigan doesn’t really focus on toughness. Yet for the second time in three days these non-toughness-focusing players erased a halftime deficit out of the break. Zavier Simpson sparked the comeback with a few brilliant series, one a defensive set in which he cut off an Anthony Cowan drive, fought through a screen, knocked the ball out of bounds, assisted on a bad shot, and collected the rebound. Down three Z drove the length of the court, released a floater from the top of the paint, and sank the and-one to tie it 30-30.
Then in came Jordan Poole.
“Poole’s B1G eFG%: 70.6” —Ace [Marc-Grégor Campredon]
If the Purdue game was a taste, this was a coming out party for Michigan’s (arguably) most talented freshman. Poole immediately showed his characteristic awareness for the arc. In one sequence he sank a transition three, blocked a Maryland attempt at the same, and got back down to deliver Z’s drive and kick. In minutes Michigan had a 45-41 lead. Later he’d hint at his ceiling as a creator with a beautiful bounce-pass that set up a Teske and-one and pushed Michigan’s lead to 8.
Jordan Poole nicknamed his 2K player The Microwave, and himself: ‘Hey, shoutout to Vinnie Johnson.’
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) January 16, 2018
With Z’s backups struggling and Poole hot, Beilein experimented with a MAAR-Poole-Matthews lineup. This didn’t look bad—it got Wagner an open top of the key 3PA (he missed). It also opened up transition lanes for Maryland. A pair of Wagner free throw misses and a small Maryland run on two crazy buckets forced a timeout with the lead cut to four, setting up the ho hum finish.
Under two minutes, MAAR missed a layup and Wagner picked up a foul on a rebound as Maryland cut Michigan’s lead to 2 with 1:19 remaining. On the ensuing possession Matthews fought his way out of a trap, and Michigan passed it around the horn to get MAAR an open three and Michigan a two-point lead. The teams then traded layups, then with 20 seconds left Cowan sank an improbable line drive three, Z missed a pair of free throws, and Kevin Heurter sank one of his signature ladder triples to put Maryland ahead a point with 3.5 seconds left.
In typical trap game fashion, Isaiah Livers hit MAAR on a perfect deep flag route. Abdur-Rahkman, at 998 career points, tripped over a Terp and picked up the foul. The rest was academic.
Michigan escapes their murderous stretch at 2-1 (that shoulda been 3-0) with a tournament resume, and now has a few days to rest before their Thursday tilt in Lincoln, followed by Rutgers at home.
[After the jump: a box score, more photos by MG, some favorite tweets, and at some point you might want to breathe]
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Box Score:
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Photos by MG:
This is one sequence:
Tweets:Turgeon: “They’re impossible to guard. Let me say that again: They’re IMPOSSIBLE to guard with Wagner."
— Max Marcovitch (@Max_Marcovitch) January 16, 2018
"We do practice it, but we usually mess it up." - John Beilein on late-game play. Helps that Isaiah Livers was a baseball player at K-Zoo Central.
— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) January 16, 2018
January 16th, 2018 at 8:48 AM ^
There were sadly (not surprising) a substantial number of "fans" who were racing out Crisler with 3.2 seconds left. Hundreds+. And while they missed a great ending, they did get to their cars 5 minutes earlier.
January 16th, 2018 at 9:53 AM ^
Can't miss those Family Guy re-runs on TBS!!
January 15th, 2018 at 10:27 PM ^
Somehow it's seemed like late-game free throw shooting has always been an adventure for us over the years. I'm always nervous in those situations. This year has not calmed my nerves.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^
...and I think it makes me appreciate what Walton was able to do last year even more. Guy was a bulldog on D in crunch time, and was simultaneously the best ballhandler and the best clutch FT shooter we had on the team.
This year, we have two great athletes/defenders in Matthews and Simpson - and you can't take them off the court on D - but you don't trust them at the line. On the other hand, you have Robinson, who's a tremendous FT shooter but is clearly not the defensive player that you want out there when you're up 4 or 5 points and the other team is going full-blast.
That's why going forward, it's got to be MAAR who leads the team in these situations. He's the best combination of what Walton was last year. Livers or Poole inbound the ball and look for #12. Otherwise, teams are going get smart and start the Hack-a-Z or Hack-a-Chuck and putting those 50% guys at the line.
January 16th, 2018 at 1:11 AM ^
for a while longer for confidence purposes (can't give up on him yet), but at some point, you might see Poole in for Z at the end and MAAR taking the inbounds/outlet passes.
January 16th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^
it has never seemed he puts a lot of thought into inbounding the ball. For years we have had issues inbounding the ball in the half cout (although that has improved over the past two years).
But both against MSU and Maryland it was obvious they were going to foul at the end of the games and we had no plan to get the ball to the right people. MSU was applying moderate pressure at the end of the game which made it a bit tougher to funnel the ball to Z or Mathews and it took a few attempts for Beilein to come up with a plan. The inbounds play to Z last night was right in front of me and, for the life of me, I can't understand why MAAR was inbounding the ball -- Maryland had not reacted with any pressure at all.
It's gonna cost us a game or two if they don't get it straightened around.
January 16th, 2018 at 8:17 AM ^
Although I figured we'd get screwed by the refs somehow. The roller coaster between watching Simpson shoot free throws like his cousin Homer and knowing MAAR was at the line was not for the feint of heart. Great "W".
January 15th, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
It's almost like Michigan showed toughness to battle back off short rest after a big rivalry win. I don't know though. Is that tough?
January 15th, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 1:49 AM ^
It's outstanding to come away with two of those three! You're correct that we were expected to take (only) one of the Purude/Maryland games because we had a 40 and 60 percent chance, respectively. But we had a 20 percent chance to win the MSU game. That win is a complete bonus road win over a top 5 team.
That we're still clinging to some hope of a B1G title after that Purdue game is excellent.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:20 PM ^
We're gonna have ups and downs. This is the kind of win that really helps - gutting it out when tired and not playing our best ball.
Proud of our boys for hanging tough. What a fun season!
Go Blue!
January 15th, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:12 PM ^
I don't know what the deal is. Last year he shot 22-31 (71%), so he can shoot better than this. Hopefully he can get it figured out.
January 16th, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^
At this point it's gotta be all between his ears. It was a bad shooting night for him in general so I'm sure that did not help as he stepped to the line. His form is wonky but there's no reason he can't make 70%. Ditto Matthews, although Dakich (I think) made a good point about the flat elbow in his form holding him back a little.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:25 PM ^
Love all SENIORS that finish at M.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:30 PM ^
Three games in five days is absurd scheduling.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
Incredible win. If only we weren't boned vs. Purdue, we'd be right in the drivers' seat in the Big Ten.
As it stands, we still have a chance, but we'll probably have to go essentially perfect or one loss, and would have to beat both @Purdue and vs. Ohio State, to be able to notch a regular season crown.
Still, that we're even legitamately having this conversation, speaks to this team's remarkable grit, talent and coaching.
A top 6 seed seems likely (as well as a top 4 seed in the BTT), assuming Michigan is able to hold serve at home.
Outside the killer at Mackey in West Lafayette, our road schedule is pretty manageable from here on out:
- Nebraska (Beilein is undefeated against Nebraska)
- Purdue (extremely tough)
- Northwestern (off campus in a cavernous NBA arena while their new stadium is under construction; if the Chicago alums organize, this could be a game where we outnumber them).
- Wisconsin (Tough venue, but extremely down year)
- Penn State (has dropped plenty of home games, not an intimidating arena)
- Maryland (tough; although, if Maryland has played their way out of the tournament by then, they may not have a lot of motivation)
Maryland and Purdue will be difficult, but Michigan should be well positioned for the other four. The hardest remaining home game is Ohio State and I'd hope we are hungry for revenge. I'd put the most likely Big Ten finish a 50-50 between 14-4 and 13-5, but 15-3 seems doable with a down conference and resurgent team.
GO BLUE!
January 15th, 2018 at 10:54 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^
Well, it's not thattttt far.
My bad on that. But the main point still stands. It's an 18,500 seat stadium that will probably draw 5,000 or fewer Northwestern fans.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:43 PM ^
Nebrasketball is tough at home. Have been for a few years now. And weird shit happens there like it does in Kinnick. IIRC Burke's team almost lost there, and that was the only loss the Huskers took that whole year. This year, they're a close loss to Kansas from being undefeated at home. Just won on a good old fashioned allow a 4 point play with 8 seconds left then knock down a three at the buzzer to win thing.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 9:06 AM ^
Go check out the Saints/Vikings game, multiple spikes so tight together, you can barely discern what you are looking at.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:42 PM ^
So MAAR, Matthews and Simpson combined to shoot 7-31. Yikes. But the rest of the team shot 18-30. I love that about this team - a different guy seems to step up each game.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:47 PM ^
Incredibly tough, and important, win. These guys seem to be able to find ways to get it done, even when they are playing poorly. Kudos to all.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:51 PM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 10:55 PM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 12:29 PM ^
That must have been one heck of a power-nap the team took at halftime. I just think using exhaustion is a tired excuse.
January 16th, 2018 at 1:11 PM ^
An excuse that needs to be laid to rest?!
January 15th, 2018 at 10:55 PM ^
Watch the first half and then come back.
January 16th, 2018 at 1:25 AM ^
1) you don't have to travel between NCAA games (not that the trip back from EL is long, but still)
2) both teams are playing two games in three days in the NCAA tourney so they're on a level playing field.
I do think they were more mentally exhausted after two crazy games last week. Also, Beilein mentioned it in his press conference that after a big win a team can tend to get a little complacent. That seemed to be a big part of what happened in the first half. We kind of slept walked a little.
Still, the effort was there. We only gave up 30 points in the first half and that included a stupid banked three, and a couple shot-clock beating heaves that went in for Maryland. Meanwhile, we couldn't hit a layup to save our lives. Seemed like a lack of focus.
January 16th, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
Seriously, they're college athletes in ridiculosu shape, they're fine physically. When I was in college I played pickup games every day for 4+ hours, sure I'd eventually turn an ankle or get overly sore, but that would be after a week or so of this and then i'd rest a few days and be back. In the first half we missed numerous layups, couldnt get anything going to the basket, and couldn't get open 3's. Meanwhile, as stated in the article, they get 8 points off of horrid shots as the shto clock is going off. Erase that and have us not miss all those bunnies and we're winning at the half. We weren't tired, we just didnt play that well and Maryland got lucky...Luckily we got lucky in the second half canning every single 3 we took and then of course the end of game miracle.
January 15th, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^
From the first half when we were down by double digits I couldn't watch anymore. I love John Beilein and this team but my heart can't take it. I'll watch it on YouTube and enjoy every minute of it even knowing how it ends.
January 16th, 2018 at 8:21 AM ^
January 15th, 2018 at 11:20 PM ^
Is cold-blooded. He is the kind of player that will put a team on his back and carry them to a final four. Looking forward to watching him over the next few years.
January 15th, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 12:13 AM ^
The short rest probably had an effect.
January 16th, 2018 at 1:14 AM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 8:18 AM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 2:29 PM ^
It looked to me like he never had room to take his man off the dribble without running into help defense plus the pop 3 was always opena nd he was draining it.
January 16th, 2018 at 7:10 AM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 8:02 AM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
Wow that's some spelling.
January 16th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
January 16th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^
IIRC, that particular screengrab is after he hit the first freebie. I love his face. It's saying, "Give me the damn ball 'cause I am going to can this shot and win this game." And he did. Dude is so reliable. Even in a game where his shot eluded him all night, he drills that three to put Michigan up four and then calmly sinks those FTs like he was standing in his driveway of his childhood home.
January 16th, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^
I took it right before the first shot.
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