Purdue 92, Michigan 88
— Bryan Mac (non-seasonal) (@Bry_Mac) January 26, 2018
Sometimes you face a normal foe. Sometimes you face a fleet of T-Rexes in F-15s firing with maximum precision. When facing the latter, especially in their territory, the margin for error is terrifyingly thin.
For the better part of 40 minutes, Michigan held their own with the Purdue T-Rexes in F-15s, with Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman playing the role of dinosaur hunter. A MAAR three-point strike, part of a scorching second-half start for both teams, even gave the road underdogs a lead with under ten minutes to play. It was the game's 23rd lead change.
Vince Edwards countered for the 24th and final lead change. T-Rexes in F-15s are unrelenting; Michigan's few mistakes finally exposed them late. Some turnovers from Jaaron Simmons or Charles Matthews here, some missed free throws from MAAR or Zavier Simpson there, and the T-Rexes successfully repelled the rebel forces.
I've very much enjoyed watching Michigan-Purdue basketball games. I'm also very much ready for all those dudes to graduate and Carsen Edwards to go pro.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
January 25th, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
Random observation, but I can't think of a single football or basketball game that Rece Davis has commentated that we won.
Not that I'm superstitious or anything....
January 25th, 2018 at 10:21 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^
Admittedly, I'm not the biggest basketball guy but I agree with these takes on Matthews. He does seem to dribble way too much and often takes the ball deep into the lane while passing up on an easy pass to a guy who has popped out or rolled to the basket. And when he does pass they are lazy and are frequently close to being stolen, or are stolen.
He has been in a funk these past few games and his concentration/attention to detail is lacking.
January 25th, 2018 at 10:25 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 10:34 PM ^
They’ve showed against Purdue (twice) that they can compete with anyone. Purdue has laid waste to everyone else it’s played in-conference, but Michigan could’ve legitimately beaten them twice. When this team is on, its on.
January 25th, 2018 at 10:40 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 10:52 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 11:44 PM ^
January 25th, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 2:20 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 3:50 AM ^
they were completely fine.
The offensive foul on Haas was a little lucky for us (although it was the right call). The reach on Wagner was a little lucky for them. I can't think of any others that were missed or were even questionable calls.
The reffing was fair and actually pretty good.
January 26th, 2018 at 8:14 AM ^
There were a couple (Matthews got tripped early in the game and it was missed) but in the end, it wasn't a big factor.
January 25th, 2018 at 11:11 PM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 12:02 AM ^
well played. go blue.
January 26th, 2018 at 12:05 AM ^
4-pt loss, on the road, against arguably one of the, if not the, best team in the country (they're the most complete team I've watched play - they can shoot with 'Nova, would win the ACC and I'm not convinced anyone else is close). And that's after a shoulda win at our house. And we're complaining.
Losing sucks, but this team still hasn't had the Beilein February improvement period. March has the makings for a ton of fun. And this team can still finish 14-4 in the B1G. Who had that in pencil in October?
I really like how this team plays. The 2H will give them the games to grow with respect to the lulls they go through every game. Shorten those and look out.
January 26th, 2018 at 12:09 AM ^
Didn't go our way, but that shows the level this team plays at when it isn't exhausted. The rest of the season will be fun to watch if they can get that free throw shooting in check.
January 26th, 2018 at 2:16 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
This is a take that could be said about literally any team in the tournament. Obviously if a crucial member of any team got in foul trouble, that team would struggle. If guys have bad shooting nights, the team is likely to struggle. For me, I'll take the odds of the team that has 4 guys who shoot the absolute lights out surrounding a Goliath figure or his 7' backup. Purude is ridiculously good, I would not at all be shocked to see them make a long run in the NCAA's.
And they shoot like this every night. They are the best 3 pt. shooting team in the country. Not some streaky team that is currently hot.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:07 AM ^
is Big Haas.
And he's 7-foot tall.
And you can't teach that.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:07 AM ^
Purdue will not. Even with them making very few mistakes, it was a 4 pt game. Their seniors are playing at their peak. Our youngsters can (will) get better.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:22 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 6:45 AM ^
For the better part of 40 minutes, Michigan held their own with the Purdue T-Rexes in F-15s, with Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman playing the role of dinosaur hunter.
Given the metaphor, this seems appropo...
January 26th, 2018 at 6:52 AM ^
In hindsight, I bet Beilein would have played Z the whole second half. The brief moment Simmons was in was the turning point of the game when he threw away the inbounds pass, then committed the moving screen foul. Got to figure something out at backup PG. Simmons is still pressing.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:59 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 8:25 AM ^
When Purdue shoots the way they did last night, I don't care if they're lined up across from Illinois or from Duke. The other team is losing. What shocked me even more is that during that second half scoring frenzy, Michigan went toe-to-toe with Purdue and had an answer for almost every bucket they sank. Haas parks inside for an easy basket, and MAAR responds with a three. Edwards sinks a deflating three, and Wagner or Robinson respond with one of their own, or Simpson drives the lane for a ridiculous layup.
But someone had to blink sooner or later.
No shame in losing last night. Very close game on the road to a top-3 opponent that has laid waste to almost everyone else it's played. When Michigan plays to its potential, it can play with anyone. At this point, just playing to improve our seeding. Do what you can to get off that 8/9 line.
The tournament is all that really matters.
January 26th, 2018 at 7:13 AM ^
January 26th, 2018 at 7:27 AM ^
What's up with Brooks?
Simmons is really bad.
January 26th, 2018 at 7:58 AM ^
Michigan has FOUR straight possesions to close the gap..3 TURNOVERS and 2 Missed Z Free throws...In end of game situations Z CANNOT have the ball..simply CANNOT..He Chokes at the FT line and cost us dearly and 3 straight turnovers? Michigan again couldve won this again but turnovers and missed Free throws did them in
January 26th, 2018 at 12:37 PM ^
Other than Robinson, I'm not sure anyone on this team is a clutch free throw shooter. Yes, MAAR as demonstrated in the Maryland game, but even he missed two free throws in the last 10 minutes of this game.
Also, if you're going to take Z out in end game situations, who's the point? Brooks and Simmons are question marks. MAAR at point with Matthews as secondary ball handler still leaves a 50 percent FT shooter on the court.
January 26th, 2018 at 8:16 AM ^
Purdue vs. Michigan is just a fun, good game of basketball. Like the past three years! Wish we would have split with them, because we deserved to. But not this game, our end of game management was too poor.
MAAR hit a three, then Purdue hits both free throws, Z drives the lane (why are we settling for two here?) and is fouled, misses both. That was game over. 4 point deficit at the end doesn't properly show how bad we bundled that situation imo.
January 26th, 2018 at 8:40 AM ^
I thought Purdue played a much better game than the last meeting. The better team won, but bottom line is this Michigan team is capable of hanging with anyone. A couple better decisions, a few more made free throws and this game is decided at the buzzer.
Matthews was definately fouled on that drive, but he should have dished to Mo for the damn dunk anyway!...
GO BLUE
January 26th, 2018 at 8:53 AM ^
Probably 1 or 2 round wins in the NCAA tournament is the ceiling for this team. I think getting to the Sweet 16 would be good a good season for them.
January 26th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
We gave a probable #1 seed (Purdue) all it could handle twice, but our ceiling is only 1-2 tourney wins?
January 26th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
Two wins would mean Sweet 16, which is one of the 16 best teams in the country. If we're talking "ceiling" that's probably true unless we get a good draw or there's an upset on the other side of our bracket. I'd take it.
That said, my main bracket will have UM in the Final Four, because I'm a homer, and that's what I always do.
January 26th, 2018 at 10:27 AM ^
What a crazy game! I enjoyed watching this, of course it would have been nice for Michigan to get that win but they're only getting better and better!
Michigan played a great game and if not for some late, dumb turnovers, this game would've come down to the last shot! Keep grinding boys! Stack those W's!! Go Blue!!
January 26th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
This was an excellent college bball game. This was a tough loss, but I do subscribe to moral victories. Keep this going in the right direction and eventually we will come out on the right side of these close games.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:01 PM ^
That was about as fun as a loss can be.
Purdue's offense is unreal...at least against us.
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