Illinois 71, Michigan 62
It's difficult to win a conference road game. Michigan hung around with Illinois for most of tonight's game in an effort to be the first Big Ten team to win such a game in ten tries. Like an excruciating number of their jump shots, however, the Wolverines came up short.
It's particularly difficult to win a conference road game when you shoot 3-for-18 on three-pointers. Isaiah Livers hit two of his three long-range attempts; nobody else could find the mark, even when the team had a series of open looks in the first half.
While the Illini couldn't shoot straight either (1-for-11 on threes), they focused more of their attack on the rim while Michigan largely settled for midrange jump shots. Illinois won the points in the paint battle, 44-26, and they put themselves in position to pick up second-half fouls after the officials had swallowed their whistles for the first half. Freshman sensation Kofi Cockburn led the Illini with 19 points—while he went only 6-for-13 from the field, he made 7-of-9 free throws, grabbed six offensive rebounds, and blocked four shots.
After playing from behind for almost the entire second half, Michigan managed to trim the deficit as low as four points with a couple minutes to play when David DeJulius converted a steal into a fast break and-one. They even had a chance to cut it to a one-possession game when they forced Andres Feliz to step out of bounds with a full-court press, but that ended with a tough DeJulius three-pointer that missed the mark—Illinois had stayed home on shooters all night against the Zavier Simpson/Jon Teske pick-and-roll, and this time Simpson didn't even threaten with that action before passing it off. Feliz hit a runner over Teske on the following play and that was it save for free throws.
These games happen. While Michigan will need to come up with more ways to create offense when opponents can contain the Simpson/Teske screen game without committing extra defenders, they're not going to shoot 16.7% from downtown in a lot of games. In most facets of the game, Michigan did enough to beat a talented (if underachieving) opponent in their house. The shots simply didn't fall.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
December 11th, 2019 at 11:48 PM ^
The officiating was obviously trash in the second half, but that's not the reason we lost. Stagnant offense. Franz missing 4 open 3 pointers. Terrible post defense. We were bad and not running our sets. They were 1-11 from 3 and still beat us. That can't happen
Also not sure if Franz should be starting anymore. He can't hit open shots and was -15 tonight
December 12th, 2019 at 12:02 AM ^
Not sure if Wagner is still getting in game shape or he hasn’t acclimated to the NCAA style of play... but I agree, he shouldn’t be starting and is currently a liability on the offensive and defensive ends.
December 12th, 2019 at 1:33 AM ^
I wouldn't say he's a defensive liability. His 3s looked open. He's just not hitting them yet for whatever reason.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
He was -15 tonight... he has flashes of good defensive plays, but isn't a consistently good defender
December 12th, 2019 at 1:45 AM ^
You dribble and shoot the basketball the same here as you do over there.
December 12th, 2019 at 5:01 AM ^
Defender closing speed changes, though. Wagner is going to be lethal by the end of the season. Howard shouldn’t change a thing about how he is handling Franz. (And importantly for the program, thoughts about him as a one and done should be discarded).
December 12th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
He was a -15 in that box score last night. Ouch.
December 12th, 2019 at 2:17 AM ^
When a player is standing out of bounds, jumps and catches the ball, then lands out of bounds, then throws the ball off of someone and ref gives him the ball....I don’t know if second half of your first sentence is accurate.
Defense did well in keeping Illinois off the 3 point line
If there is a luck factor (Wagner falling down while an uncontested rebound comes to him), it was waaayyyy toward Illinois.
I’m not saying the team couldn’t play better, that’s fine. But let’s not pretend the rest isn’t true
December 12th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
That out of bound sequence was so strange. It looked to me like he didn’t even throw the ball of the Michigan player. He never actually released it. Plus both players were already out of bounds.
December 12th, 2019 at 9:59 AM ^
Agree, the officials didn't come close to losing that game. The missed open shots with hesitation to pull the trigger, made you know it wasn't happening.
Also, those blocks were killer towards the end. Those types of blocks stopped any momentum that Michigan had and gave it back to Illinois.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
I stopped watching shortly after Simpson was chasing a ball toward the side, got his hands on it, and then the Ill player hit him like he was Ronnie Lott breaking up a pass and they gave the ball to Illinois. I don't need that shit fresh in my brain right before I go to bed.
December 11th, 2019 at 11:51 PM ^
It wasn't just taking Simpson and Teske out of the game, it was following Louisville's plan of pressure defense and win the boards.
Still early in the season and this team has shown growth but they don't want the narrative to be just punch them in the mouth with pressure D and they get rattled.
December 12th, 2019 at 6:37 AM ^
I didn’t see them take Simpson and Teske out of the game, I saw them force Simpson and Teske to beat them. Both have strengths to their game but their pick and roll is limited. Neither is an offensively dynamic player in the mold of Burke, Walton, McGary, Moe. They didn’t help off of anybody on that pick and roll. Louisville did the same damn thing. Big part of the reason you saw DDJ handling late. Simpson’s inability to shoot off the dribble is Michigan’s biggest limitation. I really liked the midrange game flashed by Brooks. He is going to need it.
December 12th, 2019 at 7:17 AM ^
Thanks for taking up my narrative. The smart opposition will continue to understand that Simpson and Teske cannot beat you. Play them straight up, keep the ball in Simpson's hands and make life hell for everyone else by denying them the ball in a catch and shoot rhythm.
I see Wagner as the greatest possible difference-maker on the team with the ability to flip this story-DeJulius may be a contender here as well. The dilemma is that it will require vey unpopular moves (to the fans) by the coaching staff and is not (even) guaranteed to be successful.
Juwan and staff are coaching their butts off here. But oh my, the challenges that remain. But this is what this gig is about-love to see how the challenges are taken up by both the players and coaches. Juwan has won Coach of the Year for the first third of the season-we will see how he manages the second and third thirds.
December 12th, 2019 at 7:34 AM ^
You are exactly right. And my vote in terms of biggest potential game changer is DeJulius. I’m not talking about like “sitting” Simpson, but IMO DDJ needs to 20-25 minutes altogether with “volume shooter” freedom. Fans are going to have to deal with some growing pains there but I think he can be an elite scorer. Simpson is fantastic at a lot of things and he will be a huge part of the team, but what he can’t do can be debilitating.
December 11th, 2019 at 11:52 PM ^
White-collar performance.
December 11th, 2019 at 11:57 PM ^
Franz came into the game with a 93 O RTG and went 2-8 (0-4 from 3) and 3 turnovers.
Castleton and Johns need to take a lot of his minutes.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:00 AM ^
He's had 2 good games and the rest have been legitimately bad performances
December 12th, 2019 at 12:04 AM ^
He's not physically or mentally ready to play more than 15 minutes a game at this point. He's easily gets stripped and has a hard time collecting loose balls and rebounds.
I'm sure he'll eventually be fine but he's not helping the team win right now.
December 12th, 2019 at 1:39 AM ^
It's not like Castleton and Johns have been great.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
I'm almost tempted to say that we should throw Bajema out there to see what he can do. He's played well in the few opportunities he's gotten
December 12th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
Johns has played well the last two games. He's rebounding at a really high rate. I'm not sure why he didn't see more minutes last night.
December 11th, 2019 at 11:57 PM ^
We need another ball handler for these types of games. I don't know who that's going to be, maybe DDJ.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:16 AM ^
Ball handler who can shoot a midrange shot or any shot for that matter outside the paint when under duress.
Zs shooting has improved but that motion takes way too much time and is not good enough in these slogs. This year will be full of em with teams like Penn State, Rutgers, Illinois etc.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:08 AM ^
If the refshow fuckery that we saw tonight is going to be the norm this season when Michigan is on the road, then considering they resume B1G play with road games at MSU, Iowa, and Minnesota with only a home game against Purdue sprinkled in between, then they'll be lucky to start B1G play this season 3-3. Meanwhile, MSU's December road B1G game is against Northwestern and they resume B1G play with three-straight home games.
Also, Franz by far has to be the biggest disappointment this season so far. He was supposed to be Michigan's best shooter and instead he's 3-20 from 3 over his last 5 games and had 12 turnovers during that span. Any time he drives to the hoop, the ball gets knocked/ripped away from him. Michigan lost by 15 when he was on the court tonight and won by 6 when he was off it. He's a massive liability right now. If Michigan is going to be able to beat athletic, lengthy, active-defensive teams this year, he's going to have to play/shoot a lot better.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:13 AM ^
Feel bad for piling on the kid but safe to say Bundesliga sucks at basketball. Grown men who probably can’t even hack it in the G-League...I’m guessing La Liga is the league that can hold a candle to the NBA from overseas.
Who takes his minutes tho? Has anyone on the bench showed anything deserving of starting minutes? Pretty sure the 3 guard lineup won’t work in the BIG
December 12th, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
Big Ten officiating is an abomination and it seems to be getting worse. I watched that Maryland-Penn State game as well and those refs were embarassingly bad. I am also not looking forward to Michigan playing on the road this season.
But Michigan needs to adjust their play and mental attitude on the road. Everyone in the B1G is going to be coming for them now and they'll be the biggest game on the schedule for most of these teams.
If they could just hit some damn shots, pull down a rebound here and there and cut down on ugly, frantic turnovers they could've won this one comfortably and maybe could've beaten Louisville. And last night there were way too many easy buckets down low which is a distressing development considering their defensive shot chart before the Iowa game was all red down there.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
Across the board, every Big Ten basketball team should just plan on playing against the calls on the road. It shows up for Michigan (2nd half last night), and Michigan definitely benefits from it at Crisler.
Why the league can't figure it out? Beyond me.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
I recall looking up at the screen last night and Illinois was already in the double bonus and there was still like 9+ minutes left. This was as Cockburn was pouring in every foul shot. He had back to back trips to the line when Michigan players breathed on him on entry passes. One of my buddies said that the foul differential was a whopping +17 for Illinois in the 2nd half. I checked the box score and Illinois shot 20 foul shots in the 2nd and very few of those were stop the clock fouls. Michigan shot 4.
Big Ten needs to figure some shit out.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^
Yeah, that was crazy. I think Howard really wants to be seen as the "level headed" guy with refs but he needed to give them some shit last night. They called a completely different game in the second half than they did in the first. Also, some non-calls. Before the under-12 timeout Simpson chased down a loose ball and just get outright shoved out and they didn't call a foul. I think Howard needed to give them an ear full.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^
It's also frustrating because every big man in the league will now barrel into Teske with bull rushes and head butts the way Garza did. Illinois was doing it last night. No calls.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:23 PM ^
I don't understand how you go from being whistled for three fouls in the first 20 minutes of the game to 10 in the first eight minutes of the second half. The officials clearly seemed to change their emphasis at halftime, but why, I don't know.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
Looking forward to seeing Michigan getting a shot block and the ball not going to the opponent for an easy basket. Jeez Louise.
December 12th, 2019 at 3:23 AM ^
On the one where Teske blocked Cockburn only to have it go right back to him for a putback.....why has nobody mentioned that he had fully landed (toe down then heel down) BEFORE he shot it the first time?!?!?
December 12th, 2019 at 5:06 AM ^
There was a lot of that tonight. And these folks who have folks who have decided Wagner is bad already, my god man. Couple of observations-
1. We got legit hosed by the refs in the second half, Illinois was in the penalty and I had seen 2 actual fouls on Michigan. We win the game with a fair whistle in the second.
2. Illinois has good/deep personnel. They are a pretty good team.
3. Robbie Hummel is a really good announcer/analyst. Fox should move him up to the A team soon.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^
No one has decided that Wagner will never be good, but if you don't agree that he's been bad and a liability for most of the season so far then you're just lying to yourself
December 12th, 2019 at 3:15 PM ^
He’s been shaky but he had zero acclimation to US college ball. He broke his wrist and is clearly shaking off rust.
December 12th, 2019 at 12:45 PM ^
Yeah Robbie Hummel is good but I found it kind of funny how every player in the B1G “is as good as anyone in this league”
December 12th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
I'd like to see Brooks be more aggressive from the three point line. He's been tentative from there in the two road games.
I think Wagner should keep playing. His potential is evident, and this team can only hit its ceiling with him having a major role.
The team's perimeter defense was frustrating tonight. It seemed like no one could stay in front of his man.
I agree that this game was mostly about Michigan missing open-ish shots. I don't like pointing to officiating, but that didn't help. There should not have been a time when Michigan had ten fouls and Illinois only three, as was the case at one point in the second half.
I hope the ref whom Cockburn accidentally whacked is okay. That looked bad.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
if the ref doesn't call the phantom foul on that play, he doesn't get hit.
December 12th, 2019 at 4:07 AM ^
The problem is that Wagner is not good yet.
He consistently loses his handle in traffic and can’t make a 3 to save his life.
Let’s assume that’s just early season rust.
The most concerning thing to me is that his shooting technique does not look right. His release looks to be too low. That’s not going to translate to the NBA.
Contrast his shooting technique with Duncan Robinson or Tim Hardaway and you go “uh oh.”
December 12th, 2019 at 5:50 AM ^
VERY Disappointing...Reality setting in..If we lose to Oregon and thats a real possibility we will be 1-3 since Nassau..Cant lose at Illinois and compete for a B10 title..I am also disappointed in Wagner..its just not happening..Cant believe he was thinking of playing pro ball in Europe hes really not that good If you cant win at Illinois how are you going to win at OSU MSU :Purdue Indiana etc etc.....
December 12th, 2019 at 9:08 AM ^
Regarding Wagner, "its [sic] just not happening," does that mean at the moment, or ever? Everything you say is true but it's way too early to write off Wagner, even for this year.
Also, while I agree we're not a Big Ten title team, I am not feeling so Eeyore. We're still going to win a bunch of games.
December 12th, 2019 at 9:32 AM ^
Sparty lost last year @ Illinois and won the B1G. So, maybe it’s ok.
December 12th, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
We are going to beat Oregon and will not fall further than 6 or 7 in the AP poll and may stay right where we are. This was the very definition of a "shrug" type loss and is certainly not worth that level of angst. It takes some fans a while to make the transition from football to basketball. My consideration of that game last night is limited to "well that happened I guess."
December 12th, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
How many shrug losses does a team get per year?
The L’ville lose was a shrug loss and now this one is being categorized as a shrug loss.
This felt more like an actual loss. Illinois was in control that whole game. I don’t see that as a shrug. I see that as a real loss because they forced their game style on us and had our number all night.
JH and PM have their work cut out for them. The blueprint to beat this team is now out there t
December 12th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
Did you watch last season? The blueprint has been out there since last February. It is about how this team adjusts, and how some of the younger players develop into their roles.
To answer your question, if we beat Oregon on Saturday, this particular team gets a few more shrug losses than is typical. With wins over Gonzaga, Oregon, Carolina, and Iowa State, anything other than an outright collapse in BIG play gets this team a protected seed (second weekend barring huge upset). Aside from that, it is just about tournament draw. I don't think this team will be consistent enough shooting the ball that it will make a legit run at the regular season conference title. I think a national title is more likely than a reg-season conference title.
Look, this has been quite a gauntlet. Michigan has played one of the most difficult schedules in the country, and has traveled a lot. Wagner broke his wrist during fall practice and his adjustment to college ball consisted of him sitting there and wishing his wrist wasn't broken. That was always going to have a bit of an impact.
There will be peaks and valleys to this season. Yes, if this team stalls like last year it will be a big issue. But we are not there yet. Those games against Presb and UMass-Lowell can't get here soon enough!
December 12th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
Really good insight. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I am on the side of patience and tempered enthusiasm.
I don't see this team as being as good as the world-beating juggernaut we saw in B4A and it isn't as bad as the team that got blasted by L'ville and essentially handled by Illinois. We are good, yet flawed, team right now.
B1G titles are really fun and exciting and I always want them to win one, but at the same time, it takes specials teams with great schedules to pull off. I would rather see the team peaking at the right time and make runs in the B1G tournament and MM tournament.
The B1G is a blood bath this year - gonna be tough to win anywhere. I can't get too upset when we lose - but it's the types of losses that JH needs to work with the team to avoid.
Yesterday, it just felt, I don't know how to describe it other than "blah"
But early-season college hoops losses shouldn't impact anyone negatively. This team is still a joy to watch and have months ahead of them to work through their issues.
December 12th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Around here you get shrug losses until people get mad, then the "shrug loss" people will start becoming "excuseable loss" people. Then when it gets pointed out they are making excuses for a team failing to win they'll either ban you or claim some shit about a completely non-existent moral superiority.
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