Iowa 74, Michigan 59
In the middle of a first half fraught with foul trouble, Iowa went on a huge run, and after Michigan managed to cut the lead to five in the second, the Hawkeyes’ 2-3 zone defense shut down the Wolverines and put the game away. Iowa forward Tyler Cook drew six fouls on his own in the early going and Michigan’s tight rotation was forced to expand. Michigan’s first two options at the five (Jon Teske and Isaiah Livers) picked up two first half fouls each and played a combined four minutes, and eventually John Beilein briefly turned to fifth-string center Colin Castleton against Iowa's deep rotation of big men.
Ignas Brazdeikis carried the offense early for Michigan: he opened the scoring with a layup over a flopping Luka Garza, knocked down a couple threes, and had 12 quick points as Michigan built a slight lead. A single Iowa possession featured needless fouls from Teske and Jordan Poole (both exited the game for several minutes each). On the next possession, Cook drew a foul on Livers while establishing early post position; a couple possessions later, Livers fouled him again after an offensive rebound. Both teams accumulated plenty of fouls before halftime (Garza and Connor McCaffery in particular were limited), but Iowa was better able to withstand the attrition.
Iowa’s big run started with an easy Cook bucket on a post iso against Austin Davis, and backup big man Ryan Kriener knocked down a three to tie the game on a miscommunicated Iggy - Davis switch. The Hawkeyes have plenty of scoring options, and Kriener scored 11 first half points, finishing the game with an efficient double-double in just 22 minutes. Consecutive Joe Wieskamp buckets prompted a Beilein timeout with the Iowa lead at six; Wieskamp continued to score (the freshman had 12 points in the first half), while Michigan racked up more fouls and kept on missing jumpers, and the Hawkeyes entered halftime up 42-29. Reserve big men Brandon Johns, Davis, and Castleton combined for 16 minutes and consequently, the Wolverine defense was vulnerable inside.
[Barron]
Iowa’s quality offense scored efficiently in the first half (though they wound up having just an average game), but their normally poor defense had a great performance against Michigan. Other than Iggy’s early scoring, a spurt from Poole late in the first half, and a few nice plays from Teske and Zavier Simpson, Michigan’s offense really struggled. The Wolverines took over half of their shots from behind the arc against a defense that mixed a man defense that switched ball screens and their 2-3 zone. Eventually Iowa’s defense extended to contest threes (even deep threes), but Michigan was unable to unlock the zone, kept shooting, and finished 8-33 (24%) from three. Entering the game, the Hawkeyes had the worst defense in Big Ten play, but they held Michigan to 0.81 points per possession — which was almost exactly the same Wolverine output in their loss to Wisconsin.
Both teams started the second half clumsily, and Iowa extended their lead to 15 with a Jordan Bohannon three by the first TV timeout. Over about six minutes, Michigan went on a 16-6 run to get back into the game. That run started with a Kobe Assist from Charles Matthews (who had a rough game offensively, shooting 2-12 from the field) for a Teske dunk; Iggy hit a baseline jumper, Simpson was fouled and made both free throws, Poole found Teske for two in the pick-and-roll; a Teske tip-in from among multiple Hawkeyes trimmed the Iowa lead to 54-49 with just under ten minutes left in the game. The presence of Teske inside bolstered the Michigan defense, and Iowa — a team that loves to feed the post — struggled to score.
Last week, the Hawkeyes imploded in the second half at home against Michigan State after building a decent lead, but this week, they responded to a Michigan run and held on. On the possession following the Teske tip-in, Garza scored on Teske in the post; the next time down the floor, the big man knocked down a three. Wieskamp scored an and-one layup to give Teske his third foul, then Garza drew his fourth. Within four possessions after Michigan cut Iowa’s lead to five, the Hawkeyes pushed the margin back to 12 and sent Teske back to the bench with foul trouble. Garza was excellent in the second half and finished with a game-high 19 points. Michigan’s offense only scored ten more points over the rest of the game.
[Barron]
The Wolverines’ lack of depth was exposed by the tight whistle in this game. Teske, Livers, Poole, and Iggy each picked up two first half fouls, and Iowa’s offense feasted inside against the reserve bigs. Teske's absence was particularly significant — the Wolverines were +3 in the 13 minutes he was able to play before fouling out and -18 without him on the floor. The officiating was much less strict with physical play in the second half, but the damage had already been done: Michigan’s deficit at halftime was close to the final margin of defeat. The Hawkeyes can rely on their backups to contribute, and the Wolverines cannot. Iowa’s bench outscored Michigan’s 24-3.
For the second time this season, Michigan went on the road to an upper-half Big Ten team and left with a loss as the students rushed the floor. In both games, the Wolverine offense was woeful, but while Wisconsin has an elite defense, Iowa has a bad one. Between Michigan’s discombobulated rotation and poor shooting over the zone, this loss can probably be chalked up to the vagaries of life on the road in the Big Ten. Iowa’s a good team that played well, Michigan had a bad game offensively, and Michigan drops back to a half-game behind first place in the Big Ten. The Wolverines welcome Rutgers to Crisler [edit: travel to Rutger] on Tuesday.
[Box score after the JUMP]
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:19 AM ^
They weren't a good defense tonight. They were a great defense tonight...
...when the rotation players were in the game. Iowa scored 12 points on the first 15 possessions (9 minutes) of the game, and they scored 12 more on their first 18 possessions of the second half (8 1/2 minutes).
Unfortunately, Iowa scored 50 points on the other 40 possessions, most of which came with one or more players on the court who average less than four minutes a game. Davis, Johns, DeJulius, Nuñez, and Castleton average a total of 11 minutes per game -- and that includes late in blowouts, early-season cupcakes, etc. Tonight, they got 25.
February 2nd, 2019 at 12:41 AM ^
If Brooks can’t start playing with more confidence, they are going to have to give DeJulius more time. Brooks is playing like he’s 5’9”, 160 pounds.
I want to see Matthews do what Zak Irvin did his senior year. Realize he is not the primary option on offense, and focus on defense and rebounding. Matthews is my 6th option on offense. I would rather any of the starters or Livers take shots before him.
Iggy had better start passing occasionally or he’s not going to get the ball.
You know the officiating is going against you when Fran only freaks out twice in one game.
Seems like every season we go out west in the big 10 and lay an egg. Tonight was that game thanks to the officials taking Teske out of the game. All in all, this game was one giant meh.
February 2nd, 2019 at 12:43 AM ^
Matthews is a real problem on the offensive end. I know his D is top notch but it worked better last year offensively because MAAR, Duncan, and Mo were outstanding perimeter shooters who opened things up for Matthews. He’s a real liability on the offensive end with this team’s makeup. My beef with our execution is it seems like we get really stagnant with the ball and wait until there are 10-12 seconds on the clock to get into the offense way more than I remember previously. That really helps crappy defensive teams like Iowa
February 2nd, 2019 at 1:00 AM ^
It's not just Matthews. Poole puts up more bad shots than Allen Iverson did in his hay-day, the only difference being they don't go in. Iggy loves to drive the basketball but he's like a horse with blinders on when he does it, barreling into the paint and never kicking out to open shooters. I saw him do it once tonight and I was like "oh my god maybe he learned his lesson" but then he drove again later in the game when the deficit was less than ten points. He blew right by an open shooter and missed a contested layup at the rim. Teske is a good finisher but he can't create his own shot yet. Zavier is probably our best offensive mind but he can't shoot.
This is not one guy being a problem. The whole team has problems offensively.
February 2nd, 2019 at 12:55 AM ^
Having a "bad game offensively" is becoming the norm for this team. There are clear problems with this team that are more than shots not falling. This team just doesn't know how to get good shots or find the open man.Too often do I see Poole heaving NBA 3's, Charles taking tough midrange jumpers off the dribble, Iggy driving the lane blowing right past open shooters that he could pass to only to take a heavily contested layup at the rim that usually doesn't go in because DUH. The only person who seems to have his head on straight offensively is Zavier and he can't shoot. Teske is fine but he's not a guy that can create his own shot. Teams have figured Michigan out. Besides Indiana imploding on itself and Ohio State being generally bad at basketball Michigan hasn't had a good offensive game in a very long time.
I hate to make this sound exactly like the football team but when are we going to acknowledge that this team is bad offensively and that they're going to need serious improvement if they're going to make the Final Four again this year?
February 2nd, 2019 at 1:24 AM ^
We've looked like an 8 seed ever since Purdue and our offense just keeps getting worse and worse.
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:27 AM ^
Sure, this is a reasonable take.
Since the Purdue game, Michigan is 12-2; sounds like an eight seed to me. They've held OSU to the fewest points they'd scored against Michigan since the Truman administration. They've won by Michigan's largest margin of victory ever in Bloomington.
The day after the Purdue game, Michigan was #5 in KenPom with a +26.59 efficiency rating. After tonight's loss, they've dropped to.. #6 in KenPom, with a +27.49 rating. I can't say that they've definitely played better since the Purdue game -- lots of things go into the rankings, including other teams' performances and lessening the weight of preseason projections -- but it doesn't seem they've played worse.
There is a reason that nobody has gone undefeated in basketball since 1976. Even the best basketball teams will lose a few games during the season.
February 2nd, 2019 at 7:42 AM ^
LOL Duke lost to Syracuse at HOME.
I'd be sweatin' that NIT bid in Kville if I were them.
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:22 AM ^
If Charles Matthews only dunked and never took another a jump shot the rest of his career I would be so happy.
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:31 AM ^
Not enough butthurt about refs in the content and I want some! :)
February 2nd, 2019 at 8:05 AM ^
reality is that Teske had 2 minutes of playing time in the 1st half due to 2 ticky-tack fouls. Also Iggy gets hammered on a dunk when Michigan had the lead and NO CALL. The home cooking early took us out of the game.
Go Blue!
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:38 AM ^
I think people need to give Iowa some credit. They are a tough matchup for UM. They are lengthy and shut UM down offensively. Beat UM at their own game taking it to the hoop.
Good team.
February 2nd, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Thank you for finally a voice of reason. Iowa played well, and this team hasn't played well since 2018.
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:58 AM ^
This offense is gross, the officiating is shitty as usual, and the autobench policy bit this team in the ass finally. Lack of bench production has been alarming all year. Will probably lose at MSU, at Maryland, and at Minnesota.
February 2nd, 2019 at 3:11 AM ^
You think the results would have somehow been better if Teske had fouled out in the first half rather than the second? You think Michigan wouldn't have ceded 42 first half points if they put Teske out there, against a team that's fifth in the country in free throw rate, with a big, blinking sign saying "drive at me?"
Beilein actually played Livers with two fouls late in the first half, but don't let facts get in the way of your narrative.
Your act is tiresome. I sincerely hope you're not as annoying in the rest of your life as you are here.
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:06 AM ^
Honestly Beilein should’ve just kept Teske in if were resorting to Austin why is he on the team Davis and Colin Castleton.
I doubt Iowa goes on that run they did to finish out the half. Then we can probably mount a significant comeback when the rain refs swallowed their whistles in the second.
But I get why Beilein didn’t do that.
February 2nd, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
What's tiresome is getting attacked by assholes like you when the publisher of the site IS SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
seven minutes of one foul autobench for Poole and Teske, who average 2.6 and 3.1 fouls per 40
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) February 2, 2019
I wonder if Michigan is +6 in the second half and Teske doesn't foul out if that would finally get Beilein to reconsider his insane autobench approach
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) February 2, 2019
February 2nd, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
Brian's wrong, too. The difference is, he doesn't come around whenever something bad happens to gloat about it.
I understood auto-bench complaints about players like Stauskas and Burke, because it's easier to avoid picking up fouls as a perimeter player without completely compromising the defense. I half-understand the complaints about Poole, but if you watched the game, you could see he was frustrated, and there's a good chance he would have committed more silly fouls if he hadn't been benched.
Auto-benching Teske was absolutely the right call. Forget the actual results -- he fouled out after 13 minutes! -- and consider Iowa's perspective. They've got three players in the top 400 nationally in free throw rate, plus another who would be but doesn't have enough minutes to qualify. If you throw Teske back out there, every possession becomes an Iowa drive to the hoop, and Teske either picks up more fouls or stands there to watch Iowa dunk.
February 2nd, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
If you think I'm gloating you're a bigger dumbass than I thought.
February 2nd, 2019 at 4:00 AM ^
Michigan has the ability to be great. When Teske can play 30+ minutes and Matthews/Poole/Iggy are hitting their shots, they can be dominate. When 2/3 are hitting their shots, their defense is good enough to still be able to beat anyone. When only 1/3 is hitting - and esp. when 0/3 are (Iggy was 2-10 over the final 30 min. of the game) - and Teske gets into foul trouble, they’re average at best. Add in playing on the road and a zone defense, they’ll get blown out by .500 B1G teams like Iowa.
I don’t think they have much chance at winning the B1G title anymore. And unless Matthews can get it going, I don’t think they have a great chance at a long run in the NCAA tournament. Offense is just too poor.
February 2nd, 2019 at 6:34 AM ^
Agree, but you forgot Simpson's bad outside shooting too. He and Matthews heaving up missed three after three are really hurting the team. Especially against a zone heavy defense. Michigan can't easily score inside to make up for it with Teske on the bench. I saw this loss coming. I was just hoping it wouldn't be by 16.
February 2nd, 2019 at 6:19 AM ^
This team's first 8 surely have offensive weaknesses. I cannot imagine that they will not see a lot of zone going forward...because Michigan, pretty much, has no plan for attacking a zone...and this is on the coaches as much as anyone. Michigan has forged a magical started to this season but as they get figured out and pushed toward their faults they will need to come up with some new answers-if the magic is to continue.
An honest assessment of "this team's first 8" would be hard-pressed to conclude that the answers to this team's most pressing (offensive) issues can be found within that group. Perhaps they are there-I have not seen a sure-fire solution. So, hmm...where are the answers-to move this team onward and upward???
As I have stated from the beginning of this season, I love this roster but the coaches are going to be greatly challenged to figure out how to finally put it all together. And to be clear, this is not a criticism, it's a simple fact of life in the coaching world. Be brave-seize the opportunity!
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:29 AM ^
The best away to attack a zone is to make a (long string of curse words) three. When Poole hit back to back threes it took Fran 10 seconds to get out of it. How often do you remember a team playing zone when we had Stauskas and company on the floor at the same time?
Frankly, I’m afraid this will be our downfall. I have a hunch everyone not coached by Izzo is going to at least try a zone until we show we can consistently score against it and have a lineup that doesn’t get torched at the other end. Upset hungry tournament teams will probably feature this exclusively, too.
February 2nd, 2019 at 8:20 AM ^
Team doesn't have depth, only 6 quality guys. If more than one guy gets in foul trouble it will be hard for this squad to beat a decent team. Brooks and Davis are just bodies and are guys you can't reliably bet on to pick up slack.
February 2nd, 2019 at 8:44 AM ^
We need to find someone to replace Eli in the rotation, he gives absolutely zero on offense, he's scared to shoot open 3s now. I watched the Final 4 Loyola game again yesterday where Matthews was assertive with drives and taking it strong to the hoop, we need that version of him.
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:18 AM ^
I've been sticking up for Eli for a while now but he really disappointed me last night. He gets a window (albeit a small one) to take a shot and instead he pumps it and passes it off. He had one opportunity that was so wide open he couldn't not shoot it and he airballed it (it might have grazed the bottom/front of the rim from where I was). I think he's messed up in the head right now, along with the rest of the offense.
The sad thing is that Poole has been pretty bad too and he's the starter. Iggy got some buckets early but I thought he wasn't really efficient the rest of the game and didn't make good decisions. I would like to see Beilein take a gamble and put Nunez into the game against zones or when this offense turns to shit. He's supposed to be the best pure shooter on the team and he splashed a deep NBA three in garbage time minutes the other day. It might be worth the risk to scare up some points.
I still think Poole and Iggy are the best offensive players on this team and we need them out there. But they need some offensive reinforcements from the bench because the shooting is getting downright ugly.
February 2nd, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
Good point about Nunez, is he that much of a liability on defense to not be out there? We're going to need another wing to play big minutes next season to replace Matthews, be smart to get him some seasoning.
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:35 PM ^
Matthews still has a year of eligibility, and no better NBA prospects than a year ago.
Is him potentially coming back a blessing or a curse?
February 2nd, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
I've been saying this all year, have to laugh now at all the people who told me I was wrong. The unfortunate reality is that Beilein did not develop any of the freshman in the non conference and now we have to live with the consequences of that.
February 2nd, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
But I'm the asshole, right?
If Michigan sports brings you so little enjoyment, feel free to leave. You won't be missed.
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:36 AM ^
When the foundation of the Beilein offense is spreading the floor/hitting 40% of your 3's. You get this game.
Z should not be taking them, Matthews either. Different personnel this season, which highlights the weaknesses of Livers, Matthews, Poole. Watching a lot of players trying to do what they are not good at.
Unfortunately, we don't have the line up to overcome poor 3%. Should have been able to tear a 2-3 zone apart with drive and dish.
Perfect storm of fouls, missed lay-ups, rim clacking jumpers, poor iso defense. Not going to see too many games like this.
Not worried about MSU as Izzos D gets exposed vs Beilein.
But we have been exposed, teams are going to go at Teske, limit his minutes, and dare us to stick with/beat them with this bench.
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:45 AM ^
Was I the only one who thought Brooks finally and officially played himself out of a job last night? He is afraid to shoot, afraid to drive, and his handle looks shakier and shakier. Not a great defender to begin with, so why is he out there?
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:55 AM ^
The answer is, there is no answer. We are what we are. In the two games we lost we got in foul trouble early, and we have no guys capable of scoring a basketball on our bench (livers is basically a starter in my eyes). MSU went to Iowa City and pummeled this team. Charles, I thank you for your time, but watching him on offense wants me to turn the TV off. He is making me resent my favorite team and it shouldn’t be like that. Frustrating.
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^
I was at the game and it was beyond frustrating. My main beef is that no one could hit a damn shot, they weren't great looks but they have to hit them (also that fast break layup Iggy miffed really ticked me off). It's February so hopefully they'll pull out of this cold spell soon.
I'm really annoyed with Iowa for a number of reasons: Their fans, who up until now didn't bother me too much and I regarded as some of the best in the B1G, were annoying as hell. The entire crowd bitched and moaned at the officiating (they were like this at the football game I went to this year as well) and whined at every whistle as if it was a goddamn conspiracy against them. Meanwhile Teske gets called for God knows what and other Michigan players are picking up fouls and not getting any whistles on the other end. Then Teske comes back and picks up another right away (I didn't see a replay and I was far from the basket but it looked to me like a strong, clean challenge on Cook and a late whistle). I got news for any opposing fans, if Teske (or if Michigan for that matter) is in foul trouble, the officiating is going your way. Don't bitch about it. I like to think Michigan fans aren't so obtuse in their perception of officiating but I don't know.
Also, a few weeks ago, Iowa played a home game against Wisconsin, one of their supposedly hated rivals who was fairly highly ranked at the time, and the place was fucking empty. There were even lower bowl seats that weren't filled. Then they play Michigan and its suddenly the 1970s Boston Garden.
Also I'm annoyed at Fran and Iowa for deciding to play defense for the first time in the last 100 games. They'd be a goddamn top 10 team if they could learn even the fundamentals of defense.
And generally Iowa sports could be pretty damn good if they didn't save all their effort for when they play Michigan. Hey guess what? It's not the only game on the fucking schedule. If you always played like this you would probably win the B1G once in a while.
If Iowa takes this signature win and somehow manages to miss the tournament, which is a distinct possibility, I'm going to lose my mind. I moved to Des Moines a few months ago and I pull for the Hawks. But it's really frustrating when Iowa plays like ass against every other team but Michigan. If they miss the tournament I'm moving out of the state and never coming back.
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
That certainly did suck
February 2nd, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
Since when does Teske foul out? In 13 minutes?! Livers had 4 in 14 minutes?! Please.
Iowa played fast, created open looks, and hit them. Credit due. But M wasn't allowed to play defense. Cook and Garza got to elbow and body their way to the hoop. And Iowa got to land on people (Davis, Iggy) and shove them out of bounds (Z) without repercussion.
Beilein's style is not B1G physical. It's why it works better than all the other B1Gs in March. March games are officiated like the rest of the conferences. Last night we got homered B1G style to a team.
February 2nd, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
Michigan has the depth but it's inexperienced. That really killed them yesterday with all the early foul trouble. They really need to get more meaningful minutes for the bench (especially Johns and Davis) so that they can contribute more when Teske gets in early foul trouble. It would be nice to see DDJ get more minutes as well - he probably has a higher ceiling than Brooks.
February 2nd, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
This team's ceiling is always tied to what they get from Matthews, Iggy, and Poole. They got basically 1.5 of those guys yesterday and it cost them. But they also will be better shooting from outside more games than not, and for all the problems with the first half Iowa still barely broke 1ppp. So the defense is there.
February 2nd, 2019 at 3:21 PM ^
In the other ten conference games, Jon Teske averaged 30 min and 2 personal fouls. In this abortion, the refs benched him for sixteen minutes, providing Iowa with an unwarranted win.
The Big Ten Conference gets huge revenues from football and basketball and all it is called upon to provide is competent officiating. So sad! So sad! So very sad!!
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^
I wonder if it still possible to develop our bench before the tournament. A tight foul game in the tournament could cause an early exit.
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:37 AM ^
Its starting to feel like we peaked to soon
February 3rd, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Eli Brooks needs a dose of confidence. He's a better offensive player than he's showing. He is obviously hesitant to shoot the ball. Hard to get in synch with the offense when your minutes are so variable from game to game. Is playing well on the defensive end. Really need him to be an option from beyond the arc.
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