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South Carolina 61, Michigan 46 Comment Count

Ace

Sometimes it's not your day.

Zak Irvin had the worst performance of his career, fouling out with five points on 2-for-13 shooting and eight turnovers. The rest of the team followed suit. Michigan shot 19.2% from the field and 7.7% from beyond the arc, and no, those are not typos. They had two assists and 16 turnovers. Derrick Walton hit both of Michigan's three-pointers; they were separated by 32:10 of game time.

Sindarius Thornwell was everywhere for South Carolina, posting 21 points, ten boards, three assists, and three blocks. Michigan's defense otherwise held firm, holding USC below a point per possession, but there was little to be done on that end to overcome M's shooting woes.

While a game this ugly tends to leave a lasting impression, this is one best worth forgetting. Michigan may not be quite as good as they looked last week; they are certainly not as bad as they looked today.

Comments

L'Carpetron Do…

November 25th, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^

I disagree - I don't think South Carolina was the better team and I didn't think they were particularly good.  I think Michigan straight up beat themselves.  I was disappointed none of the seniors or upperclassmen weren't like 'enough of this shit' and just played their ass off and try to take the game over.

That dude Martin is an intense coach and his guys played tough.  Michigan has to learn to match that and not look totally cowed.  They gotta want it.

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blue90

November 23rd, 2016 at 7:37 PM ^

Maybe it was his back surgery, or maybe he came in with too much hype as a freshman, but he is just bad.  I'm not talking about this game, though it clearly showed, I'm talking about the past two years, he can't even create his own shot and he is a 3rd year starter and supposed to be a team leader.  It seems like Beilein develops everyone great but totally skipped over him.  I'll be happy when Zak is gone, sorry to be a downer.

Hopefully this game won't be reflective of the rest of the season but we need someone who can take over the game when no one else can do anything and this team is completely lacking that. Is it Saturday yet?

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MichiganMan20

November 23rd, 2016 at 9:04 PM ^

I feel like he's been the same player his whole career and for some reason he just looks less explosive now. I don't know if it's from his back surgery but I thought he looked more athletic his freshman and sophomore years. Now I don't think he's a bad player but I do think he's just average and will be destined to play in the d-league or overseas for the rest of his basketball career. It's too bad since I thought he could've developed into a really good NBA 2 guard.



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Spontaneous Co…

November 23rd, 2016 at 9:11 PM ^

But he is a bad player to try and run your offense through. He isn't worse than his freshman year, he is less effective in his increased role. He is a turnover prone streak shooter. He needs to ride pine when he is cold. Instead we keep featuring him in the offense. How many times did he have the ball at the end of the shot clock???? He is terrible in that role. When the offense bogs down, it should be in MAAR's hands.

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Franz Schubert

November 23rd, 2016 at 7:46 PM ^

This is Michigan. Shouldn't have to play a roster of inferior athletes that play soft. Who recruited this team of finesse players that can't even shoot or drive?

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Bertello NC

November 23rd, 2016 at 7:49 PM ^

I know I'll get griped at for saying this but M needs to start working on going to or isolating the post more. USC was over extending their D all game. They have capable guys to carry it out it just needs to be more of a priority. When the opponents D is up tight clean looks can be hard to come by. Gotta have something to fall back on.



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Bertello NC

November 23rd, 2016 at 9:13 PM ^

Lol well he needs to unfold himself and realize that you aren't going to shoot 49% from the field every night. Team up with Coach Washington, watch some YouTube videos on NBA post play and start dumpin that pumpkin down low and letting DJ, Mo, and Teske bang away and get physical. You can't tell me that DJ Wilson or Jon Teske couldn't develop a nice little baby hook.



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Bertello NC

November 23rd, 2016 at 9:46 PM ^

I understand what you're saying but what I'm getting at is none of our guys look comfortable with their backs to the basket. I'm not saying we need to totally run our offense through Wilson or Wagner but if you watch the game you will see there are opportunities for a 5 isolation. Or after an offensive rebound. Our guys look very uncomfortable with their backs to the basket. More so than any other team I've watched. It seems that it's something that is worked on very little. But IMO it should be touched on more. It makes you a more balanced team. It's not realistic to expect a high percentage form 12' and out every night. I'm actually watching UL and ODU right now and they've both dumped it inside in their first 2-3 possessions. I understand what you're saying that it's not a trending style but what I'm saying is that there needs to be a place for it to happen. On this team. If they want to be balanced and effective against any D thrown at them. It doesn't need to be the lone focal point or the MO, but It should be worked on, and be somewhat of an option.



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jmblue

November 23rd, 2016 at 7:58 PM ^

Well, I take solace in the fact that for a change, we got blown out primarily due to playing badly on the offensive end.  We weren't all that bad defensively, but just couldn't score.  I have faith in Beilein to get the offense figured out.  It's easier to write off a game like this as a fluke than say, those SMU games the last two years where we gave up a million uncontested dunks.

 

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TheCool

November 23rd, 2016 at 7:58 PM ^

This game was more than just missing shots. S. Carolina challenged our offense with physical defense that denied passing and cutting lanes and pressured the ball handler and our offense couldn't handle it. Passes were late or inaccurate which is a sign of uncertainty. They wanted a physical match up, Michigan did not on this day. I remember that against Marquette and SMU Michigan seemed more physical so maybe it was a 1 game blip.

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