Author: Drew Montag

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played one games last week, and they lost it. On Saturday (02/28/2015), they lost at (#14) Maryland, 66-56. The loss lowers Michigan’s record to 14-14 (7-9 in the Big Ten).

This wasn’t a surprising loss, or a particularly depressing loss. Maryland is ranked, and playing for position in the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. They were playing at home in front of a sold-out arena for Senior Day. No one expected Michigan to beat Maryland, and no one should be surprised that Maryland won. It would have been a major upset if Michigan had snuck out a win.

That said, Michigan actually played pretty well, especially considering their depleted roster. Sure, they had a couple of their now-familiar scoring droughts, and they shot terribly from 3-point range until the game was out of reach, but they played hard and hung with an obviously superior opponent for most of the game.

The stats tell it all: Michigan shot terribly overall (19-for-52 = 36.5%), they shot even worse from 3-point range (5-for-21 = 23.8%), although they did shoot a wonderful percentage from the free throw line (13-for-15 = 86.7%). They lost the rebounding battle, barely (32-30), and they won the turnover battle (10-12). It was 3-point shooting that cost them the game. Maryland shot 11-for-22 (50.0%) from 3-point distance, and those 6 extra 3-pointers more than make up the final deficit. When Michigan shoots 3-pointers well (>40%), they look good, and they usually win, but when the 3-point shooting is off, they look terrible. This was one of those terrible games.

Individually, only 2 players hit double figures: Spike Albrecht and Zak Irvin both had 15 points. The other starters didn’t score many points: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had 7, Aubrey Dawkins had 2, and Ricky Doyle had 4.

The bench didn’t chip in many points either: Max Bielfeldt had 6, and Kameron Chatman had 7. Andrew Dakich, Mark Donnal, and Sean Lonergan all played, but failed to score. In fact, only Dakich even attempted a shot, and that was blocked.

This Week

This is the final week of the regular season, and it can’t come soon enough. Michigan has two games left; one on the road, and one at home. On Tuesday (03/03/2015, 9:00 p.m. EST, BTN), they play at Northwestern, then on Saturday (03/07/2015, 2:15 p.m., BTN), they play Rutgers in Crisler Arena. These are both winnable games, although it’s always tough to win on the road. If Michigan can win them both, they should be in good shape for an NIT bid. If they lose either of them, I suspect they’ll miss post-season play.

Check back here next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games last week, and they lost one and won one. On Tuesday (02/17/2015), they lost to Michigan State 80-67 in Crisler Arena, then on Sunday (02/22/2015), they beat (#24) Ohio State 64-57, also in Crisler Arena. The loss and the win leave Michigan with a record of 14-13 (7-8 in the Big Ten).

The two games were as different as night and day. In the MSU game, UM started out slow, fell behind early, and never got close for the rest of the game. In the OSU game, UM started out hot, opened a comfortable lead early, and never trailed. Michigan didn’t show much spark in the MSU game, but they were hustling and diving all over the floor in the OSU game. The loss was depressing, but the win was encouraging. This is a hard team to figure out.

Surprisingly, the stats for both games are pretty similar. In the MSU game, UM didn’t shoot very well overall (19-for-48 = 39.6%), they didn’t shoot 3-pointers very well (8-for-22 = 36.4%), but they did shoot free throws pretty well (21-for-28 = 75.0%). They lost the rebounding battle (33-25), but won the turnover battle (6-8). They lost this game on defense, allowing MSU to shoot 62.0% (31-for-50) overall.

The stats for the OSU game are a little better. Michigan shot decently overall (26-for-55 = 47.3%), they shot 3-pointers pretty poorly (7-for-19 = 36.8%), and they shot free throws pretty poorly (5-for-8 = 62.5%). As usual, they lost the rebounding battle (36-28), but they won the turnover battle (9-14). They won this game because OSU shot 3-pointers even worse than UM: 5-for-19 = 26.3%.

Individually, only Spike Albrecht and Zak Irvin hit double figures in both games. Spike had 12 points in the MSU game, and 16 points vs. OSU. Zak had 16 and 15. Two of the other three starters hit double figures in the MSU game: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had 12 points in the MSU game, but only 2 in the OSU game, and Aubrey Dawkins had 12 and 5. The fifth starter, Ricky Doyle, had 4 and 8 points.

The bench contributed more than usual this week. Max Bielfeldt had 5 and 7, Kameron Chatman scored 2 and 6, Andrew Dakich had 0 and 3 (yes, he hit attempted one shot, a 3-pointer, and he hit it!), and Mark Donnal scored 4 and 2. Sean Lonergan played in both games, but didn’t attempt a shot in either game.

This Week

The regular season is almost over. Michigan has three games left; two on the road, and one at home. This week, Michigan only has one game, but it’s a tough one. On Saturday (02/28/2015, Noon, ESPN), they play at (#16) Maryland. This will be the first time Michigan has played Maryland in men’s basketball since they joined the Big Ten. It’s always tough to win on the road in the Big Ten (just ask OSU), and it will be especially difficult against a ranked team fighting for position in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. It would be quite the upset if Michigan managed to win this one. Oh yeah, we get to see our old buddy, Evan Smotrycz again. He’s playing for Maryland, not starting, but averaging 19.6 minutes and 4.9 points a game.

Check back here next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played one game last week, and they lost it. On Thursday (02/12/2015), they lost at Illinois 64-52, in overtime. The loss drops Michigan’s record to 13-12 (6-7 in the Big Ten).

This was a particularly frustrating loss, since UM had a 7-point lead (50-43) with about 3 minutes left in the game, and didn’t score again until they hit 2 free throws in the final minute of the OVERTIME! That’s right, they got outscored 7-0 in the last 3 minutes of regulation, to force overtime, then they were outscored 14-2 in the overtime. Coming so soon after a similar overtime disaster vs. MSU a couple weeks ago, where they were outscored 10-0 in overtime, it was almost too much to handle. How can a team play well enough to take (#6) Wisconsin to overtime in Ann Arbor, and force overtimes in East Lansing and Champaign, then fall apart so thoroughly in their last 3 overtime periods? It’s just so frustrating. The basketball gods hate Michigan this season.

The stats for the game are a little deceptive, since they include the horrible overtime. Michigan shot terribly overall (21-for-57 = 36.8%), including 0-for-5 in overtime. They shot 3-pointers even more terribly (4-for-17 = 23.5%), including 0-for-3 in overtime. The only thing they did well was shoot free throws (6-for-6 = 100.0%). They lost the rebounding battle (39-34) and the turnover battle (12-7). It was just a miserable game.

Individually, only one starter (Spike Albrecht) hit double figures, with 13 points. The other starters didn’t do much: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (6 points), Kameron Chatman (2 points), Ricky Doyle (2 points), and Zak Irvin (8 points).

The only other UM player to hit double figures was Max Bielfeldt, with 12 points. The rest of the bench didn’t help much: Aubrey Dawkins had 9 points, and Andrew Dakich and Sean Lonergan both played, but didn’t attempt a shot. Mark Donnal and Austin Hatch didn’t play.

This Week

The beat goes on. Michigan has now lost 4 games in a row, and 5 of their last 6 games. This week, Michigan plays two games. On Tuesday (02/17/2015, 9:00 p.m., ESPN), they play Michigan State, then on Sunday (02/22/2015, 1:00 p.m., CBS), they play Ohio State. Both games are in Crisler Arena. They played MSU tough in East Lansing a couple weeks ago, before collapsing in overtime, so they stand a fighting chance in the game in Ann Arbor. On the other hand, they got blown out when they played at Ohio State earlier this season, so that game doesn’t look as promising. At this point, UM needs every win they can get in an effort to make it to the NIT. Forget the NCAA Tournament.

Check back here next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games last week, and they lost both of them. On Thursday (02/05/2015), they lost to Iowa 72-54 in Crisler Arena, then on Sunday (02/08/2015), they lost at Indiana 70-67. The two losses drop Michigan’s record to 13-11 (6-6 in the Big Ten).

This team is just plain out of gas. Between the injuries (Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton Jr.) and the illnesses, everyone who can play has been playing too many minutes, with too little support, and they’re just running on empty. They put up an impressive fight in a losing effort vs. Indiana, but they were embarrassingly docile in the home loss to Iowa. There was no fire in anyone’s eyes. They were whipped, and they knew it.

The Iowa game started OK, with UM going ahead 12-6 and 14-8. Iowa tightened things up, but UM still had a small lead (21-19) with 6:58 left in the 1^st half, when the wheels fell off. Iowa went on a 12-0 to end the half, making the halftime score 31-21. The first 5:35 of the 2^nd half were almost as bad, with Iowa going on a 13-5 run, and that was the game. That made the score 44-26 with 14:25 left, and Iowa managed to keep the lead in double digits for the rest of the game, except for one faint flickering hope when UM cut it to 9 points (52-43) with 8:07 to go. Iowa pushed the lead right back up to 14 points (57-43) in the next minute, and coasted home.

The IU game was a little more encouraging. Other than a brief 3-2 lead in the first 2 minutes of the game, IU led the whole way. Usually, the lead was 4-6 points, but a couple times IU pushed the lead up to 11 points (44-33 and 51-40), and it looked like they were going to turn it into another blowout. However, UM never let them get any farther ahead, and cut the lead back down to 4-6 points. In the final minute, they got the deficit down to 2 points (69-67), and got off a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer, but it missed, and that was the game.

The stats for the Iowa game are pretty sad. UM didn’t shoot very well overall (19-for-47 = 40.4%), and they shot pretty poorly from 3-point range (7-for-24 = 29.2%). They shot free throws very well (9-for-11 = 81.8%), but they got pounded on the boards (33-17), and they tied in the turnover battle (6-6). They played lousy defense, allowing Iowa to shoot 72% in the 2^nd half. That’s what cost them the game.

The stats for the Indiana game are much more impressive. UM shot pretty well overall (23-for-46 = 50.0%), they shot 3-pointers very well (6-for-13 = 46.2%), and they shot free throws pretty well (15-for-20 = 75.0%). As usual, they lost the rebounding battle badly (32-21), but they did win the turnover battle (11-14). It was a close game at the end, and the stats show it.

Individually, only Spike Albrecht hit double figures in both games, with 10 in the Iowa game and 12 in the IU game. The other 4 starters each had one good game and one sub-par game: Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had 11 and 2 points, Aubrey Dawkins had 16 and 7, Ricky Doyle had 0 and 15, and Zak Irvin had 7 and 23.

The bench didn’t chip in very many points this week. Max Bielfeldt had 4 and 0, Kameron Chatman had 6 and 1, Andrew Dakich had 0 and 0 (but he did take 1 shot in each game), Mark Donnal returned from illness and had 0 and 7, and Sean Lonergan didn’t take a shot in the Iowa game, and didn’t play in the IU game. Austin Hatch didn’t play in either game.

This Week

This week, Michigan only plays one game. On Thursday (02/12/2015, 9:00 p.m. EST, ESPN), they play at Illinois. They beat Illinois way back in December in their first Big Ten game of the season, 73-65 in overtime, but that was in Crisler Arena, with LeVert and Walton. It’s always hard to win on the road in the Big Ten, and even tougher when your team has so many injuries. It would be quite an upset if UM won this game.

Check back here next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team played two games last week, and they won one and lost one. On Tuesday (01/27/2015), they beat Nebraska 58-44 in Crisler Arena, then on Sunday (02/01/2015), they lost at Michigan State 76-66 (overtime). The win and the loss leave Michigan with an overall record of 13-9 (6-4 in the Big Ten).

Michigan continues to overachieve, but not enough to win the games they’re supposed to lose. Two weeks ago, they took (#6) Wisconsin into overtime, then ran out of gas and lost by 6. Last week, they took favored MSU into overtime on the road, then ran out of gas and failed to score, losing by 10. Taking both of those games to overtime is a big achievement, especially with Michigan’s injury/illness ravaged roster, but they still need to “get over the hump” and win one (or more) of these “marquee” matchups. At this point, an NCAA tournament bid seems unlikely, but they might still get into the NIT.

The Nebraska game was probably the most impressive game Michigan has played this season. They played hard, they played smart, and they controlled the game. After exchanging baskets in the early going, the score was tied (6-6) with 15:03 left in the 1^st half. UM went on a quick 7-0 run to make score 13-6, with 10:28 left in the half, and they never trailed again. They let Nebraska creep within 2 points (20-18) with 1:52 left in the 1^st half, but they pushed the lead back up to 5 (23-18) at halftime. They opened the 2^nd half with a beautiful 15-2 run, which gave them an 18 point lead (38-20) with 15:15 to go, and that was the game. The lead only slipped under 10 points once (47-39, with 5:53 to go), but UM pushed it back up to 17 points (58-41) with 2:00 left, and coasted home. It was the first comfortable Big Ten win of the season.

The MSU game was anything but comfortable. Neither team was able to pull away in regulation, although UM did build up a few small leads in the 1^st half. They didn’t last, and MSU led by 5 (29-24) at halftime. Michigan opened the 2^nd half on fire, and managed to build up another small lead (45-40) with 13:19. Once again, it didn’t last, and they found themselves down 5 points (66-61) with 1:24 to go. They scored the last 5 points in regulation, and tied it up 66-66. Overtime was a nightmare. Michigan missed all 5 shots, and even a free throw, while MSU went 3-for-6, and added 4 free throws. It was a sad way to cap off an inspired comeback.

The stats for the Nebraska game are pretty solid. Michigan shot pretty well overall (22-for-46 = 47.8%), they shot pretty well from 3-point range (6-for-14 = 42.9%), and they were perfect from the free throw line (8-for-8 = 100.0%). They crushed Nebraska on the boards (34-26), but they lost the turnover battle (13-10).

The stats for the MSU game are not nearly as impressive. Michigan shot pretty well again overall (27-for-62 = 43.5%), but they shot poorly from 3-point range (6-for-20 = 30.0%). They also shot poorly from the free throw line (6-for-10 = 60.0%). They lost the rebounding battle badly (43-29), but they (barely) won the turnover battle (11-12). I’ve said it before: this UM team looks good when the 3-pointers are going in, but they look terrible when they aren’t. 30% is not good.

Individually, there’s only one player left from the original “Big 3”: Zak Irvin. He’s the only player to hit double figures in both games, with 14 points vs. Nebraska and 11 vs. MSU. He also had a career-high 12 rebounds in the Nebraska game, for his first career double-double.

What happened to the other two players from the “Big 3”? Caris LeVert injured his left foot a couple weeks ago (in the Northwestern game), and he’s done for the season, and Derrick Walton Jr. missed both games last week with a foot injury related to the “turf toe” injury he suffered way back in November in the Villanova game. Walton will be back sometime this season, but the official word is “not in the foreseeable future”. This is bad news.

While we’re on the subject of injuries and illnesses, Mark Donnal also missed both games last week, with a respiratory illness, presumably the flu. This is the worst season I’ve ever seen for injuries and illnesses.

Back to the individual stats: the rest of the starters had a mixed week. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman had 9 points vs. Nebraska and a career-high 18 points vs. MSU. Spike Albrecht had 6 points vs. Nebraska and a career-high 18 points vs. MSU. Aubrey Dawkins had 13 and 7. Ricky Doyle had 4 and 3. The real story last week has been the emergence of MAAR as an offensive weapon.

The bench continued to chip in a few points. Max Bielfeldt had 12 and 7 points, Kameron Chatman had 0 and 2 points, Andrew Dakich had 0 and 0 points (he finally took a shot vs. MSU, but it was blocked), Austin Hatch played 7 seconds vs. Nebraska (but didn’t touch the ball), and Sean Lonergan didn’t attempt a shot. Bielfeldt and Chatman are the only subs left on the bench that are a threat to score.

This Week

This week, Michigan plays two more games. On Thursday (02/05/2015, 7:00 p.m., ESPN), they play Iowa in Crisler, then on Sunday (02/08/2015, 1:00 p.m., CBS), they play at (#22) Indiana. Iowa isn’t unbeatable, and if UM can play with the same intensity that they showed in the last 4 games, they should be able to keep the game close, and hope for good things at the end. Playing in Bloomington is never easy, and it would be quite the upset for this shorthanded, patchwork Michigan team to win there.

Check back here next week to see what happened, and why.

Go Blue!