Michigan Basketball: Growth and Growing Pains Continue

Posted at 8:00am — 2/28/2011

Michigan Basketball: Growth and Growing Pains Continue

Michigan hit the GBMWolverine early season predicted high water mark of 18 wins yesterday with a 70-63 win at Minnesota. This sends Minnesota into Michigan waters as a pick for the NCAA tournament. The injury to Hollins has greatly decreased Minnesota’s production and resume during the last three weeks. Michigan is getting better and competing with the mid-pack Big Ten teams. The brutal Pythagorean three point bank shot made by Wisconsin remains the biggest obstacle to Michigan’s NCAA hopes, although a look back will certainly entertain discussion about Michigan’s poor road losses at Indiana and Northwestern, where frankly the Wolverines made both teams look like NCAA contenders. After the 1-6 start most buried the Wolverines into the next year for discussion bin. But Coach Beilein and staff held the team firm, and the young Wolverines climbed out of the tank, playing better, by executing better. Along the way a very important quality, called mental toughness and another called the will to win, started to emerge, albeit these traits are far from perfected.

Why so? The view here is that the primary factor is Beilein’s coaching ability, and frankly, that of his new assistants. The Wolverines ran the gauntlet, got off the ground, and got better. Evidence of this includes the statements by Coach Beilein when his team was falling into the 9-11th place abyss of the Big Ten, that the first mission became fundamentals in practice (this can sacrifice specific game preparation). The Wolverines took the skills learned and applied them in games on the fly, sometimes successfully and sometimes not, but the physical play and mental play improved none-the-less.

The rise is not a fluke. Over several weeks Michigan has played even with Kansas and Ohio State, beat Michigan State, albeit when the Spartans were in their own abyss, and done well at the mid level. No one has blown them out. Some may say that the Big Ten is not quite up to preseason rankings, but Minnesota and Illinois are still hanging around, in or near the top 25 for the last few weeks.

In lieu of game discussion, here are some comments believed to be pertinent.

Minnesota and Illinois are just ok teams, nothing special at all. Michigan played dead even, more or less, on the road with both teams. Wisconsin is a good team and Michigan had the game won, but lost. But two months ago beating Minnesota on the road and nearly beating Wisconsin would have been thought to be somewhat far-fetched.

Always remember: things change in athletics, there are few programs so good and few programs so bad that ebb and flow and fluidity do not apply.

Secondly, although he has his critics and flaws, Coach Beilein is a teacher, clear and obvious is this statement, supported both historically and by any reasonable observation of his teams this season. There was a time, decades ago, when guys like John Beilein were a very high priority for college sports programs; teachers, honest with high integrity, valuing student athletes where the student came first. Times have changed and college sports have, at least in the spotlight and revenue producing sports, clearly evolved into a talent grab competition. Volumes of debate could be brought forth, but keep that view in mind.

Extending the above assertions, Coach Beilein’s teams still exhibit the perceived major weaknesses of his long coaching tenures; poor rebounding, somewhat soft defense, and a puzzling inability to recruit a true inside player that can dominate and must be accounted for every trip down the floor by opponents. These assessments ring somewhat true. Jordan Morgan uses some bulk, good footwork, and creativity (with obvious good coaching at the center position) to contribute, but he is the recipient of the work of others on pick and rolls, lost defenders, clean ups going to the rim, etc. Jordan cannot, at lest as of yet, show the total game that defenders must honor. Next year two more guards are coming, but unless a big surprise emerges, the Moses of the middle is still nowhere to be found.

Make no mistake Jordan Morgan has contributed and is an asset within the team structure. The belief here is that his strong ability to set picks at the top in a timely and effective way has enabled Darius Morris to score with more efficiency with his middle game. All Darius needs is a little edge and Morgan has been big in providing the benefit package all point guards need in the middle isolation, pick, and dribble drive package that dominates college basketball today. Jordan’s timing and execution of the age old roll option off of the pick has been very impressive. This timeless option needs very good timing and teamwork, and both qualities have been present. Jordan is not a quick jumper and single-handedly cannot neutralize the other teams inside offense, nothing close is an obvious conclusion, but few at 6’ 8” can achieve such a team luxury.

The rebounding complaint, criticism, etc, is justified. This has been detailed numerous times within the boundaries of GBMWolverine, but in quick summation: geometry off the boards can be systematically taught and practiced, the physical assets of Michigan do not match those of the Big Ten brethren (get in the weight room and emphasize rebounding), and rebounding is not pretty, it takes blue-collar work. Michigan is making some progress, but it will take more than Morgan and the blue collar Novak to stop the flood of opponent’s offensive rebounds. As a classic example, Michigan gave up 12 offensive rebounds to Minnesota yesterday. If Michigan takes care of business on the boards, the Wolverines beat the Gophers by double figures, instead of surviving the end game tactics in a close game.

The defensive criticism is somewhat founded. Michigan plays smart, unlike most teams today, and simply gives up the easy points instead of taking the fouls and making the opponent make foul shots to gain an advantage. Michigan is not physical, but importantly cannot afford the luxury of giving up fouls and having starters on the bench. In the recent past, Michigan survived tons of first half fouls on starters when picky (and not real smart) fouls were being called in epidemic fashion. Michigan simply cannot put a group of players on the floor to hold the fort if more than two starters are benched with foul trouble. The subs are doing fine at holding on for 10 minutes or so a game, but collectively their lack of size and physicality provide mismatches that cannot be endured for more than a few minutes.

One thing for certain: Michigan is still ineffective and lazy at guarding the perimeter, jumping around and seemingly giving up. This has provided opponents with golden shooting opportunities that have frequently been cashed in.

Third, this young team has better teamwork than last year’s team, without question and doubt, case closed. The team reads options well, swings the ball, and is content to go to the best option without much moaning. Sims inside presence and defense certainly would be a nice addition, but the question must be begged as to the development of Morris and Hardaway Jr. if Manny had remained. This is to be construed as an academic argument and not a slam on an ex-player.

Fourth, Michigan’s three-point game has evolved with a better result. The Wolverines still come out of the gate firing if the opportunity is present, but have resisted the temptation of simply firing threes instead of running an offense. Better player development has been the result, let alone better play. About one half of Michigan’s shots against the Gophers were from deep range. In the preseason review, a statistic of 38% of three pointers made was cited as the benchmark for minimum positive contribution of the outside game. Yesterday, Michigan shot 43% and this difference of one or two shots above the threshold may have been the difference maker.

Fifth, Michigan is playing tougher, even though physically challenged. There is better scrap, better success at holding positions, and an obvious attitude of determination. The poster boy is Zach Novak, the hope is he does not get nailed for another nasty situation that may cause him a game suspension. Zach has been on the edge as he fights against guys 4-6 inches and 10-20 pounds bigger than himself. More than anyone else he understands rebounding and the skills and attitude to get it done. Everything else is rebounding by committee for this young team.

Sixth, the resent miscues by Morris at the foul line do not doom him to a career of late game failures. He seems to be a competitor and his letdowns should inspire him to do just the opposite, succeed in such situations. This takes mindset and confidence as well as ability. Frankly many of Michigan’s athletes are the type that should be 80% foul shooters. Novak, Douglass, Hardaway, Smotrycz, and Morris are good shooters and should eat up foul line charity. A coaching staff may choose to let Morris know that you are not the man in the end game foul shooting derby until you demonstrate improvement.

And so, two things emerge, the improvement and the shortcomings. But for now the improvement has the edge over the shortcomings. That is, until a big time team is on the horizon that can turn the shortcomings into a win.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!