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Michigan Basketball: No Consistent X-Factor This Season

By Tyler Fenwick

Dec 6, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Kerwin Roach Jr. (12) in the second half forward Moritz Wagner (13) and Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) blocks a shot bat Crisler Center. Michigan won 53-50. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Kerwin Roach Jr. (12) in the second half forward Moritz Wagner (13) and Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson (5) blocks a shot bat Crisler Center. Michigan won 53-50. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Whether it’s for better or for worse, there isn’t a consistent X-factor for Michigan basketball this season. Every game is going to be unique in that way.

You can count on two things when you listen to a Michigan basketball broadcast: the mentioning of John Beilein never being an assistant coach, and the Wolverines depending heavily on the play of whoever it may be that night.

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For the latter, the name often changes. Most nights it’s Zak Irvin, sometimes it’s D.J. Wilson or Derrick Walton Jr., and other times it’s Moritz Wagner.

In a 53-50 win over Texas on Tuesday night, it was Wagner, who had 15 points (7-of-13 shooting), 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Two of those 15 came off an offensive rebound with Michigan down one with 20 seconds to play.

Then, with a chance to win the game, Texas worked the ball to Eric Davis Jr. on an out-of-bounds play, but Wagner was there to block his shot and effectively seal the Wolverines’ seventh win this season.

When Michigan knocked the wind out of SMU, 59-41, in the 2K Classic Championship, it was Walton who the Wolverines couldn’t do without. He electrified the offense with seven 3-pointers, finishing with 23 points and 6 assists.

The Wolverines wouldn’t have had a lead to blow against Virginia Tech had it not been for Irvin’s 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting. (His hero-ball antics hurt Michigan late, but his contribution was not small.)

Point being: Michigan’s go-to guy is going to change with just about every game. That isn’t an exhaustive list of key performances this season, but it demonstrates how diverse the Wolverines are offensively.

It’s reminiscent of last season, when Michigan had a difficult time finding the reliable hand from one game to the next.

This isn’t an inherently bad situation. Theoretically, having more than one player who can take over a game is a big bonus. Defenses won’t be able to know exactly who to prepare for, and a tailor-made game plan for, say, Irvin may only open the door for, say, Walton or Wagner.

And I haven’t even mentioned Wilson, whose presence is felt more consistently on the defensive end with his ability to switch and guard just about anyone. His block percentage of 6.3 percent is No. 9 in the Big Ten.

Having no clear-cut go-to player in some cases seems to hurt Michigan, especially late in close games. The Wolverines’ offense gets too stagnant, as it did against Texas, which lends itself to Irvin taking ill-advised shots.

One of the heaviest criticisms of this season’s team is its inability to play with a lead. Things get too tight on offense. Perhaps that wouldn’t be the case so often if the Wolverines had someone like Trey Burke or Caris LeVert to alleviate the pressure.

These first games have made it clear that Irvin is the first option. He’s taken 111 shots. The next highest is Walton at 81. Still, Michigan has been relying on much more than Irvin, and an array of key performances backs that up.

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It’s been mostly sustainable through nine games, but there’s no doubt this reality is going to require further adjustments. Maybe we’ll learn more when Michigan travels to No. 2 UCLA on Saturday (8 p.m. EST, ESPN2).

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