Michigan Basketball: 5 keys to a deep run in Big Ten tournament

Teske needs to play well on both ends

During the first half of the season and a little beyond that, Jon Teske was one of Michigan basketball’s best players. He was one of the most important players and as the Big Ten tournament opens for U-M Thursday, he still is vitally important.

He just needs to find himself.

In eight of his last 10 games, Teske has been unable to reach double figures and at times, his play on the offensive end of the floor has been painful to watch.

After shooting around 30 percent or so from beyond the arc most of the past two seasons, he has made just 2 of his last 14. Going back even farther, Teske has hit just 4-of-26, which works out to 15 percent.

What’s worse is that in his last seven games, yes seven, Teske has only grabbed a total of 27 rebounds. That’s fewer than four per game to a 7-foot-1 center. Something has to change and unless Teske finds his shot and his aggressive streak, Michigan isn’t going to go far, not as long as he is playing 30 minutes a game.