Michigan Basketball: Gut reactions to horrific loss against Indiana

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball blew a 17-point second-half lead against Indiana on Thursday and might have sealed its NCAA tournament fate in the process. 

For one half of basketball, it looked like the Wolverines were finally capable of putting it all together and maybe putting together a postseason run.

There were comparisons of DeVante Jones to Derrick Walton jr. during his magical run in the 2016-17 season as Michigan basketball won the Big Ten Tournament championship.

Jones was stellar in the first half and so was Hunter Dickinson. Even Caleb Houstan got going early in the second half, knocking down three 3-pointers and all of a sudden, Michigan basketball seemed like a team that wouldn’t need to worry at all about selection Sunday.

Then, everything changed in an instant. Indiana played with a sense of urgency and Michigan, acting as though the game was over, could do little to stop the Hoosiers’ momentum.

Now, sitting at 17-14, the Wolverines played their worst half of the season in a game that was as important as any, against a team that has really, really struggled.

I can’t think of a worse way for Michigan basketball to go into selection Sunday and with that in mind, here are the gut reactions from Thursday’s loss to Indiana.

Gut reactions from Michigan basketball’s loss to Indiana

  • Michigan might make the NCAA Tournament but it can’t complain if it doesn’t.
  • The Wolverines would have been a 10 seed at worst with a loss.
  • They can’t win back-to-back games.
  • Hunter Dickinson disappeared when it mattered most.
  • DeVante Jones spent too much time complaining about fouls in the second half.
  • Jones and Eli Brooks were terrible on offense down the stretch.
  • The defense totally collapsed. Way too many dunks, layups, and open 3s.
  • Caleb Houstan can’t be trusted in crunch time.
  • Moussa Diabate is the only draftable player on this roster right now.
  • This season has been incredibly frustrating.
  • It’s going to be a long wait till Sunday.
  • Go Blue.