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Michigan Basketball’s season ends in frustrating fashion again

By Chris Peterson

Mar 24, 2022; San Antonio, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Brandon Slater (3) drives to the basket against Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the semifinals of the South regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2022; San Antonio, TX, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Brandon Slater (3) drives to the basket against Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) in the semifinals of the South regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball lost to Villanova on Thursday in a game that the Wolverines easily could have won. 

For the second straight year, Michigan basketball fans are going to go into the offseason with a sour taste in their mouths.

Not because the Wolverines didn’t put together an incredible run this March. They did and I don’t care what anyone says — reaching the Sweet 16 made this season a success.

I don’t care about 15 losses and all that. What you do in March is what matters and Michigan basketball made a fifth straight Sweet 16.

However, it could have easily been a second Elite 8.

The biggest concern coming into the game was the defense and really, the defense did a good enough job to win. Villanova was under 60 points with a minute to go. The problem is that the Wolverines couldn’t buy a bucket and Hunter Dickinson had one of his worst offensive outings at the worst possible time — shooting 6-of-16 from the field and finishing with 13 points.

Dickinson grabbed 15 rebounds and got lots of open looks in the paint. He just had a hard time finishing and truly, the game was defined by Michigan missing shots it could make — layups, free throws, and open 3s.

You can’t win basketball games if you don’t make shots and Villanova made more shots (barely). It’s hard to stomach because it’s what happened against UCLA too. The Wolverines played well enough to win but Franz Wagner and Dickinson both struggled.

And when thinking of this game I’ll think of nothing but all the easy, point-blake buckets Dickinson missed. That was the difference.

Seven missed free throws and about that many missed bunnies were to blame for the loss. The defense did well enough to win and that’s what makes this hard to stomach.

But’s that the NCAA Tournament. Eli Brooks did his best to carry Michigan basketball to its third straight win but he and the Wolverines fell short.

Here are the gut reactions.

Gut reactions from Michigan basketball loss to Villanova

  • This one hurts. It was a very winnable game.
  • Feels like this is it for Hunter Dickinson.
  • Tough to see Hunter go out like that.
  • Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate never quit making freshman mistakes.
  • And those mistakes killed Michigan against Villanova.
  • A dropped pass and a bad pass led directly to six Villanova points. Can’t do that and win in March. At least not against Villanova.
  • Eli Brooks is a warrior. He deserves to be Michigan’s all-time leader in wins.
  • Brandon Johns played well on defense. He just can’t score.
  • Terrance Williams made a rare mental error trying a 3 instead of passing to a wide-open Dickinson down four. That felt like the end. He passes and the lead is probably two.
  • People will blame Juwan. The coach isn’t responsible for the team missing open looks. He put Michigan in a position to win.
  • This game was there for the taking.
  • The season was still a success but also frustrating.
  • This offseason will be interesting.
  • As always, Go Blue!
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