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Gut reactions to another disappointing loss for Michigan Basketball

By Chris Peterson

Dec 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard talks with an official during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Jumpman Classic at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard talks with an official during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Jumpman Classic at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball lost a winnable game against North Carolina on Wednesday night and here are some gut reactions. 

This Michigan basketball team has to learn how to win at some point and it’s running out of time.

The Wolverines are an exciting team with NBA talent. Jett Howard will be a first-round pick, maybe after this season. Hunter Dickinson might not be an NBA draft pick but he’s a pro and Kobe Bufkin is starting to look like one too.

However, Dickinson really struggled. Armando Bacot owned him on a night when his team needed him to step up. Dickinson was ineffective when he was on the floor and spent too much time on the bench because he couldn’t keep his cool and avoid fouls.

It was too bad because Howard and Bufkin gave Michigan basketball enough scoring to win the game. The Wolverines’ defense let them down again and so did their best player in an 80-76 loss. Here are the gut reactions as the Wolverines fall to 7-4.

Gut reactions from Michigan basketball loss to North Carolina

  • The Wolverines play exciting basketball but don’t know how to do the little things needed to win against good teams.
  • The points off turnovers alone flipped the outcome to North Carolina. Think about the steals and breakaway dunks. Those mental lapses can’t happen anymore.
  • Kobe Bufkin is starting to look like a future All-Big Ten player. This was one of his best games.
  • Jett Howard continued to look like a first-round pick.
  • Those two guys made 13-of-22 shots and combined to score 39 and Michigan lost.
  • That’s on Hunter Dickinson who scored nine points (3-of-9) and grabbed eight rebounds.
  • Dug McDaniel had a decent good night except for the shooting.
  • It’s already turning into a key X-factor. When he makes shots they win as they did against Minnesota and tonight was the opposite of that (3-10, 0-3 from 3-point range).
  • Joey Baker hit some big shots and gave Michigan some big minutes. That needs to continue.
  • Tarris Reed looked like a freshman at times but impressed at times too.
  • Still, there is no depth on this team.
  • Michigan basketball probably needs 12 Big Ten wins to make the NCAA tournament.
  • That’s a big ask. It can be done, but the NIT is a very strong possibility.
  • Go Blue
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