Michigan basketball clinched a share of the Big Ten title on Tuesday night, thanks to a 77-67 win over Minnesota that was far from memorable.
Michigan needed to make 14 3-pointers to best the Gophers, who made 12. They averaged 1.02 points per possession, with six scholarship players not playing.
A win is a win. Michigan was fresh off playing the No. 3 team, now No. 1, in the country. It was the most-hyped non-conference game I can remember in recent memory, and you could understand a letdown.
There are some things the Wolverines need to fix, though, before March Madness, and before they attempt to cut down the nets in Chicago at the Big Ten tournament.
One thing John Beilein never did was sweep the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships. The Wolverines were agonizingly close in 2012-2013. One win away.
So winning a Big Ten regular-season title, along with a tournament title, would be even more history for a team determined to get every banner possible.
There are three on the table: Big Ten regular-season title (check), Big Ten tournament title, and NCAA championship. In order to get the next two, here Michigan basketball needs to improve these areas.
Consistent 3-point shooting
Michigan shot 56 percent against Purdue. That number dropped to 24 percent against Duke, then went back up to 42 percent against Minnesota.
That's sort of the nature of 3-point shooting. There will be some swings. Michigan has been consistent for the most part, but when it has shot the ball poorly, it has opened the door for other teams (32 percent or below in both losses).
Poor 3-point shooting lost the Duke game, plain and simple. Duke's length and size probably had more to do with the low percentage than not using the Nike ball, but there were plenty of good looks that the Wolverines normally make and will need to make if they want to cut down the nets at the Big Ten tournament, or in early April.
When Michigan shoots well from deep, the Wolverines are unbeatable. The Duke game was a great example. The Blue Devils dominated the glass, an area Michigan usually wins, and still, if the Wolverines have a normal day at the office from downtown, they win the game by multiple possessions.
If this team hits about 35 percent in a game from 3-point range, it's hard to see it losing.
Keep Aday Mara in the game
It was easy to see that if either Duke or Michigan got their center in foul trouble, it was going to be a game-changer, and it was.
Jon Scheyer was genius in having his players attacking Mara the way they did, knowing they were going to have some shots blocked, but also knowing there was a good chance of fouls being called.
I wish you needed six fouls to be disqualified in the NCAA. Mara picking up two early fouls is the recipe for an upset in the NCAA tournament. Morez Johnson and Yaxel Lendeborg are right there in terms of importance. They need to watch the fouls, too.
There are stretches where the Wolverines don't use their three-big lineup. They can live without it, but it's what has made this defense and this offense so elite.
Defending without fouling will be key for Michigan basketball from here on out.
Turnovers
Michigan only won a game in which it made 14 3-pointers by 10 points, why? The Wolverines turned it over on 18 percent of their possessions.
They still produced 1.18 points per possession. Michigan shot 60 percent on 2-pointers, but they only attempted 25. Michigan is certainly capable of protecting the ball.
The Wolverines only turned it over on 9.9 percent of their possessions against Duke. The problem was the offensive rebounding rate of 40-21 in favor of the Blue Devils. That's usually what Michigan does to other teams.
We will consider that a one-off, especially with Mara being in and out of the game. Duke also was better that night on the boards. Could it do that again? We'll see (maybe).
The thing that keeps me up at night isn't allowing offensive rebounds. It's turnovers. Michigan can't be careless with the ball, or it could cost the Wolverines a banner.
This is team capable of hanging three.