Michigan doesn't have anything to apologize for in terms of having a hard-fought win over Iowa. The Hawkeyes are a top-10 team, and winning on the road in the Big Ten isn't easy.
With the win, Michigan basketball became the first program to go undefeated in the Big Ten on the road since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers, a team that finished 9-0 on the road in Big Ten games. Michigan went 10-0.
That doesn't mean everything was perfect in Iowa City. Far from it. The offense only generated 1.09 points per possession, despite shooting 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
The issue wasn't missed shots, although the Wolverines missed more 2-point attempts than usual. The problem was turnovers.
Turnovers are Michigan basketball's biggest flaw
Even before the LJ Cason injury, Michigan had a turnover problem, ranking 255th in turnovers per game (12.2). On Thursday, the Wolverines turned the ball over on 22.4 percent of their possessions. It's hard to win when you do that.
Morez Johnson, Aday Mara, and Elliot Cadeau each had four turnovers. Cadeau needs to play better. It was one of his worst games of the season. The good news is that Michigan still won. The bad news is that if Cadeau has a game like that in the NCAA tournament, it could be part of the recipe needed to pull off an upset.
Michigan doesn't have Cason to turn to if Cadeau is struggling or gets into foul trouble. Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle are the other alternatives.
The way the game went and the kinds of turnovers Michigan was making probably wouldn't have been dramatically different with Cason in the game. The Wolverines were sloppy and allowed iowa's defense to dictate things.
Other teams will surely take note of the Hawkeyes aggressive defensive style. Michigan does have a glaring lack of ball-handers.
That's why turnovers could be the fatal flaw for this team. Inconsistent 3-point shooting, like what we saw against Duke, and in other games this season, is the other potential flaw that could bring down the Wolverines in March Madness.
It's also another that's more glaring after LJ Cason's injury.