Michigan basketball team admits it was 'exposed' in Indianapolis, plans to regroup in Nashville
Trey Burke didn't mince words after losing to Ohio State on Saturday in a Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
One day later, Burke was even more straightforward.
"We felt like we got exposed (Saturday)," the Michigan basketball point guard said Sunday. "And we did."
Twenty four hours after they suffered their most lopsided loss of the season in a demoralizing 77-55 setback against the Buckeyes in Indianapolis, the Wolverines turned the page and set their sights on the NCAA Tournament, and a date with 13th-seeded Ohio on Friday (7:20 p.m., TNT) in Nashville, Tenn.
Michigan guard Stu Douglass is draped by Ohio State's Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott in the Buckeyes' 77-55 Big Ten Tournament semifinal win on Saturday. The Wolverines hope to shake off that performance before the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Michigan was excited about earning its highest tournament seed in 14 years, but wasn't quick to forget how things ended at the Big Ten Tournament.
"Against Minnesota, we saw that we were resilient, as we've been all year," Michigan senior co-captain Zack Novak said. "Against Ohio (State), we had some plays that weren't intelligent in the first half that let that lead get a little too big at halftime.
"You've got a double-digit lead going in and you're comfortable, and when you're comfortable, it's tough to stop a team like that."
The Wolverines traveled back from Indianapolis on Sunday morning, allowing coach John Beilein to cut up the Ohio State film on the bus. After arriving back in Ann Arbor, Beilein showed the team the game tape before gathering to watch the tournament selection show.
What Michigan saw was obvious.
Burke was limited to a 1-for-11 shooting, eight-turnover performance, his worst of the season. Tim Hardaway Jr. shot 3-for-10 from the floor. The Wolverines as a whole had their worst shooting night of the season and Ohio State dominated from wire-to-wire.
Not very pretty, but a learning tool nevertheless.
"They know and they'll appreciate the changes they need to make," Beilein said. "It was simple. We've grown in defeat, and many times you grow in defeat quicker than you grow in victory.
"I feel good about going onto the practice floor and into the film room with them, because they've embraced this part of it."
The lopsided loss to Ohio State likely cost Michigan a No. 3 seed in the tournament, and also may have blown a shot to play closer to home. The Wolverines were projected as a club that could have played first weekend games in Columbus, Ohio.
The selection committee rated Michigan as the 13th-best team in the tournament, making the Wolverines the top No. 4 seed, and leaving them one spot shy of a higher bid.
The Wolverines say there's no sense in looking back, though, opting to leave the Buckeye loss in the showers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
They understand the mistakes they made, realize how poor they played and also know that, to date, they haven't lost two straight games all season.
Ohio State's in the past, and Ohio awaits.
"I'll bounce back by playing the way I usually play," Burke said. "I beat myself up all (Saturday) night. But I'm staying positive.
"After every loss this year, we all bounce back three times harder and come back to practice hungry. We're going to do the same."
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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Comments
The1Cool
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
Without significant post and penetration threats outside of Burke or pick and rolls are easy to defend for disciplined defenses. Hardaway has surprisingly poor ball handling so he's only an occasional threat and everyone else is a very minimal threat so it's easier for a big to stretch out past the 3 point line without having to recover all the way to the paint. This won't be the case as Beilein continues to improve the talent on the roster.
TFR
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 11:46 p.m.
I think that it is amusing that UM refers to OSU as "ohio". I have heard the football coach and the basketball coach do it on a number of occassions. I am hearing people around town do the same thing. I believe it is quite disrespectful. It's on the same level of the "little brother" comments about MSU. So, I think it is fitting that UM has to play Ohio - the real Ohio. And, I hope Ohio wins. Saturday morning I will enjoy reading the posts about losing to "ohio" one week and OHIO the next week. Anyways, it is that kind of arrogance that really fuels my dislike of UM.
aarox
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Not ALL of us are arrogant.
RWBill
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.
I agree with heartbreak and others and have said the same since last January. They were exposed for lack of a real and consistent inside game. 35% from 3-land is a critical tide line for this team. Below that they could very well lose to Ohio. 40% and above and they have the potential to beat anyone. Whether McGary is a fix we'll just have to wait and see. Until then, tight aggressive defense against Burke like Ohio and Sparty play possess real difficulties.
RWBill
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
Poses, not possess. Damn Android!
C. Lawler
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
The biggest problem I see is U-M has no big men with a post up game. That is why if you guard the perimeter U-M get's shut down. Jordan Morgan does not have anything in his arsenal except layups and bunnies facing the basket. If a team has big forwards and centers that guard down low, you have to be able to post up on them.
The1Cool
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.
Good post. Exactly the same thing I noticed. And not only that, but the only true penetration threat is Burke. Hardaway has surprisingly poor ball handling so he's only an occasional threat and everyone else is a very minimal threat so it's easier for a big to stretch out past the 3 point line without having to recover all the way to the paint. This won't be the case as Beilein continues to improve the talent on the roster.
Robert Honeyman
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
huh. they get to play ohio right after losing to ohio. how bad can *that* be? :7)
Kevin Shabinski
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
Spelling error with 'exposed'- should be spelled 'destroyed'
heartbreakM
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
We lose to Ohio if we don't hit our 3's (same story all year) and if we don't have any inside presence. I think Michigan is too hard-working of a team to let them beat us, though, despite what the "experts" say. Great senior leadership, great guard play, decent inside play. Big questions: Does Hardaway play well or does he go into a funk like he has been known to do? If he plays well, that takes a lot of heat off of Burke. I don't think Hardaway should be dribbling the ball, though--he got burned with that repeatedly against the Buckeyes. Does Smot and Vogrich give some good relief off the bench? If those are "yeses", then Michigan will be in good shape. Temple scares me--they play good fundamental basketball and are a team like Michigan. I wanted Dunphy as the coach when he was at Penn, though B-line is a great choice too. Both of them are great coaches, and that could be a great game if both get there. I think Michigan lost to Ohio State because of tired-ness (no legs) and because of incredible Ohio State defense which only tired out Michigan more. Ohio State played its best game of the year and deserved that victory, but Michigan is too smart of a team to let that loss linger.
Liger
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Physically, Michigan can't hang with the big boys in the conference, MSU and OSU. Anybody who watched that epic battle yesterday would admit that those were clearly the two best teams in the conference. I think a #4 seed is about right for this team. I still think that any team that guards the perimeter well against Michigan has a good chance of beating them....there is simply no inside presence on this team. Also, I do admire Burke for admitting he played a poor game, but I give a lot of the credit to OSU, who figured out that if you take Burke away, nobody else on this team is going to beat you. A Sweet Sixteen run would be nice, but I don't see it. For what it's worth, Ohia over Michigan in a first round upset is a popular pick right now with some of the "experts."
ferdcom
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.
Jeff -- please use "buckeyes" and "bobcats" in your comments. I have trouble with which team people are talking about.
jeff blue
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
I agree that Ohio will be tough -- but Michigan will win the game in the second half. We might have trouble with big men in the paint, but Ohio doesn't have those type of physical players.
a2roots
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
One thing we do know about the experts is that they are usually wrong.
jeff blue
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
Give Trey some credit -- this man is not afraid of the truth. That is the only way to get better; admit the truth and work on it. Hard work and character is the Michigan way. UM has had a very good basketball season and we will get better. It is refreshing to hear from a true Michigan Man. He cares -- no excuses, no blaming the officials, no saying that OSU cheats, no wine with our cheese, no excuse university. Just high character and let's get after it!!! JEFF, GO BLUE
The1Cool
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
Why would he have to "get away with" it? It's not like he'd have to explain himself to you or anyone else if he were to make an excuse. It wouldn't make much sense, but people make dumber excuses every single day.
rightmind250
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 5:51 p.m.
Now there's a true Michigan Man for you. <a href="http://i.imgur.com/tSvT8.jpg" rel='nofollow'>http://i.imgur.com/tSvT8.jpg</a>
Justin
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
Do you really think that there is anyway he could get away with blaming the officials or saying OSU cheats when they lost by 22? lol I don't think any official could be that bad... When you lose by that much there's really no excuse to put out there other than awful play