Michigan basketball team admits it was 'exposed' in Indianapolis, plans to regroup in Nashville

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 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."

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