Michigan basketball team looks average without its star player
Without Manny Harris in Purdue's 69-59 win over the Michigan basketball team, the Wolverines played, well, how many probably expected them to play. Average.
Offense: Michigan had to rely too much on DeShawn Sims to score points in the first half. While that’s good when he’s able to operate inside, Purdue clamped down on him and shut off the Wolverines for massive stretches. Michigan made a run late, but Purdue had pulled most of its starters by then. Considering the past two Big Ten games, though, the offense was improved even without Harris. Nine first-half turnovers was a killer, though. Grade: C-
Defense: Michigan was killed on the boards and let Purdue shoot 58.1 percent from the field in the first half. The Wolverines also blocked no shots and managed just two steals, their lowest total of the year. Giving up 43 points in the first half was a tough deficit to overcome and two runs where neither the offense nor the defense was working wasn’t pretty, either. Grade: C-
Coaching: With Manny Harris out, Michigan had a good plan early in getting the ball inside to DeShawn Sims. Much like a lot of other Big Ten games, the senior forward was dominant inside. The Wolverines, without Harris, also went back to some 1-3-1 defense early. Considering the last-minute decision to suspend Harris following Michigan’s final practice before Purdue, the Wolverines were well coached. Grade: B
Comments
MetricSU
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
The team with Manny beat UConn at home. UConn soundly defeated Texas. Need I remind you what the UM fans will be like tomorrow? MSU will be favored by a few, but there's a good chance UM wins. Someone like Novak or Douglass or LLP will get hot. Maybe MSU wins. I hope so, but we'll see.
timeatwork
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 11:19 a.m.
Average? um basketball is below average with M.Harris. They were flat out awful against purdue. @MetricSU....um by 2?? you've got to be kidding me. um w/o harris won't have a chance. if harris comes back, then you have a broken down, non-unified team going against a contending MSU team. MSU has something to play for, and they won't come out flat against weak little uofm. waiting for next year....or maybe the year after that.
MetricSU
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
I think Manny will come back and have a big game against MSU. Right now, I see UM by two. Sims and Harris will be strong and someone like Stu Douglass will hit some threes. I think MSU's magic runs a little short in AA. It would make it interesting because it work still give UM a slight hope of going to the tournament. (In addition, by transitivity: UM > UConn > Texas > MSU, so UM must win, right?) tater: Take note of the comment to walmartwolverine: you had the first comment this morning (under "spartyno") on the Mayo article over at mlive. And, of course, it was one of your usual, petulant, drive-by posts. I see you still have no problem denigrating an entire university.
scott
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 3:33 a.m.
You are about to be Penn State for an indefinite period of time. Any hopes of establishing yourself as a legitimate contender resided in two players who will be gone. Thanks Tommy for the talent that provided the brief ride. Unfortunately the talent void will carry on its legendary status until top recruits who are not weak 3*** "let's hope they excel with no athletic ability" are no longer offered as sophmores and juniors thus further depriving the program of talent persists. Its truly sad that a program that could garner great interest is mired in mediocrity.
LakeErieMaize&Blue
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 11:26 p.m.
Walmart,how old are you!? You need a better life than the one you got.Negative blogging about the Mighty Woverines is consuming waaaaaaay to much of your time!!!GO BLUE!!!