No. 12 Michigan State basketball team blows out Michigan, earns share of Big Ten crown
EAST LANSING - Raymar Morgan threw the pass at the top of the key. Little-used reserve Isaiah Dahlman, caught the ball and dunked - a senior-to-senior connection that served as part of a rout.
And there was nothing the Michigan basketball team could do.
Senior night at the Breslin Center belonged to Michigan State in every way during the No. 11 Spartans’ 64-48 pummeling of Michigan.
Michigan never led. Considering it bussed up early Sunday afternoon for the game, the Wolverines played like they never got off the bus.
Michigan State's Durrell Summers, top, and Michigan's DeShawn Sims go after an errant pass Sunday. Summers and Michigan State soared against Michigan for a 64-48 victory and a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.
“It’s kind of tough to win here,” Michigan senior forward DeShawn Sims said. “The past couple years Michigan has struggled to win here. I don’t know the last time we won here.
“Just not being able to get it done, I put a lot of it on me.”
He’s not alone. All of Michigan contributed to its latest loss in a disappointing season.
The Wolverines couldn’t shoot. They couldn’t defend. If it weren’t for 17 Michigan State turnovers, the Wolverines could have easily lost by 30 points. Even Michigan coach John Beilein, who was more animated than he has been all season, couldn’t pick up a technical foul despite being almost a third of the way toward the middle of the court after a call he disagreed with in the first half. From the game’s opening minutes, Beilein was on the officials.
His players, though, couldn’t guard anyone, allowing Morgan to score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds and letting nine Spartans to score.
“They are super physical, probably the most physical team we play and that’s, it’s a concern of mine two ways,” Beilein said. “Number one, we have to get more physical and number two, I must be teaching some different things in basketball defense because we don’t grab people a lot, not that they were grabbing, but there’s a lot of physical play that goes on.
“I wish it could be called tighter at times, but that’s the way it’s done.”
Beilein wouldn’t say his players were intimidated by Michigan State’s physicality and ability to bully, but it looked like it on the court.
The Wolverines were bounced around the court and then off of it rather quickly.
“They are very physical with you, but I’m sure it’s difficult for some of our guys either because of their body type or mental type to hang in there,” Beilein said. “But we fought right to the end, and we didn’t give up.
“They are just stronger than us.”
That was never more clear than toward the end of the first half, when Michigan State senior forward Raymar Morgan and Michigan sophomore guard Zack Novak tangled going for a loose ball at center court. Novak got caught in Morgan’s arm and ended up on the ground.
Physicality message sent. And with Michigan State already up 29-14 and dominating Michigan, game pretty much over before halftime.
All around, Michigan struggled. The Wolverines had the worst scoring half in a Big Ten game this season by any team - 14 points - in the first half. They couldn’t deal with Michigan State’s pressure, committing 19 turnovers - four more turnovers than the Wolverines had field goals.
After a game against Minnesota in which Michigan shot with its best efficiency, passed well and looked crisp, the Wolverines flailed about on the Breslin Center floor, flapping and flopping to shooting 34.9 percent from the field, 19 percent from the 3-point line and seemingly waiting for Michigan State (24-7 overall, 14-4 Big Ten) to end the game and wrap up a share of the Big Ten title.
“Part of the reason it went the way it went is that our defense was pretty good,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
It perhaps bothered no one more than Michigan’s two Detroit-bred stars. For the first time all season, neither Sims nor junior guard Manny Harris reached double figure scoring in a game. Harris had a season-low four points. Sims had nine points.
Just one Michigan player, forward Zack Gibson, reached double-figures with 10 points. Michigan was held below 50 points for the fourth time this season.
For Michigan (14-16, 7-11), it was just another loss on the road to Michigan State - a streak now spanning 11 games at the Breslin Center and four games overall. It was just another loss for Beilein, who has yet to beat the in-state rival Spartans.
For Sims, though, it was more. It means the former Michigan Mr. Basketball will have never won in East Lansing against guys he’s playing against and grown up with.
So in the locker room in the Breslin Center after his Michigan team was shellacked one final time by Michigan State, he admitted it’d bug him.
“Definitely,” Sims said. “Because I’ll probably see those guys the rest of my life and they’ll always have something over me.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter@mikerothstein.
Comments
a2roots
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 3:23 p.m.
There have been a few extenuating circumstances over the past 10+ years in M Bball. Lest we not forget Ed Martin, the ax on Fisher, Goss hiring of Ellerbe, Martin hiring of Amaker and now we have to live with Beinlein. Cackle all you want sparty fans but remember izzo was close to being shown the door. Cleaves saved his butt. It will not be long until Michigan is back dominating sparty but my guess is it will not be with Beinlein.
Jaxon5
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 6:54 p.m.
As long as Tom Izzo is coach at MSU, UM will not attract the best athletes, nor will they play the best basketball in the state. It will be a very long time before UM is going to challenge MSU in any way. A reasonable time horizon to start seeing progress would be 10 years.
trigg7
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 6:42 p.m.
I said no higher than 7th in the BIG TEN from day one.GEEE that was tough. I see the football team no higher than 7th next year. Hate to say it but I told you so.
MetricSU
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 1:54 p.m.
I was at the Breslin Center with my son yesterday, and we had a great time. Rather than state the obvious, I want to report on a heartwarming yet bittersweet couple of moments that I witnessed after the game. Manny's mom stayed for the entire senior day and banner hanging ceremony. As the Spartans took a lap through the Izzone, Kalin and Durrell (both Detroit kids) spotted Manny's mom behind the UM bench. On separate occasions each player waved to Ms. Harris-Carter and both players came over to shake her hand. Manny's mom must be a strong woman, and a better person than most of us posting here. It had to be hard for her to be that gracious, especially knowing that Manny might have gone to MSU if a scholarship had been available. (I doubt I could have done it.) That seems a little weird, doesn't it? I've known people from AA and elsewhere say to my face they'd give anything for their kid to go to UM, and isn't it too bad if they have to settle for MSU. Yet Manny would've been much better off at MSU. (And guess what? That can be true in academics, too.)
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 1:32 p.m.
At this level, it's more about recruiting than the Xs and Os or experience. Beilein just doesn't seem to be able to recruit the big athletes it takes to be a consistent top 20 team. I think last season was more the aberration than the rule. Trying to think of what he did last year that he didn't do this year. Maybe it's as simple as Manny Harris not being the same player.
a2roots
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 10:20 a.m.
Larry...recruiting is abysmal. No excuses. His system is not what top of the line players are looking for. I like Morris but he has little support and there isn't any forthcoming. Beinlein is not the answer. I do not like calling for his departure but the right person should be able to get the program right sided quickly. Far to often this season he has appeared clueless which is absolutely unacceptable.
81wolverine
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.
Another embarassing loss. I wish we were at least competitive in some of these games. The Beilein System was a complete failure this year at least. I've never seen a poorer shooting Michigan team than this one. If we're going to recruit these so-called shooting-guard kids from Indiana or wherever, they'd better at least be able to hit shots. Because they aren't playing very good defense or rebounding much. Beilein MUST recruit better athletes - it's as simple as that. And he better start finding some bigger inside guys who can at least compete with the players MSU and the rest of the Big Ten has. The Big Ten is a tough, physicial league. You've GOT to have rebounding and shot-blocking ability. Otherwise, game over before it starts. In Beilein's defense though in this game, the Big Ten refereeing is an embarassment and has been for a long time. Inconsistent calls have been a hallmark of Big 10 referees for years. Big name coaches like Izzo, and Bobby Knight (when he was at Indiana) have frequently received favorite treatment from the refs on their home courts. And those guys aren't dumb. They take advantage of it. Overall though, when Beilein's job evaluation comes up after this season, he shouldn't get very good marks. A lot of signs of a poor coaching job based on the on-court results.
oscar
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 9:45 a.m.
Larry, we got a point guard.. Darrius Morris.. Biggest recruit Beilein has gotten. How do we get consistent rebounding and consistent shooting? We have to recruit, right? Well, look at our class coming for next year. I wouldn't call it a success. Is it even a top 50 class? This program is going no where in a hurry.
Larry Eiler
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.
Let the coach go? Who is dreaming that foolishness? You do not hire someone and plan to fail. You to not get married to get divorced. You expect to succeed. Expect that with M basketball when they get a solid point guard and consistent rebounding and shooting. Expect that with M football when they can bolster the D and have a few years of experience running the brand-new offense installed in 08. Stop harping and calling for a coach's head. The world is not coming to an end because M is not quite there yet in hoops and on the grid. Larry Eiler
a2roots
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.
Wow what a disaster of a year. Our coaches seem to be clueless, there is a total lack of leadership, our mac players are out muscled and out hustled, and their is no light at the end of the tunnel. Recruiting is abysmal and the future is not bright. I wish I was wrong but unlikely. This team was painful to watch but I place most of the blame for the debacle of a season on the coaches. Beilein is not the answer. I could care less about a nice guy coach and doing it the right way. This is expected of all coaches. What I want is a competitive team that wins on a consistent basis. This coaching staff has proven it is not capable of doing the job.
stunhsif
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 8:28 a.m.
Cannot believe it but I agree with the Grinch on this one. Go Green--Go White. As an MSU fan, I do indeed feel pain for U of M fans!
I like Chicken
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 7:53 a.m.
14 points at halftime, 14. I missed the first half. They must of had 4-3's and a shooting foul or did we go for all 3's and step on the line?
racerx
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 : 12:35 a.m.
Bill Martin was brought in to shore up the finances after Tom Goss got das boot. Martin is a local real estate developer. There is nothing in his resume that says anything about sports, well..except that he races his sailboat in the annual Port Huron to Mackinaw race. However, he is not a "pure" AD per se, one who has a sports background. Hopefully with the former ties that Brandon has with sports, we can begin to see some changes. I wouldn't put it pass Brandon that he'll make those necessary changes. Early and often.
ypsinational
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 10:41 p.m.
Has it gotten to the point where Beilein is whining about the refs? Come on Coach, we start one guy over 6-5, 2 of the 5 starters can't touch the rim and you're complaining about the physical play? Recruit some athletes instead of all shooters and you might have a chance at some rebounds. Did anyone see Beilein complain about a call during the game? He might be a nice guy but nice guys don't always finish first, or second, or in the top half of the Big 10. We suck and it ain't gonna change overnight. Crisler will continue to be half-full for years to come. Thanks Bill Martin.
Dave66
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 10:08 p.m.
I don't know what everyone is whining about. I thought our Little Sisters played as well as could be expected of them. Go Green!
aarox
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 9:49 p.m.
If they call all the jersey grabbing we win by 20. As much as people think Ed Hightower has it out for Izzo and our little brothers, he really took it to us. He cost us at least 30 points. Harris and Sims will beat MSU single-handed in the BT tourney as long as we get good refs.
Clemmer
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 9:04 p.m.
What a disappointing season. You have your whole team, minus C.J. Lee and David Merritt, preseason ranked 15 in the country, and you end up 14-16 on the season. A lot of you vent frustration, I'm right there with you. Don't give up your season tickets, don't give up on Michigan period!! I will continue to be supportive of Michigan, even though we have hit our bad times in football and basketball. Basketball has been a lot longer, unfortunately. From Tommy Amaker to John Beilein. My turn to vent on basketball, as many of you have done. John did not adapt his coaching strategies to meet his players' needs. He lived and died by the outside shot. DeShawn Sims will not be an NBA player, more like an NBDL player. He cannot finish inside. He missed too many inside shots all year. Manny Harris is not ready for the NBA. It's a good idea he decided to come back next season. He penetrates, tries to make things happen, at times he looks out of control when he penetrates to the basket and his style of game just does not fit Beilein's system. He also doesn't have the supporting cast around him. Michigan St. was more physical inside, especially in rebounding. What a surprise, rebounding. Michigan does not have the physicality to match with the big boys in the Big Ten, and until he learns to ADAPT to this style, he will not win a big ten championship, just like his predecessor before him (Amaker). He should have been in the upper tier in the Big Ten, these were the same players that made the tournament last year. They didn't perform this year, and they could not shoot the outside shot. So what does John Beilein do? He sticks with the system through thick and thin, and what it did get him? A LOSING SEASON!! He didn't ADAPT, he didn't make changes necessary in his offensive schemes to win more games. John, if you want to win in the Big Ten, learn to ADAPT and be willing to make changes. If you live and die by the three pointer game after game, then tournament bids and big ten championships will continue to pass you by.
BlueInBama
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 8:55 p.m.
Theo, as always, RIGHT ON! I'm sick and tired of the refs robbing General Beilein of much deserved success! It's sickening! If Manny Harris is smart, he will come back next year only to flourish under General Beilein's system! I keep hearing about "size" and "rebounding." Blah blah blah... None of that is necessary when you have such a brilliant system as Beilein's! Once Jim Delaney settles down the refs and investigates their HORRIFIC calls, General Beilein and Michigan will shine!
Ed White
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 8:48 p.m.
B-line didn't do anything in the Big East.Rich Rod did nothing before Pat White. After Rod loses to a 4 win Pitt team, because he kept running aginst a eight man line.M hire's him, Thanks Lets Goooooo Mountaineers.
The Grinch
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.
Time to end the West Virginia experiment in this sport, too?
oscar
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 8:18 p.m.
It could have been a lot worse today.. Tough to say that but Sparty put the breaks on with 8 minutes left in the game. I agree that I don't see how or when we are going to get any better. We look like a dis-functional team on every level. The offense is so bad. How can we let the shot clock go down on nearly every position when we are down by 25? This program is a complete embarrassment. Who is going to save the day? Hardaway's kid? Highly doubtful. Beilein is a joke, might be a nice guy but a joke.. Wasn't Amaker a nice guy? Even to think that we thought Beilein was a good hire is a joke (one elite 8 in 30 years). Izzo has 5 final fours in the last 11 years.. What a huge gap that is..
dacianman
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
It's all so very, very simple, ladies and gentlemen. It starts with the AD (Bill Martin will go down as the worst of them all in modern times) the coaches he brings in (or goes along with like with L. Carr who did less than nothing for succession) then with the head coaches that are brought in, their coaching staff and recruiting. Sorry, I forgot - it actually starts with the person or persons that bring the AD in, be it the Board of Trustees or the University President. There is a saying in the old country that I'm sure travels well --and it applies to everything that involves more than a few people, be it a corporation, a university, a hospital, etc. It goes: the fish rots from the head. Like I said -- it's very, very simple, ladies and gents.
2sweetblue
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
We are just not very good and the worst part is I had to look at Bill Martin behind our bench.
InRichRodWeTrust
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.
I'm getting tired of emotional fans making idiotic statements after losses.
Engineer
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:37 p.m.
Time for Mr. Brandon to get to work. Michigan needs to get back to being the leaders and best. Martin has been a disaster picking coaches. Buildings good coaches bad! Suzy Merchant beat U of M with an Eastern team so Martin decided to not hire her and now she continues to take us out at every oppurtunity. I say go girl. Martin has been one mess after another picking coaches. The BB and FB programs are a joke and years from being competetive. Our recruiting classes have been sub par for the last 3 years. There is no reason with the education Michigan can provide for Florida or Texas to be so far ahead of us in recruiting. Time for a change is here. Can you say three-peat. Sorry Mr. Martin but three strikes and you are out. You did well on the facilities and I do thank you for that but our major programs are an embarassment right now!
jerome
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:23 p.m.
David Brandon needs to keep an eye on old John B as well. No way he gets a free pass! Novak, Douglas, Lucas-Perry, Vogrich, Ben Cronin (total waste) Grand Valley talent at best! Since when do you need a "system" to play basketball? Rebound and play friggin defense for crying out loud! Jacking three's and having absolutely zero inside game gets you beat 85% of the time! JB is a great guy but isn't this about wins and talent? "But we went to the tournament last year!" That excuse is garbage! We had a veteran team and only lost two WALKONS! Not "All Americans" walkons! "But they provided senior leadership!" Gimme a break! Beilein should be leading the team! Problem is, he can't! He coaches "soft" and our players follow suit. National Tv and we have 20 points with 16 minutes left in the second half. Players dribbling the ball off their feet! Sparty looked to embarass us today and they did! JB did not have them ready to play! Vitale said it best, "we should be getting the creme de le creme talent...kids should want to wear that uniform..." We're not even trying to give Izzo a run for his money! Do you see Matt Painter coaching scared? How is it that Painter can get players to go to West Lafayette but Beilein can't get ballers to come to Michigan? 40 minutes from "the D" and no presence whatsoever! Funny thing is, we still lead the overall series with many of the teams in the Bigten including sparty! You can't do that if you didn't have an emphasis on basketball as well as football duh! To think Michigan is not a "Basketball School" is a crock! You only believe that if you don't know the history! Frustrated Class of "89"
Yelmonian
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:22 p.m.
Sign Beilein to a lifetime contract! As a Spartan I love him! Ref's fault... hahahaha. Love it Theo! Could just be that UM has a really bad basketball team. I love being the little brother that decks the old tired brother!
saginaw
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:17 p.m.
Did anybody really see this coming? I don't think so. Bee-Line is a good man and a good basketball coach, but we were terrible today. Bee-Line must recruit better players.
braggslaw
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:04 p.m.
I am getting a bit sick of the beat downs that UM bb has taken at the hands of MSU. Is it now a senior day tradition at MSU to give Michigan a prison shower every year? UM was simply pathetic and frankly I see no progress and no hope with the present talent and coaching staff.
bigtenknight
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 7:02 p.m.
Coachcooke...if you are a coach, please re-assess your comment about you 'possibly winning the Big Ten Tournament.' There is ZERO chance you win this tournament. Otherwise, your assessment is spot on. Two losing seasons in three years for a coach who refuses to use the talent levels and strengths of his players wisely. Sims and Gibson both need to be in the lineup and on the blocks. Darius Morris is a disaster at point guard. Manny Harris would be insane coming back to this heap of garbage Michigan fans call a basketball team. Shut down the pipeline from West Virginia, rid both the football and basketball programs of their coaches, and start anew. Then, and only then, will Michigan have encouraging signs for the future. It all begins with the foundation. Good Luck.
KelseyHayes
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 6:59 p.m.
John Beilein is terrible. And I mean - he is absolutely terrible. From an X's and O's standpoint, he might be able to garner some success at a smaller school, but in the Big Ten he is horribly overmatched on all levels, including the most valuable area, which is recruiting. A quick glance at the Rivals.com and Scout.com web sites reveals that Michigan is not in the running for ANY of the top high school talent in the nation. The possible exception is the Horford kid from Grand Ledge, and after watching him play four times this season, he is NOT more than a three star recruit. Beilein is not able to motivate his troops to perform at a high level, and this team is mentally soft and unable to overcome even the most basic of mistakes. It's time to stop maintaining that this guy is a 'good coach who needs time' and instead focus on the reality, which is that this team, and this coach, is woefully inadequate.
coachcookeAZ
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 6:54 p.m.
How embarrassing. The failure of this team to amount to anything is a shame. MSU beat us up in every category. Now, unless we win the Big Ten Tourney there is nothing for this team to play for. I blame it on the coaches. It is not the facility, the recruits, the talent, blah, blah, blah. Execution is coaching and this team does not execute, period!!
Don
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 6:46 p.m.
I've been to all the michigan football and basketball games this year. And I need to vent! At the moment, Michigan is getting mauled by state-were curently down by 30 points. I can't watch anymore. Someone needs to commend Bill Martin on the wonderful job he's done at not only raising the cost of sporting events, but also marvel at the wonderful coaches he has put in place-and giving contract extensions! So nice to see the president of the u of m getting together with the football coach and new athletic director on espn. So nice to know that we can give our football players extra practice time! It really beared fruit on the field! Now to basketball-I'm sure that John Berlin is a nice man and a good coach, but will someone explain to why he doesn't have the common sense to put in 6-10" Zach Gibson in the line up (when he's gotten to play, he's done well, scored some points and held his own. We didn't lack a presence in the middle, the coach simply didn't play him. If you would have put Sims and Gibson in on the block, Michigan would have more than just the opportunity to shot the three. Worst shooting team in the big ten- maybe in america? Try something new. I have bought season tickets for the last 12 years, and don't know if I can stand the thought of renewing them.You have to adapt in life, and our basketball coach wouldn't. I hope Manny Harris comes back, I know he said he would, he started the year as a great player, and finished the regular season as a guy who has lost his confidence and looked confused. Poor coaching in my opionion is the reason the michigan basketball was so poor this year. We had the talent. it was poorly used. I know that there is a learning curve to coaching in the big ten- will our coaches learn?
ypsinational
Sun, Mar 7, 2010 : 6:32 p.m.
What a non-surprise, Michigan gets blown out and Beilein needs to go. Too bad he's signed for the next 20 years. More recruiting classes with 2 star 'shooters' from IN to come. Beilein's vaunted 1-3-1 defense and creative movement without the ball offense need to change. David Brandon, time to show some skills and clean up after Bill Martin one high profile sport at a time. Facilities DO NOT win ballgames!