Without Manny Harris, Michigan basketball team struggles, loses to Purdue, 69-59
Purdue's Robbie Hummel, right, shoots over Michigan's Zack Novak during the first half on Saturday. Hummel finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. (Photo: Associated Press)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Playing without star junior guard Manny Harris, the Michigan basketball team went inside again and again early Saturday against No. 13 Purdue. Before long, the Boilermakers collapsed on the Wolverines’ DeShawn Sims.
With that, Michigan shut down, too, falling, 69-59.
Harris, Michigan’s and the Big Ten Conference’s leading scorer at 19.2 points a game, remained in Ann Arbor, suspended by coach John Beilein for unsportsmanlike conduct in practice. So Michigan relied on Sims more than usual.
It worked for the first 10 minutes, as Sims scored the Wolverines’ first 13 points. No other Michigan player attempted a shot until almost 8 minutes into the game. No other Wolverine scored until sophomore guard Zack Novak hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 7:30 left in the first half.
By then, Michigan was down 10 points and in trouble for the rest of the game. The Wolverines missed Harris’ scoring, his 6.7 rebounds per game and his ball handling. And Harris is Michigan’s leader in steals and assists.
“It’s like we’re going through two adjustment periods, because you’re playing a team like Purdue and … you have to adjust to the way they’re playing defense,” Novak said. “And you have to adjust a little bit to playing without Manny. But once we did, we were all right.
“It just took us a little too long.”
By the time Michigan (10-9 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) found a rhythm, the Wolverines had given up a 16-2 run in the first half and a 14-0 run in the second half that put Purdue up 27 points, 59-32, with 12:41 left.
At that point, Michigan had more turnovers (13) than rebounds (11). It played sloppy and looked lost.
“They are, obviously, different a little bit without him out there,” said Purdue guard Chris Kramer, who likely would have drawn Harris’ assignment had he played. “Because he’s always in attack mode, he can score in so many ways. He didn’t play, and that was to our advantage.”
The Wolverines cut into Purdue’s lead behind 21 points from Sims and 16 from Novak on a game-closing 27-10 run, but by then, it mattered little. The Boilermakers (16-3, 4-3), with 21 points from junior forward JaJuan Johnson and 19 from junior guard E’Twaun Moore, were well ahead and even the student section had turned their attention from the game to heckling a fan leaving the game wearing an Indiana sweatshirt.
Beilein and his players, though, said missing Harris wasn’t the reason Michigan lost. The Wolverines pointed to other reasons. Like nine first-half turnovers. Or Purdue’s defense. Or being beaten up by Purdue’s rebounding - Michigan had no offensive rebounds in the first half and six total. To compare, Purdue had seven offensive rebounds in the first half.
“Early on, we were pretty darn good getting the ball to DeShawn, and then they shut something down that we were doing and us to adapt to that, it was difficult,” Beilein said. “I think it was more playing with short notice.”
Senior Anthony Wright started in Harris’ place and scored three points. Beilein declined to address Harris’ status, instead pointing to his statement released before the game that said he would meet with Harris and his team when they returned to Ann Arbor “to determine if he has learned enough from this suspension to rejoin the team for Tuesday’s game.”
“As coach said, we didn’t need no stars,” Sims said. “We just needed a bunch of guys to fill that void and for the most part, in spurts of the game we didn’t but for the most part, we did.”
• Box score
• Big Ten Conference standings
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
vi4mi4
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 4:50 p.m.
John "I am going to be your Daddy too" Beilein sits his best player for unsportsman like play in practice??...oh yeah, Belein hates when his players show emotion..."just trying to raise fine young men and good citizens"... sh*t, just teach Pick and Roll!! Manny better play tuesday. Go Blue! v
bigtenknight
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.
Goblue2009...that comment was made in response to a pompus midget running back. Izzo has never once disrespected UM's program or Beileins effort in Ann Arbor. Learn to distinguish the two. As for Tuesday, I wouldn't be surprised if Michigan beats State in Crisler. But before you pump your chest, remember that one game shouldn't make your season (as you tell the football State fans) but then again, you guys are fighting for your tournament lives. Good luck Tuesday. GO STATE!!
GoBlue2009
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 12:54 p.m.
What was it that MSU said? "Pride comes before the..." something? I hope they remember that, when we wipe that smug look off their faces on Tuesday.
LakeErieMaize&Blue
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 11:38 a.m.
You notice the "phantom" picks too.Plus they hardly ever look to hit the cutters off the picks(when they do actually pick.)Coaches should be correcting this at practices and during the gms.
aareader
Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 2:21 a.m.
I was very Impressed by Sims play today. If he can be that active the rest of the season we may have some bright spots. The second half was much better defense for Blue. If Mich. can get better at setting good screens there might have been more opportunities for the 3 pointers they must make. Hopefully things can be worked out for Manny. And we now know why Purdue has a number 15 ranking and we do not. One bright spot--- UCONN's win over the #1 Team Texas makes our win all the better.
LakeErieMaize&Blue
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 11:43 p.m.
Dude,the tournament BEEN slipped away!We playing for NIT now(and that ain't going so well).We've gotta hit shots plain and simple.I mean,we kicked it into Sims,he does his thing early in the game but when they started to collapse on him that should play right into our hands-WIDE OPEN THREES!! But,for some reason,we can't hit open shots when we need to!!Not playing like we want it.
braggslaw
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 9:36 p.m.
Preview of next year. The team will be horrible without Sims and Manny.
azwolverine
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
Obviously playing at Wisconsin and at Purdue was going to be tough, but it's disappointing how they've played in those two games (blowing a lead to Wisconsin and getting wiped out by Purdue) and not capitalizing on the momentum of the UCONN game. MSU is better than both Purdue and Wisconsin...hopefully the home court cooking is just what Michigan needs in that one. If not, the tourney is quickly slipping away.
Vercingetorix
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 8:01 p.m.
The first thing Manny harris should do is insist that the announcers begin referring to him by his first name--Copperyal. Then he could insist on being called Manny when he screws up. That we would all be confused to the point where we wouldn't care what he does. But knowing basketball around here, he'll probably end up as a second draft choice of the Pistons. And if that doesn't work, there's always dumpster diving at Second and Peterboro. I suppose what I'm trying to say is Manny, you've wasted your talent trying to pull M out of the flusher. If you had gone to State, you would have learned something from Izzo, and your game wouldn't be limited (Everyone knows you cannot go to your left, and that your power game in the paint is suspect) and you'd be in the NBA now with lots of blunts and hookers and a more complete game than what you're now trying to sell as superior talent. Hope it's not to late... 1/23/2010 7:59:16 PM Recom
2sweetblue
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 7:31 p.m.
What we need to do is spy on Izzo and see a bball program is supposed to be run. JB has no idea how to win in the big ten. to all you people that think that was a great comeback by the blue today you guys know nothing. When a team is up by 30 he is going to tinker with his rotation and put guys in the game he probably would not do if they were playing someone good.
LakeErieMaize&Blue
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 7:03 p.m.
Dude,they were getting KILLED by 30!How does that show that "this team has grown?"(plus you think they really can GROW that much in one gm?) All it shows is that Purdue let up the final minutes of the game! We were in trouble with Manny and we DAMN sure were in trouble without him!!Lets straighten it out for MSU.Gotta beat them boys,salvage the rest of this season!GO BLUE!!!
InRichRodWeTrust
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 6:47 p.m.
Michigan will be fine on Tuesday, especially if they get Manny Harris back. You got to give them credit for taking Purdues lead down to 10 at Mackey Arena. I think it shows that this team has grown. I mean with Harris they lost by 14 to Marquette and 16 to Utah. It goes without saying that Purdue is a lot better than those 2 teams. p.s. Uconn just beat #1 Texas 88-74.
Rodie
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 6:35 p.m.
I'm beginning to regret my love for michigan athletics.