Michigan 68, Maryland 67 Comment Count

Seth

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sure.

It was your typical trap game. Playing 51 hours after a season-defining road win in East Lansing, Beilein’s clearly exhausted Michigan squad barely scraped together 20 points in the first half. Then, as trap games go, they erased the 10-point deficit right out of the break, pushed it to a 10-point lead thanks to a little-used freshman sparkplug, lost the 10-point lead, went down by 1 point with 3.5 seconds, and won on two MAAR free throws, just another couple of points in a career that’s seen a thousand of them.

Michigan certainly came out like they’d just played the biggest game of their season two days ago, missing layups, dunks and open threes as the Terps opened a 30-20 deficit at the half. In the frame the Wolverines shot just 31% from the field without getting to the line. MAAR in particular was scuffling,

Maryland, on five days rest, was able to collect a few early buckets in transition and capitalize on more than a few bounces. Michigan played strong defense, forcing the Terps to use the entire shot clock and take five desperation heaves—their eight points off of those low-percentage attempts were most of the 10-point difference in the half.

As Mr. Bridges noted after Saturday’s game, Michigan doesn’t really focus on toughness. Yet for the second time in three days these non-toughness-focusing players erased a halftime deficit out of the break. Zavier Simpson sparked the comeback with a few brilliant series, one a defensive set in which he cut off an Anthony Cowan drive, fought through a screen, knocked the ball out of bounds, assisted on a bad shot, and collected the rebound. Down three Z drove the length of the court, released a floater from the top of the paint, and sank the and-one to tie it 30-30.

Then in came Jordan Poole.

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“Poole’s B1G eFG%: 70.6” —Ace  [Marc-Grégor Campredon]

If the Purdue game was a taste, this was a coming out party for Michigan’s (arguably) most talented freshman. Poole immediately showed his characteristic awareness for the arc. In one sequence he sank a transition three, blocked a Maryland attempt at the same, and got back down to deliver Z’s drive and kick. In minutes Michigan had a 45-41 lead. Later he’d hint at his ceiling as a creator with a beautiful bounce-pass that set up a Teske and-one and pushed Michigan’s lead to 8.

With Z’s backups struggling and Poole hot, Beilein experimented with a MAAR-Poole-Matthews lineup. This didn’t look bad—it got Wagner an open top of the key 3PA (he missed). It also opened up transition lanes for Maryland. A pair of Wagner free throw misses and a small Maryland run on two crazy buckets forced a timeout with the lead cut to four, setting up the ho hum finish.

Under two minutes, MAAR missed a layup and Wagner picked up a foul on a rebound as Maryland cut Michigan’s lead to 2 with 1:19 remaining. On the ensuing possession Matthews fought his way out of a trap, and Michigan passed it around the horn to get MAAR an open three and Michigan a two-point lead. The teams then traded layups, then with 20 seconds left Cowan sank an improbable line drive three, Z missed a pair of free throws, and Kevin Heurter sank one of his signature ladder triples to put Maryland ahead a point with 3.5 seconds left.

In typical trap game fashion, Isaiah Livers hit MAAR on a perfect deep flag route. Abdur-Rahkman, at 998 career points, tripped over a Terp and picked up the foul. The rest was academic.

Michigan escapes their murderous stretch at 2-1 (that shoulda been 3-0) with a tournament resume, and now has a few days to rest before their Thursday tilt in Lincoln, followed by Rutgers at home.

[After the jump: a box score, more photos by MG, some favorite tweets, and at some point you might want to breathe]

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Box Score:

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Photos by MG:

This is one sequence:

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Tweets:

Comments

WolverineHistorian

January 15th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^

I hear you. I have come to expect opponents to drain every 3 down the stretch against us (I've been complaining about this for years). The MSU game was a glorious rare occurrence, certainly not what I expect to happen every game in conference play. That's why it's even MORE critical that we make our damn free throws.

Millie's Cookies

January 15th, 2018 at 10:28 PM ^

...and I think it makes me appreciate what Walton was able to do last year even more. Guy was a bulldog on D in crunch time, and was simultaneously the best ballhandler and the best clutch FT shooter we had on the team. 

This year, we have two great athletes/defenders in Matthews and Simpson - and you can't take them off the court on D - but you don't trust them at the line. On the other hand, you have Robinson, who's a tremendous FT shooter but is clearly not the defensive player that you want out there when you're up 4 or 5 points and the other team is going full-blast.

That's why going forward, it's got to be MAAR who leads the team in these situations. He's the best combination of what Walton was last year. Livers or Poole inbound the ball and look for #12. Otherwise, teams are going get smart and start the Hack-a-Z or Hack-a-Chuck and putting those 50% guys at the line.

BlueWon

January 16th, 2018 at 9:57 AM ^

it has never seemed he puts a lot of thought into inbounding the ball. For years we have had issues inbounding the ball in the half cout (although that has improved over the past two years).

But both against MSU and Maryland it was obvious they were going to foul at the end of the games and we had no plan to get the ball to the right people. MSU was applying moderate pressure at the end of the game which made it a bit tougher to funnel the ball to Z or Mathews and it took a few attempts for Beilein to come up with a plan. The inbounds play to Z last night was right in front of me and, for the life of me, I can't understand why MAAR was inbounding the ball -- Maryland had not reacted with any pressure at all.

It's gonna cost us a game or two if they don't get it straightened around.

TrueBlue2003

January 16th, 2018 at 1:49 AM ^

It's outstanding to come away with two of those three!  You're correct that we were expected to take (only) one of the Purude/Maryland games because we had a 40 and 60 percent chance, respectively.  But we had a 20 percent chance to win the MSU game.  That win is a complete bonus road win over a top 5 team.

That we're still clinging to some hope of a B1G title after that Purdue game is excellent. 

UMinSF

January 15th, 2018 at 10:20 PM ^

We're gonna have ups and downs. This is the kind of win that really helps - gutting it out when tired and not playing our best ball.

Proud of our boys for hanging tough. What a fun season!

Go Blue!

Michigan4Harbaugh

January 15th, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^

I was worried about this game. Very relieved that the boys found a way to pull the game out. Was quite the Poole party out there in the 2nd half! GO BLUE!

Stringer Bell

January 15th, 2018 at 10:24 PM ^

Simpson needs to start inbounding the ball in late game situations. Get the ball to MAAR or Poole and let them take the free throws. We escaped this time, but that will cost us eventually.

Good win, especially given how flat we looked. But man, we need to find a way to get the ball to our reliable FT shooters late in games.

MH20

January 16th, 2018 at 9:58 AM ^

At this point it's gotta be all between his ears.  It was a bad shooting night for him in general so I'm sure that did not help as he stepped to the line.  His form is wonky but there's no reason he can't make 70%.  Ditto Matthews, although Dakich (I think) made a good point about the flat elbow in his form holding him back a little.

Squad16

January 15th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^

Incredible win. If only we weren't boned vs. Purdue, we'd be right in the drivers' seat in the Big Ten. 

 

As it stands, we still have a chance, but we'll probably have to go essentially perfect or one loss, and would have to beat both @Purdue and vs. Ohio State, to be able to notch a regular season crown. 

 

Still, that we're even legitamately having this conversation, speaks to this team's remarkable grit, talent and coaching. 

 

A top 6 seed seems likely (as well as a top 4 seed in the BTT), assuming Michigan is able to hold serve at home. 

 

Outside the killer at Mackey in West Lafayette, our road schedule is pretty manageable from here on out: 

  • Nebraska (Beilein is undefeated against Nebraska)
  • Purdue (extremely tough)
  • Northwestern (off campus in a cavernous NBA arena while their new stadium is under construction; if the Chicago alums organize, this could be a game where we outnumber them). 
  • Wisconsin (Tough venue, but extremely down year)
  • Penn State (has dropped plenty of home games, not an intimidating arena)
  • Maryland (tough; although, if Maryland has played their way out of the tournament by then, they may not have a lot of motivation)

Maryland and Purdue will be difficult, but Michigan should be well positioned for the other four. The hardest remaining home game is Ohio State and I'd hope we are hungry for revenge. I'd put the most likely Big Ten finish a 50-50 between 14-4 and 13-5, but 15-3 seems doable with a down conference and resurgent team. 

GO BLUE!

enlightenedbum

January 15th, 2018 at 11:43 PM ^

Nebrasketball is tough at home.  Have been for a few years now.  And weird shit happens there like it does in Kinnick.  IIRC Burke's team almost lost there, and that was the only loss the Huskers took that whole year.  This year, they're a close loss to Kansas from being undefeated at home.  Just won on a good old fashioned allow a 4 point play with 8 seconds left then knock down a three at the buzzer to win thing.

jmblue

January 15th, 2018 at 10:42 PM ^

So MAAR, Matthews and Simpson combined to shoot 7-31.  Yikes.  But the rest of the team shot 18-30.  I love that about this team - a different guy seems to step up each game.

ST3

January 15th, 2018 at 10:51 PM ^

I didn't watch the first half, but this narrative about playing 2 games in 3 days is nonsense. That's what every weekend in the NCAA tournament requires. Beilein has a deep bench and he is using it. An exhausted team turns the ball over more than 6 times. An exhausted team doesn't shoot 42% from three.
Emotionally drained? Sure. Physically exhausted? Cumong man, these are 19-22 year old males in peak physical condition.

TrueBlue2003

January 16th, 2018 at 1:25 AM ^

1) you don't have to travel between NCAA games (not that the trip back from EL is long, but still)

2) both teams are playing two games in three days in the NCAA tourney so they're on a level playing field.

I do think they were more mentally exhausted after two crazy games last week.  Also, Beilein mentioned it in his press conference that after a big win a team can tend to get a little complacent.  That seemed to be a big part of what happened in the first half.  We kind of slept walked a little.

Still, the effort was there.  We only gave up 30 points in the first half and that included a stupid banked three, and a couple shot-clock beating heaves that went in for Maryland.  Meanwhile, we couldn't hit a layup to save our lives.  Seemed like a lack of focus.

Jonesy

January 16th, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^

Seriously, they're college athletes in ridiculosu shape, they're fine physically. When I was in college I played pickup games every day for 4+ hours, sure I'd eventually turn an ankle or get overly sore, but that would be after a week or so of this and then i'd rest a few days and be back. In the first half we missed numerous layups, couldnt get anything going to the basket, and couldn't get open 3's. Meanwhile, as stated in the article, they get 8 points off of horrid shots as the shto clock is going off. Erase that and have us not miss all those bunnies and we're winning at the half. We weren't tired, we just didnt play that well and Maryland got lucky...Luckily we got lucky in the second half canning every single 3 we took and then of course the end of game miracle.

Rambling Wolverine

January 15th, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^

From the first half when we were down by double digits I couldn't watch anymore.  I love John Beilein and this team but my heart can't take it.  I'll watch it on YouTube and enjoy every minute of it even knowing how it ends.

FrozeMangoes

January 15th, 2018 at 11:20 PM ^

Is cold-blooded.  He is the kind of player that will put a team on his back and carry them to a final four.  Looking forward to watching him over the next few years. 

kjs0311

January 15th, 2018 at 11:41 PM ^

Was it just me or did Wagner seem a bit slower on his feet tonight than usual? I know he still shot well and provided some much needed points, but he didn't seem to be as quick off the dribble this game like he was against MSU. Wondering if his ankle was bugging him more today.

Bufermichigan

January 16th, 2018 at 7:10 AM ^

After Z missed his free throws I projected and wigged out on my poor 11 year old son to stop shooting threes and start shooting a thousand free throws every time he steps into the gym. The first step to recovery is to admit I have a problem...The lizard mind is strong, but MAAR is stronger.

MH20

January 16th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^

IIRC, that particular screengrab is after he hit the first freebie.  I love his face.  It's saying, "Give me the damn ball 'cause I am going to can this shot and win this game."  And he did.  Dude is so reliable.  Even in a game where his shot eluded him all night, he drills that three to put Michigan up four and then calmly sinks those FTs like he was standing in his driveway of his childhood home.