Michigan basketball: No more time for two steps forward, one step back

Michigan basketball’s earlier season struggles stung at the time, especially bad losses to UCF and Minnesota. Worse, those setbacks all but eliminated the margin for error when it came to making the NCAA Tournament. 

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Make no mistake — the Wolverines have made significant progress since, including an 82-58 blowout of previous first place Purdue Thursday. But Michigan missed an opportunity to keep the momentum rolling in a disappointing home loss to Ohio State, the Wolverines’ fourth loss to one win against the Buckeyes under Juwan Howard. 

The 68-57 setback itself wouldn’t have been considered a horrible loss. The Buckeyes have a good team, and home or away, the Big Ten has been unpredictable this year. Wisconsin, for example, handled Michigan State on the road this week, came home and lost by eight to unranked Rutgers. 

And one loss to a good team, even at home, isn’t a season-ender.

“I see more than just one percent better with this team. I see a lot of growth,” Howard insisted. “At the beginning of the season, our non-conference schedule was a really good schedule for us to really test and see how we could grow and how we could learn how to win. And these last three games, I’ve been seeing a lot of growth from our guys.

“To be able to get a win in Penn State — tough environment, very tough, competitive team — and then also our game Thursday night at home [against Purdue], our crowd was in it. Today, I just feel bad that we didn’t get the win, because it was beautiful just to see the support that came out today to support the team.”

The crowd was into it from the get-go, but the game was a grind. Michigan outplayed the Buckeyes for much of the first half and got better looks, but still trailed by three. The outside shooting that’s been hot and cold all year was cold, and the big men struggled to finish. 

Center Hunter Dickinson made only seven of 17 shots, and he was hounded in the post. He was responsible for three of Michigan’s 11 turnovers. 

“We got some good looks. We shot 4-for-17 from three, and there were some really good looks at the basket,” Howard lamented. “I would say maybe five of them were forced, but other than that, they just didn’t go in for us. But we stayed with it, and we continued to keep grinding.”

Michigan trumped at the free throw line

They didn’t exactly get a friendly home whistle either, Howard added. They outscored Michigan by 11 at the line and had 12 more attempts. The Michigan coach earned a technical foul for expressing his disappointment vehemently in the last few seconds.

“That was alarming in a lot of ways,” he said. “And then, when you look at it, we had the most points in the paint. So —36 points in the paint, and we only shot six free throws, and Ohio State attempted 18 when we had the most points in the paint. 

“That was alarming to me, and I was like, ‘Wow — we’re attacking the basket. I see there’s contact made. I think we earned the right to go to the free-throw line.”

He probably had a point. Regardless, his team fell to 7-6 in Big Ten play and slid further below the bubble. Every home loss means one that has to be made up on the road, and there are no gimmes on the schedule. 

Michigan plays at Iowa and Wisconsin next week. Four straight home games follow, which provides plenty of opportunity before a trip to Ohio State to end the year. 

Perhaps Saturday’s loss was the result of playing a third game in five days. The COVID schedule has made it tough this year, not just for Michigan but everyone in conference. Howard plans to let them relax a bit the next few days and gear up for a stretch run that will make or break their tourney chances. 

It’s truly now or never.

“It’s nice that our young men will be able to get some rest come tomorrow and get a little recovery in,” Howard said “I’m going to put the keys — and I don’t have a lock, but some type of way — I’m going to try to lock the doors and make sure they do not come in and get any workouts in, not touching a basketball.”

They’ll have plenty of chances in the next several weeks, after all, to make their case.