Wolverine TV: Phil Martelli, Michigan players react to Illinois loss
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball associate head coach Phil Martelli, who’s filling in for the suspended Juwan Howard, fifth-year senior guard DeVante’ Jones and freshman wing Caleb Houstan met with the media following the Maize and Blue’s 93-85 loss to Illinois Sunday afternoon at Crisler Center.
Martelli spoke about his team’s heart and said he has no doubt that Michigan emptied its tank and ‘played until exhaustion.’ The Wolverines, after all, trailed by 15 points midway through the second half but didn’t give up and wound up cutting the Illinois lead to two points with 2:03 to go.
The Illini got huge performances from fifth-year senior guard Alfonso Plummer, who went off for 26 points and made six of his nine attempts from beyond the arc, and junior center Kofi Cockburn, who posted a game-high 27 points, 19 of which came in the second half. Meanwhile, Michigan got some big contributions, as well. Jones came up huge with 16 second-half points and 25 for the game, and Houstan exploded for 21 points. The latter hadn’t scored more than 20 points in a game during his brief collegiate career, but has done so in each of the last two outings. He’s gotten more and more confident as the season has done on, something Martelli discussed and the freshman also touched on.
Michigan is now 15-12 overall and 9-8 in Big Ten play, and hasn’t won two consecutive games in multiple weeks. The Wolverines likely need at least two more wins to make the NCAA Tournament, but time is running out. Michigan gets in-state rival Michigan State Tuesday night at home, before hosting Iowa Thursday for senior night. Despite Michigan State being viewed from the outside as a rival, Martelli said it’s only the most important game of the season because it’s the next game. They end the season at Ohio State Sunday, ahead of the Big Ten Tournament.
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For more on Michigan basketball, its loss and the road ahead, watch the press conferences below.
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Michigan Freshman Guard / Forward Caleb Houstan
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