Wolverine Hoops Have Good Weekend

Michigan's 2008 season ends after school record 9 losses

After a down year in 2007-08, second year Coach John Beilein’s rebuilding process at Michigan is showing results. The Wolverines pulled off a huge upset win on Friday night over #4 UCLA, a team that has been to the last 3 Final Fours. Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims were huge for the Wolverines and their defense made the stops when they needed them.

A timely 3 by freshman guard Stu Douglass turned out to be the difference and from watching the game, had Michigan not squandered several fast break scoring opportunities, the margin could have been greater. The 1-3-1 zone trap defense employed by Beilein was very effective against the Bruins, who have yet to find a scoring big man to replace Kevin Love. Freshman Jrue Holiday looks to be a star in the making though. The big time TV match up that ESPN and Dick Vitale were anticipating between UCLA and Duke was thwarted by the Wolverines and if Michigan ends up on the bubble in March, this win over a high ranked team on a neutral floor, will certainly help the NCAA resume. Michigan had not beaten a top 5 team since 1997 (oops did I mention that season because the NCAA said it never happened?).

The next night in the tourney final was a different, yet expected outcome as Duke beat the Wolverines, 71-56. Michigan hung in for the first half, but shot poorly from outside and Duke, with more size underneath than UCLA, was able to create more lay-ups getting behind the middle of the zone defense and converting easy baskets. The Wolverines never gave up and unlike the last few years, did not get blown off the floor by the Blue Devils, which is encouraging, but still have a ways to go to compete night in and night out with the top teams in the land. Michigan will get another shot at Duke at home on December 6 th. A more telling game will come on December 3 rd when Michigan faces Maryland, another team from a major conference trying to find its identity and a win in this game would be a plus for either team. The Wolverines should be favored in all of their other non conference games leading up to Big Ten play and if they can play the way they did on Friday night, they should be a factor in the league. Finding a 3 rd consistent scorer to complement Sims and Harris will be a key. If Zach Gibson can play the big man slot for John Beilein like Kevin Pittsnogle did at WVU, (rebound, shoot well from outside) and the Wolverines can rebound better, they will have a shot to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years.

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