WOLVERINES BREAK 3 GAME SKID, BEILEIN WINS 500 TH GAME

Michigan basketball picked up a much needed home win Saturday night over Northwestern at Crisler Arena to move back to .500 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines had lost 3 in a row coming into this game and the urgency of a much needed win could be felt in the intensity of the partisan home crowd. Michigan jumped out to an early lead by pounding the ball inside to DeShawn Sims, who scored the Wolverines first 11 points of the game. The early baskets inside opened up the passing lanes for the Wolverines to drive and dish for open 3 pointers later in the first half, and though not all of them were falling, Michigan was getting lots of good looks from outside, which has not been the case in the last 3 losses. Kelvin Grady hit 3 3’s and though leading scorer Manny Harris struggled from the floor, Michigan took a 9 point lead into halftime. Northwestern’s Kevin Coble was unstoppable scoring from all over the floor, and would end up with 21 points, but Michigan’s bench and rebounding were the difference.

 
The Wolverines out rebounded Northwestern 40-20. This was an impressive performance on the boards for Michigan, which has struggled rebounding this year with a lack of big men in the post. Manny Harris scored only 8 points, but had 12 rebounds to lead the team, and Sims and Zack Novak each had 7. Two timely 3’s off the bench by Stu Douglass and inside scoring by Zack Gibson kept the lead intact in the second half when Sims was on the bench in foul trouble. Sims would end up leading the scoring with 15, and the defense allowed the Wildcats only 3 free throw attempts all game in contrast to 18 for the Victors, who made 15 of those.

Coach Beilein’s 500 th career win, was a much needed one as Michigan had dropped 3 straight and is now 4-4 in Big Ten play. Tough upcoming games at Ohio State and at Purdue in the next week made this one a must win at home. To win those games Michigan will need to avoid relying solely on the 3 point shot and keep a good balance of inside and outside offense as well as rebound like they did on Saturday, a tough assignment against two bigger, very physical teams. Every conference game from here on out will be big as Michigan fights for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998.

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