Harris dominates as Michigan pops Penn State

In his team's last game; Manny Harris was aggressive and intense in all the wrong ways for all the wrong reasons. Thursday night against Penn State, the Michigan guard unleashed his considerable energy in a far more positive manner.
 
Harris was ejected from last Saturday's game at Purdue for decking Boilermaker guard Chris Kramer with a swiftly-delivered elbow to the face. Five days later, Coach John Beilein saw his most important player return to the hardwood with far more focus. Harris remained a live wire on the court, but because he was able to channel his emotions and actions this time around, the wondrously-talented Wolverine was able to run wild in a good way against the shell-shocked Nittany Lions. Harris threw down 28 points and played an imposing all-court game to give Michigan a crucial 71-51 win over Penn State. The 20-point thumping at Crisler Arena enabled the Maize and Blue--a definite bubble team--to move in a positive direction after three weeks of tough sledding in the conference.

A 28-point performance might seem to speak for itself, but on this night in Ann Arbor, the point total was actually the least significant aspect of Harris's heroics. The guard means so much to Michigan because of his floor leadership and all-around versatility, and those qualities were in evidence against Penn State. Leading the defensive charge for his teammates and providing a steady hand at the offensive end of the floor, Harris substantially affected every aspect of this contest. With 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals, Harris created opportunities for his teammates and performed most of the heavy lifting on defense. Given the re-emergence of their star player, the rest of the Wolverines were able to play a settled and blended game that did not involve excessive three-point shooting or the other harmful tendencies that have plagued Michigan in recent weeks. Indeed, Harris made sure on this evening that the Maize and Blue would not fall in love with the long-distance bomb.
 
Perhaps irritated by his ejection against Purdue, and certainly mindful of the need for his team to improve in February, Harris made it a point to get to the basket. By earning 14 free throw attempts--more than Penn State's overall total of 11--Harris gave a more muscular profile to Michigan basketball, the kind of attitude this team will need if it wants to play itself off the bubble and into the Big Dance.

Significantly, this changed mindset--a more determined mindset--translated to the defensive end of the floor as well. Harris's perimeter defense was so stifling that the Wolverines were able to smother Penn State's potent backcourt. Just four days after torching Michigan State for 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting, Talor Battle--the Big Ten's leading scorer--was halted by Harris and company. Battle excelled in East Lansing against the Spartans, but on this night in Ann Arbor, the stellar shooter was held to just 9 points on 3-of-16 shooting, including a 1-for-9 performance beyond the three-point line. Harris might not have throttled Battle all by himself, but he certainly deserved a (Nittany) Lion's share of the credit.
 
From start to finish, and from one end of the floor to the other, it was clear that in almost every way imaginable, one man towered over this tussle. Without a wayward elbow or any other lapse in judgment, Manny Harris returned to the Michigan lineup and instilled new life into his team. If the good Harris, not the bad one, can stick around in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines--true to the nature of that savage beast--will harass opponents as this Big Ten season continues.

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