Ohio State recap

Well the Michigan basketball team just ran into a better team yesterday in Columbus.  It would have taken one of our best games to beat the Bucknuts, and they did not have it. 

Michigan would have had to shoot the ball extremely well, especially from 3, to keep up with OSU.  Even though the shooting percentage was better yesterday than in some previous road games, there were way too many missed open looks.  Smot is just not shooting the ball with any confidence right now, Novak scored a whole astounding 0 points, Stu ended up scoring a few points but missed many open looks and a layup. 

We would have to keep OSU off of the boards to stay in this game, but they ended with near as many offensive rebounds as we had defensive.  Douglass and Hardaway constantly missed a box out attempt and allowed OSU with second chance opportunities.  Morgan actually played one of his best defensive games of the season, but got into foul trouble so his minutes were limited.  Smot and McLimans were not able to body up Sullinger as well.  A majority of his rebounds came when Morgan was on the bench.  The problem though was that Sullinger was all that Morgan could handle, so while OSU’s big dog wasn’t getting boards either was Jordan.  OSU shot the ball poorly, but finished with 64 points.  They had 18 second chance points, this means that Michigan’s defense was extremely good for every part besides the rebounding.  The Wolverines continue to be one of the better team defenses in the B1G.  It is games like this that we really miss Horford coming off of the bench. 

It is usual in the B1G to struggle on the road, and the officiating is one of the reasons why.  Yesterday this was no different.  While Michigan’s offensive style does not promote many free throw attempts, only attempting 4 for an entire game is crazy.  One of the biggest differences in the game yesterday was the free throw discrepancy. 

But all in all, I am not too discouraged from the game.  I expected Michigan to play hard but not have enough talent to keep up with OSU yet.  I think the Wolverines can keep the game closer when these two play in Ann Arbor in a couple of weeks. The next two games might be the most important of the season for this Michigan basketball team.