Michigan Wolverines: Maize & Blue Tailspin Continues, Lose to SMU
After a 2013 appearance in the national championship game and a trip to last year’s Elite Eight, the current edition of the Michigan Wolverines basketball program finds themselves in the midst of a quarter-life crisis. The Wolverines (6-5) fought through a slow start to take a 48-45 lead, but eventually flat-lined in the last eight minutes, allowing SMU (8-3) to leave Crisler Arena with a 62-51 victory.
The loss is Michigan’s fourth consecutive and fifth overall this year. It’s the latest in a string of defeats that has included a 27-point blowout loss to Arizona sandwiched between upset losses to NJIT and neighboring Eastern Michigan.
SMU played at full-strength for the first time this season, as they welcomed Markus Kennedy back to their lineup. His addition led to the emergence of a fellow frontcourt player, Yanick Moreira, who played his best game of the season (19 points, 7-9 FG). Point guard Nic Moore was also a standout for SMU, finishing with 17 points, including an opening flurry that got the Mustangs off to a roaring start on the road.
Kennedy’s return came after a� ten game hiatus due to academics. Luckily for head coach Larry Brown, he returned just in time to help SMU get the key non-conference win that eluded his team last year.The Mustangs were controversially snubbed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee despite spending much of the year in the top 25. This year, SMU may not have the support of a top 25 ranking, but the Michigan win does give their profile some depth outside of their expected success in the American.
As for Michigan, a lingering question remains. What has gone wrong in Ann Arbor? Growing pains were expected after the team lost Glenn Robinson Jr. and Nik Stauskas to the NBA earlier than anticipated, but the learning curve has gotten out of hand for a team that was still considered to be in the top 25 and one of the top five programs in the Big Ten. Currently, Michigan looks like a bubble team at best. It’s a mighty tumble for a college basketball sleeping giant that we thought was fully awake after consecutive deep tournament runs. Here’s a quick assessment of what’s ailing the reeling Wolverines.
The struggle has been REAL for Kameron Chatman…
John Beilein has turned some small names into big stars (Trey Burke and Stauskas). He’s also landed some highly regarded recruits and sent them to the NBA as well (Glenn Robinson Jr. and Mitch McGary). Kameron Chatman was supposed to fall into that latter category of can’t miss contributors.
Chatman was ranked as high as #23 by some recruiting services, and committed as a consensus top 40 prospect. He played in the Jordan Brand All-American Game, and was hailed as the solution for the void left by Glenn Robinson Jr.’s departure. Unfortunately, Chatman has looked like a bust early in his Michigan tenure. Today against SMU, Beilein was forced to bench Chatman down the stretch in favor of Spike Albrecht. Chatman doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He just doesn’t do much of anything. Until he shows signs of life, the Wolverines will permanently be shorthanded.
Growing pains continue in the Michigan frontcourt…
The Michigan frontcourt has been rock solid for years, primarily thanks to the presence of Jordan Morgan, the literally rock solid centerpiece of the unit that set the tone for the team with his defensive toughness. When paired with a healthy McGary, the tandem was elite (despite rarely playing at the same time). Even last year, with McGary sidelined, Morgan teamed with Jon Horford to make a formidable unit.
This year, Morgan is overseas and McGary is in the NBA. However, the transfer of the quietly consistent Horford has been crippling. Michigan’s frontcourt reinforcements are actually quite talented. Redshirt freshman Mark Donnal is highly skilled, and can score the ball better than any of the aforementioned players. True freshman Ricky Doyle carries a lite version of McGary’s skill set, relying on a high motor and a bruising frame to score baskets and frustrate on the defensive end. Even Max Bielfeldt, a comically unskilled forward built like a prized ox, somehow seems to generate positive outcomes.
Despite their best efforts, the trio lacks the leadership Horford would have provided if he stayed in Ann Arbor. In three years, Donnal and Doyle will be one of the nation’s best veteran units. Right now, they just don’t have the experience necessary to carry them through key stretches against good teams.
Production optional star players…
How does Michigan lose a “must win” game at home to SMU? The easy explanation leads directly to the measly four points contributed by Michigan’s “1A” player, Caris LeVert. While “1B” player Zach Irvin tried to lift the team with 17 points, Levert essentially took the afternoon off, leaving the team woefully uncomfortable on the offensive end late in the game (by the way, Caris gets the first letter based off an extra year of experience).
The greatest difference between this Michigan team and those from the previous two year’s prior is at the top. Trey Burke was a star every night in 2013. Nik Stuaskas was almost just as consistent last year. While it is OK for Irvin and LeVert to alternate their roles as Batman and Robin, the Wolverines don’t have the depth to survive an off night from either of them. If Michigan wants to make noise, as they have in recent year’s past, their dynamic duo must learn consistency and leadership before March.