Tag: Zavier Simpson

Five takeaways: Wolverines win at Madison Square Garden

Five takeaways from Michigan’s 69-63 win over Rutgers in Big Ten play at Madison Square Garden. The Wolverines have won back-to-back games.

[jwplayer B0FqHxWA-XNcErKyb]

Michigan traveled to New York City on Saturday for a Big Ten showdown with Rutgers at Madison Square Garden.

The Scarlet Knights, one of this season’s biggest surprises, entered the game winners of 10 of their last 12 games and ranked the 25th-best team in the nation.

The Wolverines recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a 78-69 over Nebraska earlier this week. Starting point guard Zavier Simpson sat out of that game due to a violation of team rules, but returned for Saturday’s game.

Michigan got off to a strong start and built a 27-17 lead in the early-goings, but Rutgers battled to within 37-34 by halftime. After the break, the Wolverines once again started hot, and rebuilt it’s lead to 60-46 with under ten minutes to play. Once again, the Scarlet Knights fought to within three points, but Michigan prevailed with a 69-63 victory.

1. An ugly, but important, win

After 40 minutes of play, the Wolverines had more points. At the end of the day, that’s ultimately what matters. However, when Michigan watches the game film it may question how it was able to pull this one out. The Wolverines finished with 16 turnovers, including several down the stretch in crunch time. Rutgers took advantage, scoring multiple times off the miscues. Yet, Michigan managed to finish on top anyway, and when the selection committee looks over the resume at the end of the season, all they’ll see is another win over a ranked opponent for the Wolverines.

2. poor rebounding effort

In addition to being loose with the basketball, Michigan was abused on the boards in this game. The Scarlet Knights bullied their way to 26 offensive rebounds, an absurd number, and it’s really the only reason why this game wasn’t a Wolverine blowout. Rutgers shot just 33 percent from the floor, but multiple opportunities helped them keep it close. Michigan won’t survive another showing like that on the defensive glass however.

3. Brandon Johns Jr. career-high

Earlier this week, Brandon Johns Jr. set a new career-high with 16 points against Nebraska. That mark didn’t last long, as the sophomore eclipsed it on Saturday with a 20-point outing against the Scarlet Knights. Johns Jr. was huge for the Wolverines in this game, especially with how he contributed from outside, hitting better than 50 percent of his three-point attempts. The sophomore has been up-and-down this season, but if this is a sign of him settling in to Big Ten basketball, it will give Michigan a big boost down the stretch.

4. wolverines find the range

The Wolverines finally found their footing and knocked down their open looks at a decent clip. The month of January was unkind to Michigan in terms of shooting, but the Wolverines bounced back on Saturday with a much better shooting performance, hitting 47 percent of their shot attempts. It was just one outing, but perhaps Michigan will gain confidence from this game and shoot the ball better moving forward. That will determine how competitive the Wolverines are to close the regular season.

5. rivalry games up next

Michigan has won back-to-back games against Power 5 conference opponents for the first time since winning the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament back in November. It’s a good time to end that drought, with big rivalry games coming up next week. The Wolverines will host Ohio State on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and then host Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Wolverines will have to play better than they did Saturday to defend home court against the Buckeyes and Spartans, but make no mistakes, these are opportunity games for Michigan. It’s hard to overemphasize how big two wins next week would be for Juwan Howard and company.

Halftime Analysis: Michigan vs. No. 25 Rutgers

Halftime analysis of Michigan’s matchup with Rutgers in Big Ten basketball action at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

[jwplayer B0FqHxWA-XNcErKyb]

Michigan and Rutgers meet today at Madison Square Garden for Big Ten basketball action.

The Wolverines ended their four-game losing streak last time out with a 79-68 road win over Nebraska, which came without starting point guard Zavier Simpson. The senior returns today after missing just the one game due to a team suspension.

The Scarlet Knights enter the game ranked No. 25 in the nation and 10-2 in their last 12 games, with both losses coming on the road by five points or less.

The two teams traded blows in the opening ten minutes of play, which saw Michigan hold a slight 16-14 lead. The Wolverines stretched their advantage to as many as 10 points, but Rutgers rallied to end the half and cut Michigan’s lead to 37-34.

POSITIVES:

  • Brandon Johns Jr. had a nice performance against the Cornhuskers, and he kept it rolling in the first half of this game. The sophomore got several good looks from three-point range, and he took advantage hitting 3-of-5 from deep on his way to 15 first-half points. Johns Jr. also had a tip-in as time expired to give Michigan a boost going into the locker room.
  • The Wolverines enjoyed one of the better shooting halves they’ve had in a long stretch, shooting 12-of-23 from the floor and 6-of-11 from three. After a poor shooting month of January, Michigan hopes February yields better results, and so far it has.
  • Zavier Simpson returned from his one-game suspension and appeared to be pressing a bit to start the game. However, the senior settled in an made an impact with 5 assists and hitting 3-of-4 attempts from the free throw line. Simpson needs to remain composed and continue to play within himself in the second half.
  • Head coach Juwan Howard has emphasized better defense in recent games, and the Wolverines answered the call in the first half today. Michigan limited the Scarlet Knights to just 33 percent shooting in the first half. Rutgers did hit 5-of-8 attempts from three, so the Wolverines may need to adjust their defense accordingly in the second half.

NEGATIVES:

  • The Wolverines did a poor job boxing out and grabbing rebounds in the first 20 minutes, as Rutgers enjoyed 10 offensive rebounds. The Scarlet Knights out-toughed and out-hustled Michigan in stretches of that first half, and that’s why they were able to stay in the game. The Wolverines are fortunate that Rutgers has managed to only score 7 second-chance points with that many opportunities.
  • Michigan’s free throw shooting was lousy in the first half, or they would have been able to maintain their early lead. The Wolverines were just 7-of-13 from the foul line in that half. That won’t get the job done in a tight game.

Zavier Simpson reinstated, will play vs. Rutgers

The Wolverines are getting closer to full strength for Saturday’s game.

[jwplayer B0FqHxWA-XNcErKyb]

We didn’t know earlier on Friday, when Michigan head coach Juwan Howard met with the media to preview Rutgers, but we know now.

The Wolverines basketball team issued a statement late Friday afternoon announcing that senior captain and point guard Zavier Simpson has had his suspension lifted, and that he will play on Saturday against Rutgers.

Per the release:

The David and Meredith Kaplan University of Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard announced today (Friday, Jan. 31), the reinstatement of senior guard Zavier Simpson and noted he will travel and play in the Wolverines B1G Super Saturday match-up with No. 25 Rutgers at Madison Square Garden.

“After speaking with Warde (Manuel) before today’s practice and after my media availability, we agreed to lift Zavier’s suspension,” said Howard. “I am looking forward to moving on from this. Anything further will continue to be handled within.”

Simpson missed U-M’s road game at Nebraska (Jan. 28) due to a suspension of violating team rules.

Statement from U-M senior guard Zavier Simpson

“This past weekend, I made some disappointing decisions which violated our team rules. I accept full responsibility and having to sit out the Nebraska game was part of that. I deserved it and fully supported coach Howard’s decision. Not being with my teammates made it a long night, however, it gave me the time to reflect.

“I know I let my coaches, teammates, and fans down as well as athletic department and community members. More importantly, I let myself and family down. They say you learn something new, or from something, every day and this is one of those times.

“I have apologized to my team and now apologize to everyone who continues to support me as well as our program. I am grateful for the opportunity to get back on the court Saturday and to represent this great university. Go Blue!”

Zavier Simpson playing status unknown for Rutgers

Head coach Juwan Howard and point guard David DeJulius chime in on Simpson’s status, how he’s handled suspension and how he’s still leading.

[jwplayer LXJvljSP-XNcErKyb]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Aside from noting that he has practiced with the team, Michigan head coach Juwan Howard provided little in the way of suspended point guard Zavier Simpson’s status with Rutgers on deck on Saturday.

On Friday, Howard noted that Simpson is doing what he needs to do to make his way back, but said the decision as to whether or not the senior captain will travel with the team or not to New York City for the next game.

But, regardless, he’s proud of the steps he’s making, after being asked to do multiple things in penance by myriad groups within the program.

“He’s doing the sort of steps needed asked by myself as well as the coaching staff, university as well as his teammates,” Howard said. “X is pretty much doing whatever it is he needs to do. Great kid. Amazing character. Just violated team rules. So, we’ll keep evaluating day-by-day.”

So, how did Simpson react upon hearing of his suspension?

Much like a senior captain would, Howard says, noting that he’s better off the court than he would have been otherwise, given how he’s handled the situation.

“He’s been very respectful and matured through the process,” Howard said. “Extremely patient. Knows that there are team rules that you’ve gotta abide by and he understands that clearly. That’s why I say he’s matured handling the situation, because yes, he’s extremely disappointed by his actions. He owns his actions and that’s the beauty part of it, he takes ownership of it. At the end of the day, I feel like we’ll all learn from this process.”

While that’s good to hear from the head coach, hearing it from his peers is even better.

Sophomore point guard David DeJulius has often mentioned that Simpson has been a mentor to him, and he delved into how his team captain has handled his suspension with his teammates.

“He talked to us, apologized and everything,” DeJulius said. “We told him we love him. We’re gonna hold it down until whenever he get back.”

Of course, Simpson couldn’t stay away entirely from his team.

This past game against Nebraska was the first he’s missed since joining the maize and blue four years ago, as he’s played in every eligible game until Tuesday’s foray.

Naturally, it was a hard moment for him. But DeJulius shed some light on how Simpson continued to showcase his leadership and stay involved, even from afar.

“At first, of course he was down,” DeJulius said. “He’s a senior. We all feel for him. We all make mistakes. He’s been such a leader. We FaceTimed him at halftime (against Nebraska). He talked to us about it. We got back at two in the morning, and he greeted us at the door at the facility. He’s been a leader off the court. I’m ready for him to get back, and I’m sure the coaches and the rest of the players as well.”

Michigan and Rutgers are set to tip-off from Madison Square Garden on Saturday at 4:30PM EST, with or without Simpson leading the charge./

Everything Juwan Howard said at press conference previewing Rutgers

Everything head coach had to say about Rutgers, Zavier Simpson’s suspension and Isaiah Livers’ injury in a video and transcript.

[jwplayer B0FqHxWA-XNcErKyb]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There’s lots of questions facing Michigan basketball with a game against Rutgers at Madison Square Garden coming up on Saturday afternoon.

Will Zavier Simpson’s suspension be lifted? Could Isaiah Livers return from the injury sustained a week ago?

At his press conference previewing the matchup, head coach Juwan Howard spoke about all of it, with the 4:30PM EST Saturday matchup forthcoming.

Watch the video or read the transcript below.

(Ed. note: There were some new equipment malfunctions that caused the gimbal to drop multiple times during the video)

Update on Zavier Simpson and Isaiah Livers

“You hear something, you tell me. We’re still evaluating with X. And with Isaiah, still evaluating his injury. Not sure what’s gonna happen with tomorrow.”

Same injury for Isaiah?

“I’m not a doctor. I don’t get paid for it. I’m a former basketball player. What I studied here at University of Michigan, I did not study any physics or any deal with the medical. So all this stuff is new stuff with me. Fortunately enough, I had a great, healthy career. I’m really dumbfounded when it comes to injuries. I’m just learning all of this.”

Rutgers

“Rutgers is a team that plays extremely hard. Super athletic. They do a really good job of hitting the offensive glass. It’s one of the really big strengths of theirs. They’re very good on the ball. Driving the ball. Really good players that can create their own shot. Big Ten is tough, top to bottom, and I knew this coming in. I expect it to be a really good game tomorrow and a super competive game, too.”

Is Zavier traveling?

“We haven’t decided yet.”

Steps he needs to take

“He’s doing the sort of steps needed asked by myself as well as the coaching staff, university as well as his teammates.”

Has he practiced? 

“He practiced yesterday, yes.”

Is it something he needs to do or still an evaluation

“X is pretty much doing whatever it is he needs to do. Great kid. Amazing character. Just violated team rules. So, we’ll keep evaluating day-by-day.”

Giving up a home game to play at Madison Square Garden 

“No, I actually – I think it’s great, though. To have a game at Madison Square Garden – the Mecca, some would say, of basketball. A very historic arena. Kids getting a chance, some who haven’t played there yet, getting a chance to see what Madison Square Garden looks like, and what it looks like in that type of environment. I think it’s great for college basketball.”

“We don’t make excuses here. They’re a great fanbase in New York. A lot of Michigan alums gonna be at the game. It’s gonna be an exciting environment.”

DeJulius running the offense

“Dave, Eli – they both did a great job.”

“We played well vs. Nebraska. There’s always areas where you can clean up. 17 turnovers – I would like to see us really do a better job of taking care of the basketball. I would also like to see us do a better job of making our open shots. In practice, that’s what we practice. We practice areas of what we can clean up offensively, but we can of course make it simple. Or we could make simple plays instead of home run plays. We go back and watch on film how we can show areas of improvement. Our practice has been good leading up to tomorrow.”

Zavier’s handling of suspension

“He’s been very respectful and matured through the process. Extremely patient. Knows that there are team rules that you’ve gotta abide by and he understands that clearly. That’s why I say he’s matured handling the situation, because yes, he’s extremely disappointed by his actions. He owns his actions and that’s the beauty part of it, he takes ownership of it. At the end of the day, I feel like we’ll all learn from this process.”

When will a decision be made?

“Still evaluating the situation.”

How Brandon Johns has improved

“Brandon, I’ve said it before, game-by-game, every practice that we’ve had thus far, he’s been bought in. Asking questions of where he can get better at. Help serve the team. I see a lot of growth in Brandon. It’s great to have a guy like Brandon on your team that’s all about doing it the right way, trying to make winning plays for the team.”

Is it a better shooting team than shown?

“Yeah, very confident in our group. We will make shots. But it’s more than just making shots. It’s all facets of the game where we can move the needle. Defensively – we have to do a better job defensively. We can improve in that area. We can improve making free throws. We can improve making open shots. But trust me: there’s no one in that locker room that’s more frustrated not seeing the ball go in than those players. They work at it. They come in on off days. I trust that the ball will fall. It’s not just about seeing the ball go in, because I know it’s one of the things that everyone likes to point at when your team from the three-point line only shoots 29% or games where you shot 57% from the free throw line or 62%. They work hard, man. They want to see the ball go in just like anyone else. It’s more disappointing to them. But I share with them in that I have confidence in our team and I have confidence in them. So, keep taking open shots!”

Has message changed with Franz about his shot selection?

“Nope. Do you like his shot? I love his shots!”

Five takeaways: Wolverines back in the win column

Five takeaways as Michigan ends it’s four-game losing streak with a 79-68 victory over Nebraska, the Wolverines first true road win.

[jwplayer OKIQnvEk-XNcErKyb]

With four losses in a row, the season has taken a sour turn for Michigan basketball. The situation grew only more dire when starting point guard Zavier Simpson was suspended for a violation of team rules.

The Wolverines, who started 0-5 in true road games this season, were in desperate need of a change to the current narrative when they traveled to Nebraska on Tuesday night.

The game was tight throughout the first half, but Michigan controlled the game for the majority of the second half to pull away for their first road victory, 79-68.

My five takeaways as the Wolverines end their four-game skid:

1. A step in the right direction

With the four-game losing streak, Michigan’s NCAA Tournament destiny was suddenly in doubt after a 7-0 start to the season. The Wolverines won’t impress the selection committee with this victory, but it was a much-needed step in the right direction. Michigan has several “resume-building” opportunities left on their schedule, one of which comes this Saturday when they host No. 25 Rutgers. It’s good that the Wolverines will enter that game with a little confidence coming off their first road victory.

2. Brooks, Wagner, Johns Jr. all step up

No Zavier Simpson. No Isaiah Livers. Michigan needed guys to play big in this game, and multiple guys did. Eli Brooks led the Wolverines in points (20), rebounds (9) and assists (4) in an exceptional performance. Franz Wagner shook off a slow start shooting the ball to finish with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting. The freshman added 8 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. Finally, Brandon Johns Jr. played one of his best games in a Michigan uniform with an efficient 16 points (5-of-6 from the floor, 5-of-7 from the FT line) and added 7 rebounds.

3. This is what Michigan’s offense is

The Wolverines have played 20 games and are nearly halfway through their Big Ten schedule. It’s safe and fair to say that what we’ve seen on offense from them since returning from the Bahamas is what they are. Michigan is not a good shooting team. Tonight, the Wolverines shot 29 percent from the three-point line. Michigan did shoot 50 percent from the floor, but that came against what is, statistically, the worst defensive team in the conference. The key to success for this Wolverines squad is good ball movement and getting as many guys involved as possible, which is what they did tonight.

4. Dejulius struggles replacing Simpson

Sophomore David DeJulius filled in as the starting point guard with Zavier Simpson out, and he struggled to fill those shoes. DeJulius finished with just 5 points on 1-of-7 shooting while handing out 3 assists and grabbing 4 rebounds. Simpson has had an up-and-down season, but if Tuesday’s game against a relatively weak Big Ten opponent is any indicator, the Wolverines need their starting point guard back on the floor soon. That may not be fair to DeJulius, after all, it was his first career start, but the back-half of the Big Ten slate is vital to Michigan’s NCAA Tournament chances, and the Wolverines will need Simpson to earn a bid.

5. resume-building games ahead

As mentioned above, Michigan is in a fight for their NCAA tournament lives as the calendar shifts to February. The Wolverines let some resume-building opportunities at home slip away earlier this season against Oregon, Penn State and Illinois, but there are plenty more ahead. After hosting Rutgers on Saturday, Michigan still has home games against Michigan State and Indiana — two of the better teams in the conference — and will have ranked road games at Rutgers and Maryland. Sprinkled in are future contests against Purdue and Wisconsin that can serve as solid wins due to the strength of the Big Ten this season. Opportunities await, but the Wolverines need to finish the season strong.

Halftime Analysis: Michigan at Nebraska

Halftime breakdown of Michigan’s road trip to Nebraska as the midway point of the Big Ten Conference schedule draws near for the Wolverines.

[jwplayer OKIQnvEk-XNcErKyb]

Having lost four consecutive games, Michigan looks to get back in the win column tonight with a road game at Nebraska.

The Wolverines (11-8 overall, 2-6 Big Ten) are currently 0-5 in true road games this season, and desperately need to end that drought tonight to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

The Cornhuskers (7-13, 2-7) have struggled throughout the season, and despite this being a road game, it’s one Michigan must win if it wants to play meaningful games in March.

The Wolverines are without starting point guard Zavier Simpson tonight, who was suspended for a violation of team rules. David DeJulius started in Simpson’s place.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Wolverines took a 40-35 lead into their locker room.

POSITIVES:

  • After being limited to just 5 assists as a team against Illinois, Michigan got the ball moving in the first half against the Cornhuskers. The Wolverines had 8 assists as a team in the first 20 minutes, led by Eli Brooks and Jon Teske who each had 3 assists.
  • The result of the improved ball movement was a balanced scoring sheet for Michigan. Eli Brooks led the Wolverines in points with 9, while Brandon Johns Jr. had 8. Franz Wagner had 6 points in the first half, while Jon Teske and Colin Castleton each added 5 points.

NEGATIVES:

  • Michigan has not played well defensively in recent weeks and the Wolverines got off to a poor start on that end in this game as well. Nebraska got several easy baskets in the first half against a lethargic Michigan defense, and at one point were shooting nearly 65 percent from the floor. Michigan improved their defense somewhat to close the half, but the Cornhuskers still finished the half shooting 48 percent from the floor, and 45 percent from three-point range. The Wolverines need to play better at that end of the floor in the second half.
  • The three-ball is still not falling at a consistent rate for Michigan. The Wolverines shot just 30 percent from deep in the first half. However, it was good to see Brooks knock down half of his looks out there, as he went 3-of-6 from outside.

Juwan Howard speaks on Zavier Simpson’s suspension

The Wolverines head coach spoke about suspending his senior captain and point guard on Monday.

[jwplayer NKbGBS92-XNcErKyb]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  Some surprising news came out of Michigan on Monday, with the announcement that senior captain and point guard Zavier Simpson will not be traveling to Lincoln to take on Nebraska on Tuesday, due to a violation of team rules.

Per the release:

The David and Meredith Kaplan University of
Michigan men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard announced today (Monday, Jan. 27), senior guard Zavier Simpson has been suspended for violation of team policies and will miss the Wolverines game at Nebraska, Tuesday (Jan. 28) night.

“While we are disappointed with what has transpired with Zavier, we know there are always lessons to learn and grow from. We take these matters and consequences very seriously,” said Howard. “Moving forward, we will continue to handle this matter appropriately within our program and basketball family.”

While Howard did not provide what rule Simpson broke, he did speak on his suspension, noting he won’t be sure how the team will move forward until after practice on Monday.

“I haven’t gotten that far as to if I have a replacement in the starting lineup,” Howard said. “We haven’t had practice yet. I’ve been working on the game plan for Nebraska, had other things on my mind. But overall, unfortunately for X, as you’ve heard, there’s a suspension. We have to further look at this thing deeper and deeper and see what we’re gonna do moving forward.”

As noted above, Howard indicated that Simpson’s suspension could go beyond the one game, but that the situation has to be further evaluated.

And while it’s disappointing — and surprising — that it’s the unquestioned leader of this team that’s being kept off the court, Howard noted that it doesn’t matter if you’re the top player in the program or the last person to come off the bench.

If you break a team rule, you’re going to suffer the consequences.

“That’s in-house,” Howard said. “We have team rules, and unfortunately, he broke one of them. You have repercussions and consequences you have to pay when you break team rules.

“Anyone, 1-16, I would hold accountable. You break a team rule, you break a team rule, no matter who you are. No one is bigger or better than the team.”

How did Simpson handle it when Howard told him that he’d be missing time?

As expected, Howard says.

“He was disappointed. He was disappointed for many reasons,” Howard said. “But overall, he knows that the team is gonna miss him. He knows he let his teammates down.”

Tuesday night’s game will be the first in Simpson’s Michigan career that he’ll miss.

Five takeaways: Livers leaves game, Michigan falls on game-winner to Illinois

Five takeaways from Michigan’s heart-breaking 64-62 loss to Illinois in the closing second, and the brief return of Isaiah Livers.

[jwplayer qf7Nw6GR-XNcErKb]

Michigan entered Saturday’s game against Illinois in a slump after losing three consecutive games. Meanwhile, the Illini came in one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, having won five straight.

Michigan needed a boost in morale, and it got one with the return of junior Isaiah Livers to the starting lineup.

The first half saw the Wolverines start strong before suffering through a difficult first 20 minutes on offense, hitting just 1-of-11 attempts from the three-point line and shooting 35 percent overall. Michigan cut what was once and 8-point deficit to four to enter the locker trailing 34-30.

The Wolverines used that momentum to retake the lead early in the second half, but a gut-punch quickly followed when Livers appeared to re-aggravate his groin injury on a dunk attempt.

The injury could have derailed Michigan, but the Wolverines showed grit to battle the Fighting Illini to a tie into the closing seconds. On Illinois’ final possession, sophomore Ayo Dosunmu hit a mid-range jumper with half a second left to lift the Illini to a 64-62 victory.

1. Isaiah Livers returns, briefly

After missing the six previous games, Isaiah Livers returned to the starting lineup and brought energy to the Crisler Center crowd and his teammates. The junior had a hop in his step and made an impact with 7 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes of action. He hit a big three-pointer early in the second half to give the Wolverines a 38-37 lead, their first since leading 10-9 early in the contest. However, moments later, Livers was fouled while going up for a fast break dunk and he landed awkwardly. Livers immediately grabbed his groin area, where his initial injury was sustained. The junior knocked down both of his free throws before exiting the game.

2. Zavier Simpson Steps up

Even with Livers on the floor, it was too much to expect him to come back and lead the Wolverines after missing six games. This is still Zavier Simpson’s team, and he started well and was a calming presence once Livers left the game. Simpson finished with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and added 3 rebounds and 3 assists. When the senior plays within his strengths and doesn’t try to play above his capabilities, good things follow. That was the case today.

3. heart-breaking result

Michigan didn’t flinch when Livers went down. Illinois went on a mini-run to take the lead in the immediate aftermath of the injury, but the Wolverines went toe-to-toe for the remainder of the contest. Even on that final possession, when Dosunmu hit the dagger jumpshot, Simpson was in perfect defensive position and contested the shot well. But, the shot went down, and Michigan’s valiant effort ended with the same result as their previous three outtings. This is the type of result, especially in the midst of a four-game losing streak, that can derail a team’s confidence for good.

4. Better defensive performance

Following the loss to Penn State, head coach Juwan Howard was clearly frustrated with his team’s lack of communication on defense. In today’s game, Michigan showed a concerted effort to correct those defensive breakdowns. The Wolverines played well defensively on Saturday, limiting Illinois to 44 percent from the floor and 36 percent from the three-point line. There were a couple possessions here and there were defensive miscommunication was noticeable, but that’s going to happen on occasion in a 40-minute contest. This was a step in the right direction for the Wolverines on that end of the floor.

5. Wolverines limited by their shooting

Isaiah Livers has the talent to impact a game in a variety of ways, but the biggest thing Michigan was looking forward to with his return was an added weapon on offense. The Wolverines’ struggles on that end of the floor have been discussed ad nausea in recent weeks, and they continued today. Michigan finished the game shooting just 39 percent from the floor and 24 percent from deep. It’s pretty simple at this point: If the Wolverines can’t knock down open shots and find efficient ways to score, this is a team that’s going to be on the outside looking in on Selection Sunday in March. Michigan is limited in how far they can take their season by their poor shooting. Any turnaround going forward starts and ends with that fact.

Halftime Analysis: Michigan vs. No. 21 Illinois

Michigan hosts No. 21 Illinois, trying to end their 3-game losing streak with the help of Isaiah Livers returning to the starting lineup.

[jwplayer qf7Nw6GR-XNcErKyb]

Coming off their third consecutive loss, Michigan received good news before tipoff against No. 21 Illinois today when Isaiah Livers returned to the starting lineup.

The junior had missed the previous six games, and the Wolverines went 2-4 in that stretch.

The Fighting Illini entered the contest one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, having won five games in a row.

Michigan opened the game energized, and quickly jumped to a 9-4 lead. However, the Wolverines went through a couple long scoring droughts and Illinois took advantage to build a lead as high as 24-16.

Michigan finished the half well to pull within 34-30 at the break.

POSITIVES:

  • Livers being back on the floor brought energy to the Crisler Center and to his Wolverine teammates. The junior had a bounce to his step as well, and he was active on the boards with 4 rebounds in the first half. Livers only had 2 points on 1-of-4 shooting, but that’s not much of a concern given he missed the six games prior. His shooting touch should return with time.
  • Michigan trailed by as many as eight points in the first half, and it appeared the game may get away from the Wolverines. However, they closed the half strong to enter locker room trailing by just four points. That small spurt may give Michigan some momentum as the second half gets underway.
  • Point guard Zavier Simpson more composed in today’s first half than in the previous game against Penn State. The senior had 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the opening 20 minutes to lead the Wolverines.

NEGATIVES:

  • Livers’ return brought energy, but much of that was quickly sapped away due to the Wolverines once again struggling to knock down shots. Michigan was just 1-of-11 from three-point range in the first half, and 11-of-31 from the floor (35 percent). The Wolverines will need to shoot better than that to beat the Illini.
  • While the Wolverines defensive effort was much better in the first half against Illinois than their performance against Penn State, the Fighting Illini still managed to shoot 48 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range. Michigan needs to take another step on that end in the second half.