Coming off a big win against then-No. 24 Illinois, the Wildcats were poised to keep the good times rolling on the road against Michigan, but Coach John Beilein and his Michigan Wolverines had other ideas. Winning 75-66, Michigan put up a barrage of points in the paint kept the Wildcats at bay, and put a stop to any real tournament talk for the ‘Cats. Northwestern next plays Sunday at Penn State, so the turnaround is quick for Coach Carmody and company. Let’s break down the loss at Michigan a bit more though.
Hero of the game |Michael “Juice” Thompson (17 points, all in the second half)
After a seriously weak showing in the first half, Juice put the team on his back after halftime. He scored the first 10 points of the second half for the Wildcats, but ultimately it wasn’t enough. The senior point guard can’t help but notice his time to make the NCAA tournament is dwindling. Northwestern finds itself in a compromising position with respect to the tournament, but some still hold out hope that the ‘Cats will find a way to hear their name on Selection Sunday. Juice has shown he can carry the offense at times, but a team effort will be key if Northwestern is to make any late season noise.
Stat of the game | Free throw discrepancy (NU, 3-of-7; Michigan, 15-of-21)
From the get-go, Northwestern struggled to deal with Michigan’s penetration into the paint. Freshman Jordan Morgan feasted in the paint as the Wildcats looked several steps too slow to react. Additionally, the ‘Cats found themselves watching a lot of Michigan free throw attempts. Outside of the free throw totals, the teams matched up quite well. Northwestern was able to keep their turnovers down, but simply gave Michigan too many freebies. On a day where the Wildcats’ offense was compromised — John Shurna contributed only four points — they could ill afford to give away points at the free throw line.
Turning Point/Momentum Changer | Jordan Morgan dunk with 1:17 remaining in the second half
To Northwestern’s credit, they could have packed it in at halftime, but they remained resilient. Even though Michigan maintained double digit leads for the majority of the second half, the ‘Cats made sure to stick around until the end. When Northwestern was able to cut the Wolverine lead to one, the game was up for grabs. However, a quick four points put Michigan up 71-66, and Morgan’s alley-oop was the decisive blow. Morgan had feasted on a steady diet of interior shots up to that point, and capped his night with an emphatic two-handed slam that sent the ‘Cats reeling.
One thing to Improve On |Zone defense
Jordan’s career night came at the expense of Northwestern’s zone defense. Dribble penetration led to a number of easy opportunities for Wolverines, who were happy to convert. Northwestern’s zone defense has been fruitful in forcing turnovers so far this season, but certainly wasn’t in Ann Arbor Wednesday night. Granted, a hobbled Shurna left the zone a little less active, but the Wildcats’ defense left a lot to be desired. The ‘Cats blew a shot to bolster their tournament résumé and a chance at sweeping Michigan for the season series. Northwestern has shown fight despite gloomy tournament prospects, but time is running out for this potential dancer.