Michigan Basketball’s loss to Indiana sums up the season
By Jacob Cox
Michigan basketball fell in their first game of the Big Ten Tournament to Indiana after leading by 17 points midway through the second half.
The Wolverines have struggled on the basketball court this season after entering the year with final four expectations. With what was once thought of as one of the most talented rosters in the country, now heads into Selection Sunday on the bubble with the possibility of not making the NCAA Tournament.
How Michigan basketball fell to Indiana.
Michigan got off to a fast start on Thursday against the Hoosiers to open up Day two of the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines led 41-28 at halftime.
In the second half, the Wolverines once again got off to a good start expanding their lead to 17 points after an Eli Brooks layup with 12:52 to play in the game. The score was 60-43 Michigan with just over 10 minutes to play.
But then, things turned bad rather quickly. In the last 10 minutes of the game, Michigan’s 17 point lead was gone thanks to some unforced turnovers and defensive lapses. The Wolverines lost their composure, and Indiana took a five-point lead with just over two minutes to go in the game. Michigan pulled back within two points, but they fell short, losing 74-69 in embarrassing fashion.
Michigan basketball’s loss to Indiana sums up the season for the Wolverines.
It’s evident that the Wolverines aren’t where they wanted to be this season. They envisioned a more successful regular season and a different outcome in the Big Ten Tournament, but their loss to Indiana summed up perfectly what their season has been.
Throughout the 2021-22 basketball season, when Michigan was playing well, they were almost unbeatable. They would be “red hot” beyond the arch and dominating down low in the paint. They would also be defending well, making it challenging for teams to get going or continue stretches of continuous scoring.
But when the Wolverines were playing poorly, they looked like one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. They would fall apart on defense completely, start turning the ball over when they weren’t even being forced to do so, and not to mention; they wouldn’t be able to hit a shot, any shot.
In the game on Thursday against Indiana, we saw both of these Michigan teams on the court. We saw the good and the bad. For the first 30 minutes of play, we saw how good of a team Michigan could be. But in the last 10 minutes, we saw just how bad they could be as well.
All season long, it has been “which Michigan team is going to show up today?” It would be a guessing game. After a game they would play well in, they would drop the next one.
Here are some examples of that; win vs. Purdue 82-58, next game loss to Ohio State 68-57. Win vs. Michigan State, next game loss to Iowa 82-71. Win at Iowa 84-79, next game loss to Wisconsin 77-63.
This is Michigan basketball this season, and it is more than disappointing. This team had final four hopes; it was supposed to be a special team, but now reality hits. The reality is they’re just not that good.
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As we head into Selection Sunday, Michigan is on the bubble. Although I believe Michigan should make the NCAA Tournament with their quad one wins, there is no doubt this has been a letdown season.