Michigan Friday: Grandma Always Said, "Nothing Good Ever Happens After Midnight"

Robin Buckson, Detroit News

I watched too much basketball yesterday like most of America and my first thought was if Michigan plays like they did in the Big Ten Tournament, they are going to make a good run to the Final 4.  Teams were playing sloppy, turning the ball over, and not shooting well.  


Then Michigan took the court at 10:30 PM EST, which is a crime in itself.   Athletes are not at their prime that late at night, yes college kids normally stay up late, but they don't take Mid-Terms at 11:00PM either.   The game started, Michigan wins the tip and Wagner falls down and travels in the first two seconds.   Then a few seconds later MAAR gets the first foul of the game and Coach B pulls him out of the game. 


That was a little example of how the game would go for the Wolverines.   Montana jumped out to a 10-0 lead and the Wolverines looked like they were sleep walking in the first half.   If Montana had an offense even a little like Buffalo, the Wolverines would have joined Arizona in heading home today.   Montana in the second half couldn't throw the ball in the ocean from the beach, they struggled in all aspects of offense.   The Wolverines didn't too much better and really was only holding on to a 10 point lead.


Mo Wagner was off all night and finished the game with a total of 5 points, Matthews played well and mostly lay ups and dunks and had 30 on the night.   MAAR who struggled most of the night finished with 11 and was the only other Wolverine in double figures. 


Michigan looked rusty and bothered by Montana's trap defense and quick guards.   The game was slow and even slower with a long delay due to the scores table losing power (even the scores table didn't want to play that late).   The Wolverines got a lift from their bench in the first half with Simmons and Poole got some important buckets when the Wolverines were in a funk.   The defense in the second won the game as the Wolverines continue to turn the ball over and mostly on fast breaks. 


The best thing you can say about this game is the Wolverines won and moving on.   They now face a Houston team that had a guard go for nearly 40 in the game prior.   He seems like Houston's only  offense and Simpson and MAAR will have their hands full with a volume shooter. 


Guess what?  Michigan has the late game again and will have a 9:40 tip (hopefully).  Poor Coach B is not going to get much sleep as he has a lot to fix before Saturday night. 

• Jimmy's brother-in-law Tom Crean got the Georgia head coaching role

• Mazi Smith 4 Star DT from Grand Rapids seems to be trending to Michigan right now.