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Defense doomed Michigan once again in the second half of its Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinal. The Wolverines allowed Wisconsin to score 51 points in the closing 20 minutes to emerge with its second victory over Michigan this season.

John Beilein is now 1-11 against Bo Ryan, which is a disturbing trend for Michigan.

Trey Burke looked nothing like the Big Ten Player of the Year this afternoon. Burke had his moments, and dished out seven assists, but several shots he made all season long simply did not go down against the Badgers.

Although Michigan struggled down the stretch in the Big Ten, its NCAA tournament outlook is still great. The Wolverines will greatly benefit from playing an opponent not familiar with their style of play.

The Maize and Blue could drop to a No. 4 seed, but depending on how everything else pans out in the other conference tournaments, Michigan could still manage to be a No. 3 seed.

Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. are talented enough to carry this team to a Final Four, but the Wolverines need to do a better job defending the paint if they want to make it to Atlanta. 

Wisconsin 68, Michigan 59 - End of Game

Wisconsin finishes Michigan off at the free-throw line. This one was much more decisive than the first meeting.

Wisc. 65, Mich. 56 - 29.6 seconds remaining

Well, this one is probably in the books after Burke's missed three-pointer. Too many missed shots from Burke, and awful play on the interior is going to cost Michigan today.

Wisc. 61, Mich. 56 - 1:30 2nd Half

Michigan goes cold again from the field and it is in serious trouble now. Burke missed a runner off the glass and Stauskas missed a three.

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Burke is starting to heat up, and Hardaway has been hot for much of the day. Look for those two to take this game over in the closing minutes.

Michigan will need to keep Berggren out of the paint, though. He will be back in the game after this media timeout.

Wisc. 56, Mich. 54 - 3:35 2nd Half

Michigan on a 9-0 run with Jackson and Berggren out. Foul trouble could come back to bite the Badgers.

Burke has turned it on now with two makes on his last three attempts. Mitch McGary cleaned up his only miss. The Wolverines are not doing anything different on offense, Burke is finally making shots, though.

Jackson coming back into the game for Wisconsin. Bo Ryan could not wait any longer to do that even with the four fouls.

Wisc. 56, Mich. 48 - 5:10 2nd Half

Michigan has to seize this opportunity. Berggren and Traevon Jackson are both on the bench with four fouls. If the Wolverines have a run in them, now is the time.

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Wisc. 56, Mich. 46 - 5:30 2nd Half

Michigan needs to get the ball to Tim Hardaway Jr. and let him shoot right now. He is the only guard shooting better than 50 percent.

Wisconsin has taken over thanks to three-point shooting (5-of-7 in the second half) and strong play inside. Berggren on the bench with four fouls, though.

Wisc. 51, Mich. 45 - 6:45 2nd Half

Burke cannot get anything to fall. Although a lot of his shots have been early in the shot clock, several have been good looks. Burke is just 4-of-14 from the field.

Ryan Evans is starting to heat up for Wisconsin, but so is Tim Hardaway Jr. Back-to-back threes for Hardaway, and Evans is abusing Glenn Robinson III inside.

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Wisc. 43, Mich. 40 - 9:50 2nd Half

Michigan shifts to its 1-3-1 defense and Brust hits a three-pointer from NBA range. Everything is falling now for Wisconsin.

Hardaway trades a three-pointer to keep Michigan close.

Wisc. 40, Mich. 36 - 11:22 2nd Half

Wisconsin is heating up from the perimeter, which is trouble for Michigan because it is struggling to defend the Badgers on the interior. The Wolverines need to pick their poison now.

The Badgers are 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the second half after going 2-of-13 in the first.

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Wisc. 37, Mich. 34 - 11:56 2nd Half

Finally someone knocks down a jump shot for Michigan! Hopefully, Hardaway's pull up from the wing will spark the Wolverines. Burke follows with two finishes off the glass.

Wisconsin still ahead, though, courtesy of Mike Bruesewitz's three, and Jared Berggren's presence in the paint.

Lack of consistency from big men has been a big problem for Michigan all year, and Michael Rothstein of ESPN points out how it is continuing today:

Michigan's four bigs combined thus far...4 pts., 9 reb, 2 steals, 7 fouls, 5 TOs.

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 15, 2013

Wisc. 29, Mich. 26 - 14:25 2nd Half

Glenn Robinson III is now 0-of-4 from the charity stripe today. In a close game like this, those misses could come back to haunt Michigan.

The Wolverines need to see something go in the basket, because they are in danger of seeing Wisconsin pull away if it stays hot.

Wisconsin has rectified its shooting woes, and Michigan has yet to make a field goal in the second half. Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal provides the update:

UW leads 26-24 with 15:39 left. The Badgers are 4-for-8 from the field in the second half.

— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) March 15, 2013

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Mich. 24, Wisc. 24 - 17:00 2nd Half

Jordan Morgan is struggling right now, and John Beilein has seen enough. Morgan fumbled an offensive rebound away on the baseline for his third turnover. Mitch McGary is in the game now for Michigan.

Mich. 24, Wisc. 22 - 17:40 2nd Half

Michigan is really attacking the paint in the opening minutes of the second half. Jordan Morgan fumbled a chance away on the block, but Hardaway and Stauskas got to the free-throw line with strong drives.

Wisconsin's only basket of the half came inside from Ryan Evans, before Ben Brust hits a trey in the corner.

Key to the Second Half: Make some shots

This is pretty simple, but it should start by getting the ball inside. Wisconsin relegated itself to the perimeter for much of the first half.

Michigan needs to get the ball to McGary on the block, and Burke has to hit some of those open jumpers he missed in the first half.

Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com points out a strategy that Wisconsin, and other teams have used to defeat Michigan this season:

For Wisconsin it's "Shot, and all five get back." ... Badgers reFUSING to let Michigan get space in the open court.

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) March 15, 2013

Some stats from the first half:

HALF - Individuals - Robinson: 6 pts, 3 reb | Burke: 4 pts, 4 ast, 2 reb | Hardaway: 4 pts, 5 reb | McGary: 2 pts, 4 reb

— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) March 15, 2013

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Mich. 20, Wisc. 17 - Halftime

Despite Wisconsin's shooting woes (5-of-29), it is down by just three points. Michigan has not been able to take advantage of the Badgers' struggles. 

The reason why: Stauskas and Burke are a combined 3-of-12 from the field.

Mich. 20, Wisc. 14 - 18 seconds remaining 1st Half

Great play by Robinson. The frosh used a great shot fake to get into the lane and finished in traffic. That field goal ended a lengthy drought for both teams.

Wisconsin has hung tough, though, thanks to some free-throws.

Mich. 18, Wisc. 10 - 1:17 1st Half

There must be lids on these rims at the United Center right now. Neither team can buy a shot right now. Somebody needs to drive the lane and make a lay up for a confidence boost.

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Mich. 18, Wisc. 10 - 3:06 1st Half

Active hands is the key to playing great defense. Burke has been fantastic in that aspect today.

Neither team is knocking down shots with any consistency right now. Burke is struggling right now as well, despite the fact he has had several open looks. The Big Ten Player of the Year is just 2-of-7 from the field.

Mich. 16, Wisc. 9 - 5:30 1st Half

Hardaway is back for the Wolverines, and per ESPN has a sprained ankle. He is back in the game, but if that ankle tightens up again it could be problematic for Michigan.

Ben Brust finally ends Wisconsin's shooting drought with a three.

Caris LeVert draws a foul driving to the basket. The Wolverines are not settling for jump shots, which is a great sign for them going forward.