Michigan Basketball: Wolverines' Biggest Concerns Ahead of B1G Play

Order isn’t restored by any means, but stopping a losing streak at four games is certainly better than discussing the fallout that accompanies a five-game slide—just ask Michigan, which bounced back from a quartet of setbacks by jumping all over Coppin State, 72-56, on Monday night at the Crisler Center.

Compared to past performances, the Wolverines were nearly unstoppable. Ricky Doyle, a true frosh, scored a career-high 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting and pulled down five boards in 22 minutes.

Mark Donnal, coach John Beilein’s other versatile, 6’9”, 245-pounder, scored eight points; the redshirt freshman split a pair of attempts from three-point land but has made five of his past six.

He and Doyle will come in handy down the road. 

Zak Irvin, the team’s new leading scorer (15.3 PPG), went on a tear with 13 points, including nine from long range. He’s still improving his jumper, but making five of 11 isn’t a bad way to shake the lulls of shooting 17 of 51 during the losing streak.

As a team, Michigan hit 47 percent of its shots from the field Monday night and did well in the paint. Sure beats 30 percent from the field and nada from the post.  

The ship isn’t sinking in Ann Arbor—but it’s not exactly back on course, either. Beilein’s working the wheel while players adjust the sails, looking to catch winds that will carry them past an ugly nonconference record of 7-5.

Or, in other words: The Wolverines are trying to tighten up on all fronts. It's either that or prepare for a long Big Ten schedule, which begins Dec. 30 versus Illinois at the Crisler Center.

Irvin Jumper

Irvin can get hot. Real hot.

During Monday’s postgame presser, Beilein said he gets a good feeling when he sees a true shooter make a three or hit a couple mid-rangers—he used to get that tingle while watching Tim Hardaway Jr.

This year, he’s caught the feeling a couple of times while watching Irvin, who’s dunked on a couple of poor souls en route to 30 points in the past two games. He’s on an upward trend. He just needs to work on getting correct arch on his jump shot.

Irvin had been getting too much upward arc over his right shoulder and had been suffering with a “flat” jumper. However, he appears to be close to regaining his former sweet stroke, said Beilein.

One thing is clear through 12 games: Michigan needs every bit of offense it can get from its 6’6”, 215-pound star sophomore shooter. After Monday night’s win, Irvin said he also plans to push harder on the glass.

Michigan’s lacked in that department, so he might as well put his strength and five-inch-improved vertical leap to good use.  

Care of Caris

There is only one way to describe Caris LeVert of late: The 6’7”, 200-pound junior has been slumping. He scored eight Monday night, but that was after scoring four of 10 shots from the field. He appeared to force a few; others were just poorly chosen.

Plagued by turnovers during the four-game downward spiral, LeVert must play up to his ability rather than playing down to competition. When at his finest, he's easily one of the Big Ten's elite. Many have viewed him as a potential first-round NBA draft pick. 

But he hasn't played anywhere close to that level. If he continues to submarine, the Wolverines won't compete with the upper half of the Big Ten and could miss the tournament. 

Up Front 

Duane Burleson/Getty Images

Conditioning and becoming more physical are Doyle's top priorities. The more he works to assert himself in the paint, the more he'll end nights with 16 points, like he did Monday. Despite the 80-53 loss to Arizona, the freshman appeared on his way to something with eight points. 

Then he scored three during a 62-51 loss Saturday to Southern Methodist.

The need for more Doyle, who can be dominant, has never been greater. He's not the most physical, but his mixture of touch around the rim and length can only benefit a team in desperate need of production from forwards/centers. 

Donnal has established himself as the "outside" part of the D-and-D equation. Prior to the season, Beilein said he couldn't label either player as the "inside" or "outside" force. They both did both, he said. Well, Donnal's emerged as the more lethal offensive option. He's shown some inside game, but he's probably more valuable away from the basket. 

Honestly, Doyle's probably the better choice down low, so it's a win-win just as long as they complement one another. The Wolverines can't afford for them to be out of sync. They're only giving 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per outing. Beilein needs them to combine for 20 and 10 on a regular basis. That's the bar moving forward. 

The Point—Walton and Albrecht

Spike Albrecht and Derrick Walton haven’t ran the point to its fullest extent this season. Albrecht’s undisclosed lower-body injury and Walton’s ankle need rest, as mentioned Monday by Beilein. The holiday break will serve them well.

Albrecht’s struggled to score. Michigan needs more than the 55 points it’s received from the 5’11”, 175-pound junior. However, Albrecht’s had several highlight reel assists thus far—his 41 helpers are tied for No. 2 on the team with Walton, who’s been much more of an offensive threat (as anticipated) than his counterpart. 

The 6’0”, 185-pound sophomore averages 11.3 points per night, which adds value to the offense. But he’s committed 12 turnovers during the past five games.

Turnover-to-assist ratios: Walton 3.7-1.5; Albrecht 3.4-1.1

Continuity

This past season, LeVert, Irvin, Walton and Albrecht could rely upon upperclassmen such as Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford when times got tough.

When the scoreboard needed a jump, they had stars Glenn Robinson III and Nik Stauskas to provide boosts and fill some buckets.

They don’t have any of that this year. They are now “that.” There have been moments, such as games versus Villanova and Oregon, in which Michigan has looked great. During other times, such as against the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Eastern Michigan, not to mention Arizona, it has looked vastly overmatched. 

Learning to lead takes time, but Beilein is confident that his sophomore class will team up with Albrecht and LeVert and gain control of the team and set the tone for the inconsistent freshmen. He doesn't mind their "quiet leadership," but Michigan is due for a vocal uprising. 

"We need more voices," Beilein said. "The more, the better." 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer.