Michigan Basketball: Knee-Jerk Reactions to Start of Big Ten Play

At this point of the season, John Beilein can’t be anything but Michigan’s basketball coach.

He’s not particularly interested in stepping away from being, well, himself. He’s not big on publicly analyzing, critiquing or chastising the Wolverines to the nth degree, either. 

Not right now. 

He’s simply interested in making sure they progress from their 1-1 start in the Big Ten (8-6 overall) and forge ahead. So, asking him to grade his team or set timetables for widespread and/or individual development, at least at this juncture, seems to be a lost cause.  

“That’s an impossible question to answer for a coach who’s with them every single day. I can’t step outside myself and give them a grade,” Beilein said during Monday’s teleconference. “I see them every day. We practice every day. We’re working hard every day. Our coaches know so much about the team that the average fan would not know, so there’s no grade to be given.

“The ‘grade’ is [based on], ‘Did we work hard in practice today? Did we try to get better? Yes.’ And we’re doing that pretty well. But we have a long way to go.”

Defeating Illinois in the conference opener provided at least a speck of energy for the Wolverines, who will face another 20 points waiting to happen in D.J. Newbill during Tuesday’s clash with Penn State in Happy Valley.

The Wolverines have only played 14 games, just two in their conference—it’s still early to truly judge. But it’s not too early to cast a few snap judgments based on a few numbers.

Michigan Really, Really Needs Spike

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Everyone talks about Caris LeVert, Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton—the “big three” on Beilein’s roster.

However, Spike Albrecht will be as valuable as them, if not more, if he’s able to reach the next level.

After combining for nine points in his previous four games, the 5’11”, 175-pound junior point guard burst for 17 during Michigan’s 64-51 road loss this past Saturday to Purdue. The Wolverines lacked offense in the second half, which obviously contributed to their demise, but Beilein feels as if Albrecht is close to a breakthrough.

“We’ve been encouraging that all year for him to look at the basket more—that’s why the end of that second half [vs. Purdue] is so encouraging, when he made those three threes. So that’s big for us going forward, certainly,” Beilein said, later adding that Albrecht has “been more assertive” because he’s healthier than he was earlier in the season.

“He’s worked hard in his rehab and certainly played like it the other day.”

Michigan will go as LeVert, Irvin and Walton go—that’s pretty much ironclad. But Albrecht’s veteran leadership, drive and commitment to improvement is invaluable for a young team that’s having difficulties picking up basic tenets of college basketball.

The Wolverines would certainly be doomed if Albrecht were to fade into the distance. There is no avoiding that.

Rebounding is Killing UM

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The absence of second-chance scoring opportunities has been nearly fatal for Michigan, which ranks dead last in the Big Ten in that department (31.9 per game); it’s also dead last in rebounding margin (-2.1 per game).

Defensively, the Wolverines have found a home in the middle of the pack, resting at No. 7 overall—not necessarily a good place to be, but better than the cellar.

However, as a whole, the lack of even decent rebounding has cost Michigan at least two games and has contributed to all but one loss—there was nothing it could do to beat Arizona.

Cases in point: SMU’s 44-27 dominance on the boards led to a 62-51 victory; the inability to overpower the New Jersey Institute of Technology, a supposed underdog, led to a 72-70 loss at the Crisler Center—it was NJIT’s first victory over a ranked opponent, which just threw salt on the wound; and falling 36-27 on the boards led to an embarrassing 45-42 loss to Eastern Michigan. 

Despite staying even with NJIT, 26-26, the Wolverines barely scraped 10 offensive boards and lost 22-16 on the defensive end. When coaches reference “a play here, a play there,” they’re most definitely talking about games such as the ones with the Highlanders and Mustangs.

At the very least, Michigan should have 10 wins. Instead, it’s two games above .500 and barely treading water in early January. 

Seeing Red

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As a high schooler, Kam Chatman was miles ahead of the competition—so many miles ahead. However, that’s no longer true now that he’s in college. The easy days have gone by the wayside, which he probably realizes by now. He’s scored just 19 points in the past 88 minutes. He can’t get by in the Big Ten with such droughts.

In a perfect world, Chatman would have redshirted this year. He’s capable of evolving into a consistent contributor, but right now, he’s enduring trial by fire.

The upside to not redshirting is experience—the getting beat, pushed and pounded variety.

During media day, he explained how he’s worked to improve his physicality. He’s aware of the rigors in the Big Ten and plans to adjust accordingly.

At 6’9” and 220 pounds, D.J. Wilson would certainly help Michigan’s lack of size and personnel in the paint. Mark Donnal and Ricky Doyle, a pair of roughly 6’9”, 245-pound forwards, have made strides but still need help.

Wilson, who is beyond athletically gifted, would be welcome on the stat sheet and on the glass. But he suffered a knee injury in November. In early December, Beilein said that a medical redshirt could be possible for the freshman.

Michigan’s frontcourt, on paper, was supposed to be quick, tenacious and built for offense. But the complete opposite fortune has unfolded—and that’s the biggest shock of the year.

This season will be Beilein's most challenging at Michigan.

And it's pretty easy to see why. 

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