East Lansing— Coach Juwan Howard of Michigan was blunt. Identification of the defensive debacle versus Michigan State was straightforward.
His fault.
“It’s a mindset,” Howard observed. It’s mental. You must strongly desire to play defense. The box score won’t reveal it. Naturally, it won’t be on highlights. … As coach, I assume full responsibility.”
Howard made a simple diagnosis. Michigan’s men’s basketball team lost Tuesday due to miscommunications, missed assignments, and mental errors. Wolverines’ weak defense failed everywhere.
Michigan’s defensive woes gave Spartans coach Tom Izzo his 700th win on his birthday.
Whether leading or playing for dignity in garbage time, the Wolverines’ defense was lacking. Graduate wing Olivier Nkamhoua strayed too far from his assignment with less than four minutes left, giving Michigan State guard Jaden Akins space in the corner to hit his seventh 3-pointer of the game, a career best. Though minor, the play showed the Wolverines’ defensive deficiencies.
Without a possibility to return, it’s hard to focus on the three. However, when deficient defensive principles caused the collapse, Akins’ delicious frosting became a stinging memory.
The Spartans had grabbed a two-point lead 13 minutes earlier, and Akins was in the same situation. Akins took advantage of a zone defense without a guard or maize jersey inside ten feet: time to line up, shoot, and bury a three.
Graduate guard Jaelin Llewelyn added, “They have good players all over the board. “And they’re moving the ball well, attacking the rim and getting offensive rebounds. Rebounding from the zone is harder.”
Michigan gave Michigan State many second-chance chances to capitalize on the lack of resistance by executing poorly inside as well as outside.
Michigan’s deficit grew following Akins’ 3-pointer. Before the under-12 break, they forced a controversial baseline fadeaway jumper. A.J. Hoggard snuck under senior forward Terrance Williams II, who didn’t box out. The potential stop became an easy putback layup, and the game slipped away.
Howard stated miscommunication and mental breakdowns gave Jaden free looks. Tyson Walker, the head of the snake, is one of the top players in our league and college basketball. Our game plan emphasizes labor for every bucket.”
As the obvious faults piled up, tensions ran high. Howard modeled defensive positions and rebounding 101 to remind Michigan. There was little else to do. The defensive strategy failed on and off the scoreboard.
Howard knew. He just blamed himself.
