Australia Adelaide coach Steve Spencer was pleased with his team's performance against the Michigan men's basketball team Monday night.
And he should be happy. Although the Wolverines won, 97-91, it took double overtime before the Wolverines could dispose of the 36'ers in Michigan's first exhibition game of the season.
And in the close battle, the 36'ers exploited a lot of the Wolverines' weaknesses, mainly rebounding and defense.
Despite a major size differential in the paint, the 36'ers managed to stay with the Wolverines on the boards. Some might even say the Wolverines were outplayed on the boards, despite a 54-48 rebounding advantage. But Adelaide's rebounds set up many second- and third-chance opportunities, helping the 36'ers keep the score close.
Spencer was not surprised by his team's effectiveness in the paint and said size has nothing to do with rebounding.
"If you compete, you go after the basketball, and you want it, you can get it," Spencer said. "It's all about who wants the basketball more."
The second- and third-chance opportunities allowed the 36'ers to score easy baskets on the break. And Adelaide did not seem to have a problem beating the Wolverines down the floor.
"We got a whale of a lot of work to do with our rebounding," Michigan coach Steve Fisher said. "We were awful with our post-double. But that will come.
"This (game) was good for us. We will take this as a great teaching tool. This is just what we needed to see all the little things we need to work on."
Bench warming: While the Wolverines work on rebounding and defense, forward Maceo Baston will work on himself.
The junior is nursing an achilles tendon injury he suffered in practice last week. He did not play against Adelaide and may not be ready to play in the second exhibition game Monday against Athletes in Action.
"Maceo's got an achilles injury that we're concerned about," Fisher said. "It's still tender. If he's hurting a little bit, we're gonna hold him out next week, too. I'd rather wait than rush him back."
Bench un-warming: While Baston may not have enjoyed sitting on the bench, freshman center Peter Vignier must have been more than happy to get off it.
Baston's absence in the lineup allowed Vignier to get some minutes Monday.
Vignier, who is deemed a project Fisher considered redshirting, was able to get in the rotation and fill the hole left by Baston. He did not have any field goals, but pulled down seven rebounds - tied for third on the team with Jerod Ward - and was 3-of-4 from the foul line to finish with three points in 21 minutes of action.
Vignier's extended appearance on the floor was due to Baston's injury. If Baston had played, Vignier may have seen fewer minutes.
"(If Baston were healthy), I probably would have gone with the veterans, the guys who started all last year," Fisher said. "To be honest with you, Peter may not have gotten as many minutes. It was good that he got some minutes."
Cold spell: Last season, Louis Bullock averaged 13.3 points per game and was Michigan's only true perimeter scoring threat.
On Monday, Bullock had one of his worst scoring outings as a Wolverine. He connected on just two of 12 shots from the field, both of which were from downtown.
He finished with 16 points, courtesy of the charity stripe, where he sank 10 of 12 free throw attempts.
"I would go to the bank with most of the shots he took," Fisher said. "So we got to make sure that he knows that, even though he was 2-for-12 that's his shot."
MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily
Travis Conlan and the rest of the Wolverines needed double overtime to dispose of Australia Adelaide, 97-91, on Monday night. The Wolverines' poor defense and rebounding allowed the 36'ers to stay close the entire game.