Despite the turnovers, the scoring droughts and the mental mistakes, the Michigan men's basketball team is 4-1. But the Wolverines' skin-of-their-teeth victories may soon turn into losses if they don't clean up their act.
After struggling against small-time programs, the Wolverines will now face stronger competition as the non-conference season kicks into high gear tomorrow when Michigan hosts UNLV (3-1) at 1 p.m.
Since beating Cleveland State, 77-59, the Wolverines have been cutting it close, edging Towson by three points and Detroit by one. Even in Wednesday night's 71-62 victory over Florida International, the Wolverines struggled to put away an inferior team.
"Sometimes you underestimate abilities just because they're not a big-name school," said co-captain Travis Conlan after Wednesday's game.
 |
| SARA STILLMAN/Daily Michigan guard Robbie Reid and the Wolverines begin a tough four-game, eight-day stretch tomorrow afternoon at Crisler Arena against UNLV. The Wolverines made games against weak, non-conference opponents a little closer than they would have liked. Michigan won't have to face All-America center Keon Clark, who is suspended until January.
|
"We'll get a little more excited to play - play harder," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. "But the question is - are we going to get smarter?"
While the Wolverines have shown no sign of bucking their trend of suffering mental breakdowns, their lapses have not hurt them too much, yet:
* Michigan's problems actually started in the exhibition season when it let a 15-point second half lead over Athletes in Action slip away and lost, 95-93.
* Then, in almost a carbon copy of the collapse against AIA, Michigan blew an 11-point secondhalf lead against Western Michigan and lost the season opener, 68-63.
* Two games later, the Wolverines looked to be putting away Towson when they stretched their lead to eight midway through the second half. But again, the Wolverines let their opponent back into the game, before winning what became a barn-burner, 75-72.
* Another breakdown, this one a scoring drought, almost cost Michigan the game against Detroit. After taking a 52-49 lead late in the second half, the Wolverines did not score for almost five minutes. When they finally did, it was on a Maceo Baston layup with one-tenth of a second left that won the game for the Wolverines, 54-53.
* And even though Michigan beat Florida International by nine points, it failed to put the Golden Panthers away when it had the chance. Up by 13 in the first half, the Wolverines watched the Panthers score the final seven points of the period and actually lead, 27-26.
Part of the reason for the Wolverines' mental breakdowns may have to do with the fact that senior co-captain Robert Traylor is struggling, and Conlan, the other senior captain as well as floor leader, missed the first three games after injuring his wrist against AIA.
"Travis makes up for everybody's mistakes," guard Louis Bullock said.
Conlan played against Florida International and Detroit, however, and is expected to see action against UNLV.
While the Runnin' Rebels feature two seniors in their starting lineup, Tyrone Nesby and Corky Ausborne, a freshman has been making waves. Greedy Daniels had 17 points along with nine rebounds, six assists and five steals in an 82-72 victory over Southern Cal on Tuesday.
The Rebels' lone defeat came in a 92-68 blowout at the hands of No. 3 Kansas in the preseason NIT.
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Crisler Arena
TV: None
12-05-97
| Previous Article | Next Article |
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |