MINNEAPOLIS - The two teams that took the floor Saturday at Williams Arena were strikingly similar.
Both were Big Ten contenders. Both rely heavily on meaty frontcourts to score and rebound. Both have guards that can knock down 3-pointers.
With all apologies to Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota are the two teams with the best shot to win the Big Ten. So what was the difference when these two teams met Saturday?
One answer is this: The Gophers rotated 10 players, three weighing in at more than 270 pounds and seven at more than 200.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher could afford to play only seven guys - the other five who made the trip are simply not Big Ten caliber players.
As the game wore on - especially after the Wolverines whittled a 10-point deficit to two - Minnesota wore the Wolverines down.
The Gophers got to more loose balls, more rebounds and could play more aggressive defense than the Wolverines could, partly because they had more players.
Robert Traylor fouled out after playing cautiously for most of the second half. Maurice Taylor picked up two early fouls, though he settled down after that.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Wolverines are starting to miss not having another player to throw into the mix.
When Albert White was dismissed from the team before the season began, the Wolverines lost that eighth player. White, who has since transferred to Missouri, averaged nine points and five boards a game his freshman season.
He probably would have done at least as well this year. And, more important, he may have been that extra something that would have helped the Wolverines pull out a road win at Minnesota.
In any case, White, who started 14 games last season, would have been an extra man that Fisher could have thrown into the mix without the Wolverines skipping a beat.
"Obviously they have nine or 10 guys and we have seven," Fisher said. "That's in their favor, but every team in the Big Ten will have that."
But by many accounts, White was the kind of scrappy player that would have grabbed a couple of those loose balls that were snatched up by Gophers. He was the kind of player who would come down with those rebounds that were tipped around a few times. He would score those ugly baskets on putbacks.
Instead, it was a Gopher doing the little things. While the Wolverines denied they were tired, Minnesota center John Thomas said the Gophers had a distinct advantage in that area.
"Sometimes, late in the game, they were a little worn down," Thomas said. "Maybe they didn't box out sometimes, and we got more chances."
While the Wolverines held their own, they clearly were lacking something, despite probably having the edge in talent. Exactly halfway through their schedule, the Wolverines may be starting to feel the wear of having just seven players.
"We're not fighting through all the screens," Michigan forward Maurice Taylor said. "Sometimes we're a step behind.
"We should be used to it by now. It's not going to get any better. It's not like we're going to trade for someone else before the season
White
