Bombs away!

Foes drain threes against weak Blue 'D'

Sound basketball strategy - heck, even a tenet of physics - dictates that the farther a player shoots from the basket, the less likely a shot is to fall.

So why are Michigan's opponents defying nature from beyond the 19-foot-9 arc?

During the first three games of the season, Michigan's foes scorching the nets at an astounding rate. The first three opponents - Western Michigan, Cleveland State and Towson - have nailed 31-of-68 shots for a 46 percent clip.

While the high shooting percentages from long range are not dooming the Wolverines - they have won two of the three games - the totals remain troubling.

Monday's game against Towson epitomized the problems. The Tigers carried a five-point lead into the lockerroom at halftime - mostly due to their 3-point abilities. Of the 14 shots they converted in the 20-minute period, half of them fell from beyond the arc.

Their uncanny shooting touch continued throughout the second half, as Towson finished with 13 3-pointers, accounting for more than half of its total points. Fortunate for the Wolverines, they withstood the barrage, and held on for a three-point victory.

But Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said the poor perimeter defense was an aberration.

"They had seven different guys make threes," Ellerbe said. "It is very rare that a power forward and center make threes."

Should the poor perimeter defense continue in Sunday's game against Detroit, Michigan may not be so fortunate.

While Towson was carried by Raul de Pablo, who nailed six of the bombs, Detroit is loaded with shooters, each of whom has the ability to alter a game's outcome.

Last season, Derrick Hayes went from an unknown transfer at the beginning of the season to the All-Midwest Collegiate Conference team, by the end after averaging 15.9 points per game.

For all of Hayes' accolades, he wasn't even Detroit's best shooter in its opening game.

Sophomore David Ferguson, playing his first game as a Titan, nailed five 3-pointers as the Titans fell to Cincinnati. Combined with guard Jermaine Jackson, that kind of touch from long range could add to Michigan's early-season woes.

But Ellerbe thinks familiarity should smooth the road for the Wolverines.

"On U of D-Mercy, there's going to be a number of guys we're familiar with," he said. "Some of the players they may have even played against in high school."

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