Game 6: Texas A&M 67, Michigan 49

Honestly, that was dreadful. MGoBlue made a fine attempt to look on the bright side, but there's just no way around this loss.

22 turnovers. -13 on the o-boards. And 17 points for the Aggies' Danielle Adams in 24 minutes.

The first two are particularly troubling. According to what's out there, Texas A&M's defense was described as "stifling" as it recorded 10 steals for the night. As a result, the combined points off turnovers and offensive rebounds were greatly in the Aggies' favor, 32-14.

The Wolverines once again came out cold to begin the second half and allowed Texas A&M to take a stranglehold of the game. Kate Thompson, as mentioned in the MGoBlue post, was the lone bright spot and prevented the Aggies from making this an obliteration.

Another sorta bright spot: Michigan became the first team to prevent Texas A&M from earning 80+ points in a night. (hooray) But just to balance it out, the Wolverines have not won a game where they allowed 60 or more points - I guess 60 is the magic number for the season.

We'll hopefully have more detail (aka team reaction) once the articles get turned loose. In the meantime, Michigan squares off against Wake Forest as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Wednesday night at 6:30. If you're not at Crisler, you can watch it on the Big Ten Network.

Game 5: Michigan 69, Buffalo 49

(I can't get any audio from this game, so this one's going to be relatively plain.)

The Wolverines took care of business against Buffalo, and credit that to the defense. Michigan forced 18 turnovers with six different Wolverines recording steals.

And oh yeah, Sam Arnold got a double-double - 13 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes.

From what I'm gathering (but may be wrong), Michigan established its lead gradually. The Wolverines limited the Bulls to .322 from the field and generated a 10-point advantage in each half.

But as we all know, the tougher game comes tomorrow. No. 8 Texas A&M will look to preserve its undefeated season with senior forward Danielle Adams at the helm. Excluding today's game, Adams averages 23.1 ppg as the Aggies have scored 80+ points in every game thus far.

Junior guard Tyra White has also shown the ability to score with 20 today versus Arizona. However, the nine-point win against the Wildcats is the closest a team has been this season. It was Arizona's 21 turnovers that ultimately doomed its chances at an upset.

And that is exactly the key in tomorrow's game. Texas A&M thrives off the transition game and will look to make quick work as they don't allow the shot clock to expire much. The Aggies have forced an average of 25+ turnovers, including 20 against the Wildcats.

Michigan will also have to be gritty on the boards. I believe the Wolverines stack up height-wise, but Texas A&M has out-rebounded its opponents pretty handily. I'd expect a way to subdue Adams as much as possible and make others step up.

I think an upset is much more possible this time around rather than Xavier. With Michigan able to regain its swagger after two wins, this one might be a barnburner.

Tip-off is 9:30p tomorrow night. Until then, beat the buckeyes!

Game 3: at Marquette 63, Michigan 49

(I know this is coming a few days late, but Friday nights aren't really optimal times for blogging. My bad.)

Anyway, that was a stinker - but it's a little bit expected. Let's gather the evidence:

1.) First away game for the young Wolverines
Yes, the sophomores have notched a season under their belt, but without that strong upperclassman presence, it's relatively hard to get it going on the road. The same happened last year against then-No. 19 Kansas last year (77-66).

2.) The Wolverines are extremely weak on the inside
But man, that was bad. The Golden Eagles' tallest players are listed at 6'3" and were still able to boss around Michigan in the paint - +6 o-rebs for Marquette. If this is the way it's gonna be all season, the Wolverines must limit the turnovers (10-12 max). Second chance points are bad enough - add points off turnovers, and you've got disaster written all over it.

3.) Michigan is cold coming out of the break
Coach Borseth admitted in his post-game quote that his team had no rhythm offensively - .362 from the field. But what's alarming is how sluggish the Wolverines come out after the break. They didn't score a point until 5:37 passed by in the second half. Against Alcorn State, Michigan went about 3.5 minutes without a point after a quick bucket to start the half. Xavier turned a three-point lead to 14 (its largest) following halftime.

Indiana State will be an interesting matchup for the Wolverines. I think the Sycamores size up fairly evenly and like the Wolverines, stuck around in games with ranked teams. To throw a little history into the fire, Indiana State is 2-0 against Michigan in Terra Haute.

Don't think we'll get around to an all-out preview tomorrow, so just in case, tomorrow's game is at 7:05p. You can follow it on WTKA AM 1050 or online at MGoBlue.com.

Game 2: Xavier 85, at Michigan 76

The Wolverines came up just short to No. 5 Xavier in tonight's matchup at Crisler Arena. Inexperience showed down the stretch as fouls and turnovers ultimately doomed Michigan to its first loss of the season.

That being said, there are a lot of positives to be taken away from this. Down 14 with 10:38 to go, the Wolverines battled back with a 15-3 run to come within striking distance. The team put up a staggering 2.2 assist/turnover ratio, which is the highest I've seen in a long while (if ever). From what the box score says, it looks like good disciplined play minus the final minutes.

It was a given that height (Harris & Phillips in particular) was going to be a factor: the Musketeers finished with a +15 rebound margin and more than doubled Michigan on the o-boards. 22 of Xavier's 85 points were on second chances.

Sophomore guard Katie Rutan did her damage to the Wolverines all behind the arc - and all in the first half. Her 22 points were Xavier's response to Michigan's defense down low. Rutan's hot hand may have allowed Harris and Phillips to take advantage in the second half, finishing with 16 and 18 points, respectively.

Like Rutan, junior guard Carmen Reynolds took care of all her scoring from downtown and on the charity strip. In 36 minutes, she finished with 11 and was one of five Wolverines in double-figures. Roni Hicks led Michigan with 22. However, the Wolverines failed to score a FG in the final 2:44 of the ball-game.

It seems that these are going to be the growing pains that Michigan will endure this season. I think it's clear that Kate Thompson will have to shine, whether it's off the bench or not. But I'm more than satisfied with Roni's leadership (though I'm not surprised one bit). Against the 5th-ranked team in the nation, this ain't too devastating.

This 'n that:
- UM now holds a 3-2 all-time series advantage over the Musketeers
- Reported attendance was 1,579 (a bit sad...actually, the more I think about it, I guess it's right)
- Michigan was 60.7% from the field in the first half, and still trailed by three (47-44)

Game 1: at Michigan 88, Alcorn State 43

Michigan stormed out of the gate for the 2010-2011 season with a thwomping (albeit expected) of Alcorn State.

The Wolverines went lockdown on Alcorn State allowing just nine points in first half (45-9). The Braves went 4-for-29 in the first half, committed 18 turnovers and never made a trip to the free-throw stripe. I'd say that's a pretty good way to start the season.

Michigan would never let the lead go under 30 in the second half, however Coach Kevin Borseth notes that some fresh Wolverines "hit the wall at the end of the first half." That seems expected from the young guns, but there's no mercy when the Big Ten season starts (and even next game v. Xavier).

Michigan made it rain from 3-ball land with 38% of shots attempted being from behind the arc. Sophomore forward Kate Thompson was responsible for five of those triples, finishing with 15 points - leading all scores - for the night.

Borseth doesn't expect the majority of shots to come from long range, saying that Alcorn State gave them those shots. For some perspective though, 36% of all field goal attempts were three-pointers. I'm just saying.

From what I'm gathering, it looks like rebounds are going to be an issue all season. According to what's out there, Thompson is going to need to bulk up (as well as others I'm sure).

There's not much else to say about this one - the first real test comes Monday. It may be too much of one at this moment, but you never know.

New Season

As I mentioned last year, I've got a lot going on besides this blog and if anyone out there would be interested in helping out, let me know.  The season starts tonight and there a number of things to catch up from the off season.

Dayeesha Hollins to transfer

According to annarbor.com, Dayeesha Hollins is leaving Michigan to play for a team closer to home:

It didn't take long for Dayeesha Hollins to make her mark on Michigan's women's basketball team.

The freshman point guard gave the Wolverines a bonafide playmaker, using her natural abilities to become one of the Big Ten's top up-and-coming players.

But on Friday, Michigan coach Kevin Borseth announced that the Cincinnati native left the program to transfer to a school closer to home. Hollins has not decided where she will continue her collegiate career, according to a release issued Friday afternoon.

“It has been an extremely difficult process for me in coming to the decision to leave the University of Michigan,” Hollins said in a statement. “The commitment that I made to the team and the University weighed heavily on me. I have also made some wonderful friends and enjoyed my time on the beautiful campus. Unfortunately, I also went through some personal struggles being away from home.

I certainly wish Dayeesha the best, but as a fan of the team this news is disappointing. She had a great freshman season and has tremendous potential. 2011 may prove to be challenging as they will now only have 9 scholarship players.

Next: Miami

Michigan hosts Miami (Florida) tonight at 7:00pm in the WNIT semifinals. Miami finished tied for 10th in the ACC this year, but have played a tough schedule. They have home wins over North Carolina and Florida State and played Nebraska close. On the flip side, their only road wins against BCS schools were against Maryland and Providence (in the WNIT quarterfinals).

Miami is lead by guard Riquna Williams (19.4 ppg) and forward Shenise Johnson (19.0 ppg).

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students/seniors - I believe U of M students can get in free if they show their M card at Gate E.

WNIT

As almost anyone who follows the Michigan Women's Basketball Team knows, they have had a really strong run so far in the WNIT Tournament. With the exception of the first 25 minutes or so of the Toledo game, Michigan has pretty much dominated play in each game with strong defense and balanced scoring. They are taking care of the ball & distributing it well (the assist/turnover ratio is above 1.0 for the entire team over the four games).

Krista Phillips - 12.7 points/game 8.5 rebounds/game
Caremen Reynolds - 18.0 points/game
Veronica Hicks - 15.2 points/game
Dayeesha Hollins - 11.5 points/game

Lets hope this continues against Miami tomorrow night.

Michigan to face Kent State in the NIT

Michigan will host Kent State Friday night in the first round of the Women's NIT. Gametime is 7:00pm and tickets will be 6.00/adults and 4.00/students.

Next: Michigan State

Michigan faces second seeded Michigan State in the Big 10 tourney. There probably won't be any major surprises here - these two teams are very familiar with one another. There will be the usual questions - how will the Krista Phillips/Alyssa DeHaan match up play out? How will Michigan handle MSU's physical play? How effective will Hicks and Hollins be on offense?

Michigan State will be favored, but as mentioned yesterday - it can be tough to beat a team three times in a single season.

Michigan 67 Northwestern 54

Next: Northwestern

Michigan opens up the Big 10 Tournament as the number 7 seed and they face 10th seeded Northwestern. On the one hand, they've lost to Northwestern twice already this season so the Wildcats are probably feeling confident. On the other hand it can be really tough to beat a team three times in one season, particularly if there is not a large disparity in talent.

Northwestern is led by Amy Jaeschke who averages 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks per game. It will be interesting to see how Veronica Hicks plays - she often has good games against teams from her home state, Northwestern in particular.

If Michigan wins today, their task doesn't get any easier - they'll face 2nd seeded Michigan State.

Next: Michigan State

Tonight Michigan hosts Michigan State at Crisler Arena at 7:00pm. These teams are quite familiar with each other and even though Michigan State has had the edge the games have been much closer since Kevin Borseth took over as coach (including a win at Crisler his inaugural season).

This is a big game for the Wolverines - a win here and a strong finish to the season (including the Big 10 tournament) could lead to another post season invite. While an NCAA invitation seems like a long shot while they are sitting under .500 in conference play, it isn't out of the question - if they can manage one or two more big wins (Michigan State would qualify) and improve on the road (always a tough task).

Two more things to point out:

1.) $1 admission with this voucher

2.) There's much to say about the Michigan Daily article on Borseth's much-publicized coaching style. I'll chime this weekend, but the fire's already started in the forums.

Michigan 74, Minnesota 40

Welcome back Carmen!

After a nine-point performance at Northwestern that resulted in a loss, Reynolds seemed to return to form as the high-scorer in Sunday's rout. With freshman Dayeesha Hollins, the two exploded out of the gate after the break and extended a six-point halftime lead to 15. Reynolds had 14 points in the second half and finished with 19.

I only have the box score to work off from, but I think it's safe to say that the defense played a big part of this win also. The Wolverines limited Minnesota to .233 from the field, its lowest output this season and Michigan's best against an opponent.

Everybody did their part in today's game whether it was KP, who was one rebound shy of a double-double, or the bench where all but one were on the scoreboard.

The game lifts Michigan to 6-7 for the Big Ten season and 14-9 overall. After a 2-6 start in the conference, I'd say the Wolverines are now getting used to the grind, which doesn't surprise me given two freshmen starters. Today's win is particularly important as Michigan dives into three-game stretch against the top half of the conference (MSU, PSU and Wisco).

Michigan State, who also started poorly in the conference season, will most likely grab its fifth-straight win. That game is slated for 7p EST Thursday.

Update: Who dat?

Update 2: Spartans lost to Iowa, 77-66. Interesting.

What The -

I'm not even sure where to begin.

In case you haven't seen or heard, the Purdue Lady Boilermakers conquered the giant in Ohio State by the score of 63-61. That's not the bizarre part, however. Click the first sentence and scroll down for a bit. Don't worry - I'll wait.

Got it?

HOW ARE YOU THE NO. 4 COUNTRY IN THE NATION AND GIVE UP A 16-0 START TO AN INCONSISTENT PURDUE TEAM THAT JUST LOST TO MICHIGAN STATE BY 18?

Sorry, I just had to get that out.

I'm sure we'll hear a quote saying how you have to come to play each and every night in the Big Ten. After that, I'll let the recap speak for itself (and the boards). Another little tidbit, Purdue came in the contest with the lowest RPI of the conference; Ohio State obviously had the highest.

Speaking about recaps, here's one (Michigan Daily) about yesterday's Michigan victory over Indiana. One (Indiana Daily Student) from the opposition. And finally, a slideshow (AnnArbor.com) to see it.

Does Purdue's victory make me worry about the Wolverines' chances on February 28th? Eh, not really.

The Lady Boilermakers are still a really young team that struggle on the road (2-6 this season). According to the stats, they aren't a great offensive squad (third worst FG% in B10 contests), yet get the job done defensively as they hold a 5-5 record in conference play. It's too soon to look forward to that game, so we'll end it there for now.

A preview for Michigan at Illinois from Assembly Hall will be on its way later this week. Stay tuned.

Michigan 70, Indiana 56

Things I learned:
1. Blogging is hard. Apologies for not keeping up throughout the season.
2. Coach Borseth's parents have been married for 63 years. That's pretty amazing.
3. Michigan is an awesome team on the open floor.

All things were clicking for the Wolverines in the second half, sparked by the quick transition game Michigan is now known for. Falling behind by seven early in the period, the Wolverines put up 48, including 20 of those points from Ms. Veronica Hicks.

However, if it weren't for Carmen Reynolds, there may not have been an easy 70-56 victory. She had some timely three-balls to keep Michigan in it. She finished with 16 points for the night, and is averaging 15.8 ppg in the last five contests.

One of the keys of the game has to be stifling Indiana guard Jamie Braun in the second half. Braun had eight of the Hoosiers' 27 points in the first half, but had just one three-pointer thereafter in garbage time. In addition, Dayeesha Hollins juked the living daylights out of Braun for an easy lay-in during the second half.

Michigan also seemed like the aggressor in the contest, evidenced by the +10 margin on the offensive boards. The Wolverines also had seven more rebounds on the defensive end, but much of that can be attributed to Indiana's poor shooting.

(I would talk more about the first half, but I slept in over here on the west coast.)

That leaves Michigan looking at 11-8 for the season and 3-6 in Big Ten play. For the most part, there's still some time to make some headway, but not much room for error. Aside from Ohio State and Penn State, no team has really looked too convincing.

However, the Wolverines don't look too convincing either. As they sit at the bottom of the conference standings, they'll need to capitalize on the road and I believe they must win the showdown against Michigan State a few weeks away. A win against Penn State would be a great confidence boost in a challenging second half of the B10 season.

But reaching 70 for the first time since 2009, especially for a shooting team, is a good start.

Next: Ohio State

Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor tonight for a rematch of their game from a couple of weeks ago. Michigan. The Wolverines have struggled in conference play with a 2-5 record. Despite sitting in a tie for 9th place, a win would be a good opportunity to turn the season around a bit. Most of teams are still bunch fairly close together (Penn State is currently in 2nd at 5-2), so a few wins could move them up in the standings quickly.

Michigan 56, Ohio State 59

The Wolverines put up a much better fight against the Buckeyes than the Spartans. But it still wasn't enough as Jantel Lavender was Jantel Lavender on the inside. According to the box score, Krista Phillips was toyed around with around the block, having no points in 37 minutes of work.

Dayeesha Hollins, Jenny Ryan and Carmen Reynolds ended the game in double-figures. However, only two Ohio State players in double-figures was good enough for the win. This was the Buckeyes closest win in the Big Ten season thus far. Ohio State was limited to 40% from the field, its lowest this season

As many have already alluded to on the UMGoBlue.com boards, this team certainly has the talent. The defense seems to be gelling together slowly although it may have taken a step back against MSU (sidenote: I'm surprised no one has mentioned how key Kalisha Keane was in that contest). Once they gain the confidence to play more aggressively against the top teams in the Big Ten (most are only freshman, after all), we'll be discussing a different issue here.