What a colossal choke job against Vanderbilt

Submitted by 1VaBlue1 on March 18th, 2023 at 2:06 PM

They gave up a 9-0 run with barely more than a minute left.  Turnovers, fouls, bad defense, horrid inbounds passing, and just plain not handling the pressure.  This is how they lost 16 games this year...

Good effort with Jett and Kobe, but good god what way to choke away a game that was won.  JFC.

mfan_in_ohio

March 18th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^

These days a transfer or two is going to be part of just about every roster. Juwan looked at a team with Frankie and Dug at PG, and Kobe at SG. He decided Barnes wasn’t going to be a dependable rotation piece, so he went and got Llewellyn and looked like he was going to get Shannon. Then Collins transfers, M fucks up the Shannon transfer, and we’re back down to 3 dependable guards. Then Llewellyn plays subpar and blows out his knee. 

Juwan did what he could do to address the roster situation. The transfers were coming in to play backup minutes (maybe Shannon gets more, taking minutes from Jett). He should have had four solid pieces in the backcourt (plus Jett if needed) and then worked Dug in for a few minutes per game. Instead it was Kobe and Dug for 35 mpg and hope the sky doesn’t fall for the other 5.

If you want to blame Juwan for something, blame him for the disaster that was the 4 position all year. 

blueandmaizeballs

March 18th, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^

Again you don't understand how NCAA college basketball works.  Guys leave for money.  Pack got $800000 for 2 years to go to Miami so KSU has a bad coach cause he couldn't get him to stay.   Collins left because he either was butthurt or rumor has it ad ice from family told him to leave be suse they thought JL was replacing him at PG.  So keeping him was going to be hard.   Also how can you keep to guys from leaving early and getting drafted and 1 in the first round when that is their ultimate goal to make the league.  I am sure he expected one of them to stay considering the seasons they had but money talks.   There are certain schools that had 5 transfer come in some had more.  Some teams had many players leave.  That is just how college basketball is.  If some players think they should get more playing time they will leave or get a better offer from another team they might leave also.  You can't recruit 6 players every year just in case people leave.  Sometimes you get thrown in a bad situation and you are left scrambling for players.   Also if Caleb or Moussa would have told Juwan much earlier they were leaving they could have helped us also.   They waited until the last second to let them know.    Also having 3 guards Injured today did not help.  Also maybe some players don't develop like coaches think due to work ethic or some other thing.   Yes the season was disappointing but we had a big roster turnover and one of the youngest teams in the nation 

True Blue Grit

March 18th, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^

I'm still livid at him for that inexcusable turnover and foul with less than a minute left.  That screw up almost certainly cost us the game.  He couldn't possibly have done anything stupider.  Stops the clock and sends the other team to the FT line.  That's not on Juwan.  TWill needs to be shown the door.    

1145SoFo

March 18th, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^

Furthermore for a young team the NIT should be 23-24 preseason. Missing valuable learning opportunities for people you want contributing next year, unless the coaching staff is saying they want that to be TWill, which yikes.

Not to pile on the guy I wish him nothing but the best, this just isn't the game to throw minutes at him unless the coaching staff is checking out for the year too.

M_Born M_Believer

March 18th, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^

TWill's MASSIVE blunder with just under a minute to play was the tipping point.  Michigan had broken the press.  He had the ball at the top of the key and YoYo WAS WIDE OPEN IN  THE CORNER.  So what does TWill do?  Decides to play hero ball, starts dribbling the ball (even though he is a sub par ball handler) then promptly dribbles right into a triple team!!!!  With YoYo standing in the corner WIDE FLIPPING OPEN.

And if that is not enough, once he gets stripped of the ball, he FOULS the guy to stop the clock and gives Vandy the opportunity to score points.  IF this was a freshman, MAYBE just MAYBE I chalk it up to inexperience (although I balk at that cause most of these kids have played Bball for 8+ years.  Its not like they don't know what's going on...)

But for a 3rd year player and "starting" for 2 years to make such bone-headed plays (and this is NOT an isolated example) is mind numbing to see him still out on the court in critical situations...

blueandmaizeballs

March 18th, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^

How would you know if he is better then Twill.?   He hasn't played all season for a reason and he looked like he hardly knew what he was doing out there.   Yes I wanted someone else out there besides TWill but who.   Ye sit sucked be suse Juwan didn't trust anyone else but there really wasn't much to pick from.  Barnes must not be doing anything much in practice if he can't even get in for today's game. 

yoyo

March 18th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^

That collapse by TWill in particular the last two minutes was epic. I think he was directly involved with 3 turnovers, two of them he was completely responsible for. They need to find anyone to replace him. 

TheCube

March 18th, 2023 at 2:09 PM ^

TWill and Baker should not be playing for Michigan anymore. It's that simple. Very easily replaceable by portal transfers.

Khayat was a nice spark. Might have a good future here with that athleticism.

Dug and Tarris will be very good next year.

Hunter misses an easy bunny to seal the game b/c he's never good enough when it counts.

Bring back a motivated Jett and Kobe. Hunter might as well come back b/c he's not going anywhere.

That ending is Michigan 2023 Basketball in a nut shell.

At least we're not Purdue.

Rico

March 18th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^

Baker can only hit open catch and shoot threes and contributes basically nothing else on either side of the court. You can find a walk-on to fill that role. Can't score on the move or off the dribble from outside or inside the arc, limited ball-handler and passer, liability on defense. Prefer that scholarship went to someone else.

1145SoFo

March 18th, 2023 at 3:20 PM ^

Dude I'm disappointed too that HD hasn't noticeably improved, but he's had multiple game sealing moments throughout his career, not to mention how near his IU buzzer beater was. Not sure how you come away with that of all criticisms from Hunters game. This game, yea he missed bad, but it definitely isn't a defining trait.

blueandmaizeballs

March 18th, 2023 at 10:36 PM ^

HD has improved his game but not leaps and bounds because many forget he was 19 years old as a freshman and I don't think he was a youn 19.   He was fully developed physically already.   So not much for him to improve upon.   He had a 3 point game that is decent is a good FT shooter for a center and can pass.  His athleticism is what sets him back as he doesn't have much.   But he still is a good player and top 5 in the Big Ten.   If Hunter was say 18 when he came in and not fully developed physically and still had the same year as he had as a freshman then I think he. Would have improved much more.  I definitely want him back for next year along with Jett and Kobe add in Dug and a good 4 from transfer with another good guard then we will be a dam good team next year.   

blueandmaizeballs

March 18th, 2023 at 10:29 PM ^

Baker isn't a bad player.  Coming off an injury and surgery to start the season.  He is better then what he showed and the first game of the NIT shows he can play good.   Now should be be a starter no?   But he can come off the bench and be a shooter and have the confidence he had vs. Toledo and he will be a decent player.  All we needed was a good starter at the 4 and a good 6rh man and this team is in the Big Dance probably looking at another Sweet 16 app     

Durham Blue

March 18th, 2023 at 2:09 PM ^

Complete ass.  Needless to say we easily win if Bufkin played today.  There is one guy that can handle the ball (Dug) and another that thinks he can handle the ball (TWill).  I'm surprised Vandy didn't press us more.