Second Time's a Charm: Up-and-Coming Michigan Upsets Duke

A few weeks ago, coming off an impressive upset of UCLA, Michigan was handed a reminder by the Duke Blue Devils that their basketball program wasn't quite all the way back just yet. A second chance -- this time at home -- was all the Wolverines needed.

On the strength of DeShawn Sims' 28-point and 12-rebound effort and Duke's abysmal long-range shooting, Michigan basketball took another huge step in their rebuilding process with an 81-73 victory today.

Duke was too reliant on the outside shot. They were a terrible 7-of-33 from three-point territory, and this reliance also contributed to their only visiting the free throw line six times (they made four). The Blue Devils, however, will be just fine. It was their second straight road game, and we all know they don't play on the road outside their conference often. They'll rarely shoot so poorly from three, and you can count on Coach Krzyzewski stressing the importance of offensive variety after this loss.

The real story in this game was Michigan. I had already written their program was on its way back.

Now, everyone has to take note. Their only two losses this season came to Duke -- which they obviously just avenged -- and on the road in Maryland. They've now beaten two highly touted programs in UCLA and Duke, and the young roster will only get better as they gather confidence. After this game, you can bet they'll have a swagger at home. This is the kind of game that makes a young team think, "no one comes in here and wins."

As long as they don't take a step backwards at home against Eastern Michigan next week, Michigan is a sleeper team in the Big Ten. It would behoove Michigan State, Purdue, and Wisconsin to keep their eyes on the young ones from Ann Arbor. They are here to stay.

A final note: Jay Bilas was working the game for ESPN. He was very critical of Michigan for finally showing Tommy Amaker the door before last season. You know, because they are friends and both went to Duke, I'm guessing. John Beilein's got this program headed towards the top of the Big Ten in just over a year. I wonder if he still thinks it was a bad move? If so, he's certainly in the minority.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-06-2008 @ 6:20PM

Wade said...

You'd think Coach K would have been stressing the importance of variety after the last 4 or 5 years. Duke has lived and eventually died on the 3 for too long. Ever since they've gone to the extreme of relying on the 3 (pretty much since Boozer and Battier left), they have struggled in the tournament. It's pretty damn hard to shoot well for 6 games straight.

12-06-2008 @ 9:28PM

JD said...

Wade you are 100% correct and it actually goes deeper than that. It's funny somebody on this site made post about how improved Duke would be and that they would challenge UNC for the ACC tittle but folks, duke is not any better.

They have the same relative composition. They lost the only guy on their team capable of getting to the FT line and getting lay-ups when they need a basket in crunch (Nelson). Their guard rotation is Scheyer-Smith-Paulus instead of Nelson-Scheyer-Paulus (and smith some). So they keep the same defensive athleticism and lose shooting. They still get an embarassing amount out of their post and Singler starts at the 4. Singlers a talent but he's a SF not a 4 but they cant play him thereand henderson at the 2 b/c of how atrocious Zoubek, L Thomas and M Pulmee are.

Pat Forde owes ESPN a retraction and Duke fans need to really think about bball. youre team is the exact same as last year: a 2-3 seed that cant get to the final four b/c of a now routine systematic flaw.

12-07-2008 @ 8:54AM

gary watkins said...

as long as coach k continues to give these big, slow, setshotshooting, no defense playing white boys the majority of the playing time, especially as he still has no inside presence to speak of, he will continue to get our butts kicked when we face the more athletic teams on the schedule. plumlee will never develop as long as he's pulled after one minute in each half. olek cyz is as athletic as anyone we have but he cannot develop sitting next to coach k. if i were elliott williams i would not only transfer, i'd transfer NOW. he's better right now as a raw freshman than either sheyer or paulus because along with his high hoops i.q. he can hold his only physically and athletically with any guard in the country. these are the reasons k only gets second line recruits like Zoubek now. these kids are smart enough to know that he WILL recruit you but he wont PLAY you if you're not the right skin tone. the fact that Zoubek starts and plays AT ALL should tell us just how desperate k is to keep the status quo. gerald henderson needs to either play or sit down, it's just that simple but how can you get any confidence going when the head coach is sitting there with the hook in his hand for anyone not named paulus, sheyer or zoubek. notice, however i didn't mention singler because singler is a BALLER and nolan smith is a STUD. wake up coach or its second round and done, AGAIN!!!!!!!!

12-10-2008 @ 3:15PM

jaysway18 said...

I originally posted this on the other article but Im moving it over as a public service before the stupid gets too thick in here. I will say though, Im enjoying the racism and overall ignorance of these posts.
Here we go:
Typical short-sighted, over-simplified look at the wonder that is Duke basketball. Allow me to expand your perspective a bit. Yes, when Duke becomes a spread it and chuck it team relying on nothing but 3 pointers, they become vulnerable to a loss just like any other team would if they only had one dimension to their offense. Duke is at their best when they are getting their 3's off of penetration, offensive rebounds and as a secondary break option. Dribble, Drive and Kick is the foundation of any winning college team right now (eg. last year's national title game participants). Duke just settled for passing around the perimeter and waiting for good shots instead of attacking the basket and then getting great looks. Check out these numbers: 21, 49, 32, 47, 25, 23, 19, 26. These are the free throws attempted during Duke's 8 wins. During their one loss, they shot 6 and made 4.
The ignorant will rush to judgment and say that this year's team is the same as last. The informed will recognize that this year's team simply played like last year's model for one night.
As to the racism: K sat a white, 3 yr starter (Paulus) for nolan smith because Smith is better. period.