3-point play: Michigan's lack of communication a major concern

By Ashley Bastock / The Blade
Thu, 23 Jan 2020 16:02:21 GMT

ANN ARBOR — When Michigan lost to Penn State 72-63 Wednesday night, the Wolverines fell into a season-worst, three-game losing skid.

In fact, this is now the program’s worst losing streak since Michigan dropped five straight in 2014-15.

Michigan struggled shooting the ball, especially in the second half, and ended at 35 percent from the field for the game. Penn State shot 48 percent.

Here are three takeaways:

1. Lack of communication

After the game, Juwan Howard was frank in his assessment of how his team played. There were too many open shots that Michigan gave up, and most of them came as a result of a lack of focus or communication on the defensive end.

It was so pervasive the Michigan coach had to call timeouts within the first three minutes of both the first and second halves.

As Howard said himself, for it to be Jan. 22 and his team to be making those kinds of mistakes is baffling.

“It's very challenging to have to come up here and talk about that we're having a lack of communication, and we're not communicating enough, and I don't understand why,” Howard said. “At times, I see — not see, but hear, our guys in the locker room with a lot of energy, and they get along very well with one another. They talk to each other. I don't see them always picking up the phone. Sometimes you'll see guys texting each other and they're standing right next to one another. This group, they look like they enjoy playing with one another. So, it's too late in the season.

“I have to beg our guys to communicate on defense — and not just on the defensive end, on the offensive end, too. It just so happens that it's a lost art in the game and we have to bring it back. Yes, I'm old school. But in order for us to forge ahead, and move forward, and improve, communication has to be a part of the process. That has surprised me that some of our guys don't like talking on defense or assume that a player knows exactly what the other opponent is going to do, and assume that your teammate knows that he's got to pick him up on the defensive end. There's a lot of guessing going on, and I just don't understand it.”

2. Someone besides Simpson needs to step up

And in more ways than one. Zavier Simpson played all 40 minutes on Wednesday night, the fourth time this season he’s played 40 or more minutes. He led Michigan with 18 points and six assists.

Howard said after the game he always worries about the load on the senior point guard, before quipping Simpson probably would have strangled him if he tried to take him out against Penn State.

But it’s not just Simpson’s offensive output — right now, he seems to be Michigan’s only source of energy. What he brings intangibly is maybe more important than any statistic he adds to box scores. Michigan desperately needs to find an additional source.

“We really rely on X to get us going and bring energy,” guard Eli Brooks said. “And I think that's where moving forward we can do a better job as a team with more people bringing that fire. But being uncomfortable with that position and being vulnerable like X is, it's tough. Some people don't lead that way. And I think we need more people to step up and lead that way.”

3. This game underscores how Livers’ absence is hurting this team

Michigan is struggling to find someone who can create offense for himself or others, other than Simpson, on a consistent basis. This is just the latest example.

Livers was poised for a breakout year coming into this season, and answered the call throughout the early part of the season. He won’t be a cure all, but his return should give Michigan more options and allow for better spacing.

The 6-foot-7 junior is Michigan’s best 3-point shooter, making 29 of his 58 attempts so far this season. He was also averaging 13.6 points per game at the time of his injury (a mark that currently has him trailing only Jon Teske at 14.0) and was shooting 50.9 percent from the field.

With each loss, his return only gets more urgent for the Wolverines.

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