In arguably the most anticipated game of the college basketball season, #1 Michigan lost its second game of the campaign 68-63 to #3 Duke. This game lived up to the hype as a close battle between two juggernauts that could very well find themselves matched up again in April for the national championship. It was physical, gritty ballgame on both sides. Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer was outstanding for Duke, it’s easy to see why he is the Wooden Award favorite. Both defenses were outstanding, but Duke’s ability to out-rebound Michigan proved to be the difference.
Rebounding Woes
The Blue Devils finished with a 41-28 advantage on the boards, including 13-8 on the offensive glass. Duke turned that offensive rebounding differential into 18 second-chance points compared to 11 for Michigan. It’s a rare sight for this Michigan team to get beat on the glass, but Duke out-hustled them throughout the night.
Aday Mara got into early foul trouble, which contributed to the rebounding disparity. His three first half fouls put Michigan in a bind. Mara has to be more disciplined early in games, he is too valuable a player to be on the bench with consistent foul trouble. He finished with only 4 rebounds to go along with 10 points in just over 21 minutes.
A Dismal Night Shooting
Despite rebounding issues, Michigan found themselves right in this game. Unfortunately, they had one of their worst shooting performances of the season. Credit is owed to the Duke defense, which is one of the best in the country. But, Michigan missed countless open looks tonight that they normally make. Coming into the game, the Wolverines were shooting 51.4% from the field and 36.1% from the three on the season. Tonight, they were only 40% from the field and 24% from deep on 25 attempts.
Elliot Cadeau struggled mightily, scoring eight points on only 1/8 from the field. He added six assists and only turned the ball over once, but he missed several wide-opem three’s that he’s been making all season. Cadeau does not need to be a primary scorer for Michigan to win, but he cannot afford to shoot 1/8.
The trio of Roddy Gayle Jr., Nimari Burnett, and Trey McKenney combined for only four points on 2/11 shooting. LJ Cason put up seven in 14 minutes, and should have played more in the second half. Michigan’s guards had their worst combined outing of the season by far. The guard play must be better to win against elite opponents like Duke.
Yaxel Lendeborg Shines
The biggest bright spot coming out of this game for Michigan is Yaxel Lendeborg. He shined on a big stage with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Duke had trouble containing Lendeborg all game, further proving how much of a mismatch he presents. He arguably should have been even more involved offensively in the second half. As much of an unselfish player as Lendeborg is, he has the ability to take over games. On a night where the guards struggled to score, Lendeborg kept Michigan in the fight.
Next Up
Fortunately, this game does not impact the Big Ten race and should serve as an excellent learning opportunity for Michigan. Duke is elite defensively and disrupted Michigan’s offense all night. In an NCAA Tournament setting, Michigan failed to make enough shots or rebound well enough to win. But, it’s hard to imagine this team having both of those things happen again in the same game. At the end of the day, Michigan only lost by five in a game where they played very poorly. Let this game be a chance for growth heading into March. There is no reason to be down or doubt the championship ceiling of this Michigan group. Regroup and prepare for Tuesday against Minnesota and a battle for the Big Ten title on Friday night against Illinois.
