The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1184078
42 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2019 MICHIGAN BASKETBALL but it's a compliment to him. He's like that Pat Riley, that Erik Spoels- tra, Gregg Popovich type and Steve Fisher. Those guys are the basketball Mount Rushmore that I trust their opinion and I trust their basketball knowledge and experience." Howard said he wouldn't try to emulate Beilein, knowing their styles are different. The new U-M coach wants his teams to be more up- tempo, and they showed that in the early going. Beilein, meanwhile, had some words of wisdom for him when they met. "It's an incredible university," he told MLive.com. "We've got so many resources there to help you along, to make it work. I don't think he'll have any trouble building those relation- ships with all those guys. "They're great kids, and when you build relationships with all of them, they will be successful." — Chris Balas WOLVERINES TRY TO EXPLAIN SECOND-HALF LULL IN SEASON OPENER It was a tale of two halves for Mich- igan in its season-opening 79-71 tri- umph over Appalachian State Nov. 5, with almost everything going right for the Wolverines during the first 20 minutes. They shot 54.5 percent and took a 46-25 lead into the break, while hold- ing the Mountaineers to just 34.8 per- cent shooting from the floor. Appalachian State outscored the Maize and Blue 46-33 after halftime, however, and even strung together a 27-3 run that trimmed what had been a 30-point U-M lead down to four, before eventually falling by eight. "We'll learn and grow from this, and how we need to keep our foot on the pedal," senior center Jon Teske explained after the victory. "We need to share and move the ball and use the shot clock more, because we had some silly turnovers in the second half on plays that weren't there. "We were on fire and locked in during the first half, but needed to come out in the second half doing the same thing. It's about staying locked in mentally." "We didn't play the second half at the same pace we did the first — credit their zone [defense] and for not pushing the ball at the zone," ju- nior guard Eli Brooks added. "When- ever teams give us zone, there's a possibility of slowing up the pace. "We kind of fell in that same trap and started walking the ball up the court instead of pushing it like we did in the first half." — Austin Fox MISCELLANEOUS NOTES • Michigan's defense gave up 71 points to Appalachian State in its eight-point season-opening triumph Nov. 5, a total that only five oppo- nents surpassed last year against the Maize and Blue. The Mountaineers also connected on 46.0 percent of their field goals, a percentage that just five foes eclipsed last season versus Michigan. • S o p h o m o re g u a rd A d r i e n Nunez's five points were a career high. The only points the sophomore had ever scored occurred on a three- pointer in U-M's 69-46 blowout win at Indiana last year. • The Wolverines gave the ball away 17 times in their season-open- ing triumph, exceeding last year 's high of 16 (twice, first in their win over South Carolina Dec. 8 and then in their loss at Wisconsin Jan. 19). • Freshman guard Cole Bajema, Rivals.com's No. 98 overall prospect in the 2019 class, did not play against Appalachian State. • Senior center Jon Teske's 13 re- bounds were a new career best, surpassing his previous high of 12, which he accomplished twice last season (first in the Nov. 23 triumph over Chattanooga and then in the setback at Wisconsin Jan. 19). • Sophomore center Colin Castle- ton scored eight points in 11 min- utes versus App State, marking the second-most points he had ever reg- istered in a college tilt. The only time he posted more was when he tallied 11 in U-M's 82-53 blowout of Ne- braska on Feb. 28, 2019. — Austin Fox Senior center Jon Teske pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds against Appalachian State in the season opener. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL