The Daily men’s basketball beat writers offer their predictions of Michigan’s postseason fate:
The Michigan Daily Men's Basketball Beat
Daily Sports Writers
Men's Basketball
The title game made clear that those issues aren’t totally resolved. But there were some improvements, tweaks that came out against lesser competition. And perhaps the road to another March run is taking those tweaks a step further — something the Wolverines have no shortage of motivation to do.
Well, it happened again.
For the third time in the last month or so, the Michigan men’s basketball team took on Michigan State, and for the third time, the Wolverines started strong, got out to a lead and fell apart at the end.
For the third time in three weeks, the Wolverines lost a high-stakes battle with their in-state rivals.
CHICAGO — Isaiah Livers sat barefoot in front of his locker.
One shot doesn’t lose a game. Neither does one player. That was the refrain echoed in Michigan’s locker room afterwards, and it’s true. But Poole did himself no favors, taking nine threes and making just two of them as Beilein stewed on the bench.
Michigan will have a rematch of last season's first-round matchup, as it will face Montana on Thursday.
CHICAGO — Cassius Winston accelerated into the lane and laid in Michigan State’s 47th and 48th points of the day. After being down by 13 points just 10 minutes ago, the Spartans had come back to tie the game with 7:15 to play.
When I walked over, all lowered their laptops in unison. This is not a public operation. Washington and assistant coach Luke Yaklich will take me through their scouting process, but neither dares to divulge a single detail about Michigan State.
CHICAGO — Kenny Goins sits back in his chair in the corner of the Michigan State locker room, fresh off his team’s methodical win over Wisconsin.