Michigan’s loss to Sunday was easily pinned on another disappointing defensive performance. The Wolverines surrendered 75 points in 60 possessions, their second worst defensive showing of the season.
Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky (25 points) went wild on the inside and his teammates managed to hit just enough threes to buoy the Badgers when Kaminsky didn’t have the ball. Michigan failed to force turnovers (just two) against Wisconsin’s disciplined offense and struggled on the defensive end for most of the game, except for a stretch midway through the second half.
There are very few, if any, individual positives to take from this defensive score card. Every Michigan player that logged at least 10 minutes was very bad defensively. This wasn’t the case of one player asleep at the wheel, Michigan’s entire defense was asleep at the wheel.
- Caris LeVert did a decent job sticking with Traevon Jackson (1-of-6 shooting), but Jackson’s penetration led to some prime opportunities for other Wisconsin players (six assists). LeVert’s nasty habit of ball watching when shots go up to the rim cost Michigan time and again in the first half. He’s been a great rebounder in recent games, but that was an ugly habit to reappear.
- Glenn Robinson III forced a team-high eight field goal misses, but he also gave up a team-high 6.5 field goals. Robinson did draw a charge against Dekker, one of Wisconsin’s two turnovers of the game.
- All six of Jordan Morgan’s field goals allowed were to Frank Kaminsky (five twos and a three). Morgan played a wonderful defensive game a month ago in Madison, so it was disappointing to see such a lackluster performance in the rematch. This is the second straight game that Morgan has struggled on the defensive end.
- Derrick Walton is another player who graded out very well in the first meeting, but struggled in round two. He got bullied a bit more by Wisconsin’s physicality, but while Albrecht graded out better that seems like it was due to limited playing time.
- Nik Stauskas had a lower usage rate than many of his teammates but gave up two costly threes in the first four minutes of the game. While those set the tone, he wasn’t credited with any other allowed field goals.
- Jon Horford graded out as Michigan’s best defender by a wide margin, but he picked up four fouls in nine minutes — hence the four made free throws allowed. Fouls have always been Horford’s Achilles’ heel and he struggled to keep his arms up straight against Kaminsky.
- The 10 made free throws were assigned to ‘Team’ due to Michigan’s late game fouling.
PREVIOUS DEFENSIVE SCORE SHEETS:
- Defensive Score Sheet: Wisconsin at Michigan
- Defensive Score Sheet: Michigan at Iowa
- Defensive Score Sheet: Nebraska at Michigan
- Defensive Score Sheet: Michigan at Indiana
- Defensive Score Sheet: Purdue at Michigan
- Defensive Score Sheet: Michigan at Michigan State
- Defensive Score Sheet: Iowa at Michigan
- Defensive Score Sheet: Michigan at Wisconsin
- Defensive Score Sheet: Penn State at Michigan
Find the full calculations regarding the defensive score sheet here. The primary stats that may be unfamiliar are:
- FM – Forced field goal miss (includes blocks)
- FTO – Forced Turnover (steals, charges taken)
- FFTA – Forced missed Free Throw Attempt
- DFGM – Allowed Defensive Field Goal Made
- DFTM – Allowed Free Throw Made
Defensive Rating (DRtg) is calculated based on the stops and scoring possessions assigned to the player, it’s an estimated measure of points per 100 possessions.
