The Mystery of Michigan

The final score was 79-69, merely a ten point loss for the Michigan Wolverines. Nothing to really panic about based off the score alone for a team that just ventured into the chaotic environment of Cameron Indoor on Duke University's campus. After all, the Blue Devils are a top ten team and have the best freshman in the country on their side. Jabari Parker and sophomore transfer Rodney Hood led the way for Duke in a game that Coach K's squad controlled from start to finish. The Blue Devils continue to play outstanding basketball and recovered nicely from their loss to Arizona this past week. Yet in the midst of Duke's seventh win, the performance by the Wolverines raised several questions that will need immediate answering if you're John Beilein.

Stauskas was ineffective against Duke's gritty defense

Will the players adjust to their new roles?

It's no secret that Michigan's style of play will take some getting used to for the players who are returning this season. After losing sharp-shooting Tim Hardaway, Jr. and do-it-all point guard Trey Burke to the NBA, the Wolverines offense certainly lacked the go-to scorers that last year's team presented. The role players from last year (specifically returning sophomores Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, and Nik Stauskas) must adjust to the fact that they now shoulder much more responsibility in every category. McGary had a very respectable game with fifteen points and fourteen rebounds while Stauskas was basically non-existent, scoring four points all of which were off of free throws. Robinson III added eight points and junior Jon Horford posted a goose egg in the scoring category while only playing six total minutes.

I will take nothing away from Duke, they deserved to win and clearly outplayed Michigan. However, Michigan did not have a veteran step up and take charge. The loss of Burke and Hardaway, Jr. showed in the lack of leadership and that's where the Wolverines will need to put in some work. In big games like last night, guys like Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III cannot afford to drop off. Both have big-game experience and have been stellar in the spotlight before. Yet the Wolverines appeared disjointed and immature under the pressure of the Cameron Crazies. John Beilein could have a long season ahead of him if no one emerges as an established leader on the floor.

Can Mitch McGary stay healthy/reach potential?

McGary has the potential to be the B1G's best center

Last night we got a little taste of what the 6'10, 250 pound sophomore is capable of. And while 15 points and 14 boards is nothing short of impressive, McGary didn't quite seem to play the type of game he could be capable of playing. Given his build, McGary can handle the ball and step out to fifteen feet with relative ease. However, last night's game consisted of the Michigan center settling for jump shots too often. With the quick feet and physicality that the All-American possesses, there was no reason McGary could not get down on the block and either A) score at will or B) get to the foul line.

That is a big part of how successful Michigan can be. Yes, McGary can hit jump shots and has proven his versatility in being able to do so. With that in mind, is McGary capable of going down to the block and exhibiting good post moves? The Big Ten this year doesn't possess more than a few great post defenders. If McGary develops a low post game as opposed to the high post/face up game he refers to now, Michigan could be deadly simply because their big man could be one of the hardest players in the conference to guard.

Will youth play a part in where Michigan finishes?

While Michigan's hopes of winning dwindled as the clock moved closer to zero, it became clear, as I said earlier, that Michigan did not have a veteran emerge in the late-game situation to give the team another breath of life. The Wolverines don't have many upperclassmen on hand with Jon Horford being the only junior and Jordan Morgan being the lone senior. Everyone else is a freshman or sophomore which will mean that the adjustment to the college game will have to come quickly for Beilein's young team.

Obviously success with youth is very possible. With the exception of Hardaway, Jr. who was a junior and Trey Burke who was a sophomore, the core of last year's National Championship team has returned. But with that in mind, players will have to adjust to life without the nation's best player and a first round draft pick. A loss to Duke in Durham is no reason to panic or even bat an eye if you take into account the fact that no team outside of the ACC has won at Cameron Indoor since 2000. Rather it's the way Michigan performed that could cause a little worry. Michigan is a good team and a contender for the Big Ten title once again. They have the necessary pieces, but can they all fall into place?