The Michigan Wolverines were hoping to pick up a massive win at Purdue on Friday. Instead, it was a complete disaster filled with a season-high 22 turnovers. Here are takeaways from the loss:
The Michigan Wolverines were hoping to pick up a massive win over the Purdue Boilermakers on the road. Instead, it was a complete disaster filled with too many turnovers, missed shot after missed shot, and the worst loss so far for Dusty May in his first year in Ann Arbor.
Here are takeaways from the 91-64 blowout loss to Purdue.
Turnovers are too much overcome (again)
Turnovers have been a concern for the Wolverines all season, and that was the case on Friday. Michigan had five turnovers in the first three minutes and 10 giveaways at halftime en route to totaling a season-worst 22 turnovers.
You can get away with turnovers against certain opponents, but it’s impossible to compete with the upper echelon of the Big Ten if these unforced errors continue. The Wolverines are 332nd in the nation in turnovers, averaging 14.6 per game.
Slow start proves costly
Michigan got off to an extremely slow start for a second straight game and similarly to turnovers, it’s hard to get away with that against quality opponents. The Wolverines trailed 13-2 before the first media timeout, and it was a blowout, 51-26, at halftime.
Despite scoring just five points in the first eight minutes against Northwestern last weekend, the Wolverines escaped with an 80-76 win in overtime. The same couldn’t be said at Purdue, as Michigan fell down in the early stages and never recovered.
Transition defense has to show more fight
In addition to a poor offensive performance, the Wolverines were abysmal on the defensive end as well. Purdue was able to find success in transition from the jump, posting 18 points off turnovers and 13 fast-break points in the first half alone.
It’s difficult to get stops on a consistent basis when the turnovers are so out of control, but the Wolverines didn’t have nearly enough defensive intensity, leading to Purdue getting wide open shots at the rim and from the perimeter all night long.
Three-point shooting goes completely cold
The Wolverines have been a good shooting team for the most part, ranking 32nd in the country with 37.7 percent from three-point range this season. Michigan was freezing cold against Purdue, shooting 1-of-16 from beyond the arc in the first half and 6-of-29 for the game.
Up next
Michigan wraps up January with a home game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Monday at 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. Then, the Wolverines will hit the road once again next Saturday for a contest at Rutgers at 3:30 p.m. on FOX.