Michigan

Michigan basketball enters ‘self work’ week between marquee matchups

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2024

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Michigan basketball enters ‘self work’ week between marquee matchups

There’s nothing wrong with self-improvement and that’s exactly what this week is all about for Michigan basketball.

The No. 14 Wolverines (8-2, 2-0 Big Ten) have gotten off to a largely impressive start in the Dusty May era, but their seven-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

U-M held a 15-point first half lead before it got bludgeoned by 33 points in the middle of the game. It then chipped away at its 18-point deficit in the final nine minutes and had multiple looks in the final 60 seconds to tie or take the lead, but none fell and Michigan lost to Arkansas, 89-87.

It was U-M’s second neutral site loss to a potential tournament team from a Power Four conference by a single bucket (U-M lost 72-70 to Wake Forest last month). While neither loss in a vacuum is anything to freak out about, the common themes causing Michigan problems throughout the contests are becoming perfectly plain.

“I think you know the answer to that,” May laughed Friday morning when asked about his points of emphasis. “Two things are keeping you from being your absolute best, so we’re trying to be creative fixing those things.

“Attacking them in film, attacking them in individual work, attacking them in team concepts. Full speed ahead, everything we have in the tank to fix these things.”

Michigan’s next opponent is No. 17 Oklahoma (9-0) next Wednesday at the Jordan Invitational in Charlotte.

Get more shots, limit more shots

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but U-M is trying to cut down its turnovers.

If it sounds repetitive, it’s only because it is, because when Michigan shoots the ball, it’s simply elite.

May’s group is No. 7 in the country in 2-point shooting (61.0%) and No. 84 in the country from behind the arc (35.9%) according to KenPom. The problem is it’s only shooting the ball on just more than 78% of its possessions because it ranks No. 334 out of 355 times, turning the the ball over on 21. 4% of its possessions.

The other glaring issue, U-M is still winning on the boards. The Wolverines are rated No. 34 in the country in offensive rebounding rate (36.2% of missed shots) but are giving up too many second chances on the other end, allowing opponents to grab 32.6% of their misses, good for No. 276 in the nation.

“Those are exactly the two things,” forward Will Tschetter said. “We looked at KenPom, we’re an elite team in almost every facet. … We watched every single turnover we had in that game and how we can fix it, watched every single board we didn’t grab defensively and how we could have fixed that. Then emphasize that to a ‘T’ during practice.”

Tschetter and Nimari Burnett, the Wolverines two main holdovers from the previous regime, say that the current staff puts a greater emphasis on analytics than the previous one.

Its why May and company can live with some of the aggressive turnovers on outlets up court, or when someone is trying to make the extra pass. But when there’s a sloppy live ball turnover that results in a pick-six?

Well that needs to stop immediately.

“This gives us a few days to spend on us,” May said of U-M’s eight day break between games, the longest stretch of the season. “We needed this week of practice, even though our guys are busy outside of this (with finals) we needed this to be able to really put a lot of teeth into fixing the things that need to be fixed.”

‘Same level of urgency’

Michigan has held double-digit leads at some point in just about every game.

It did against Wisconsin, Iowa and Arkansas, yet in all three of those games Michigan allowed the opponent to get back within one possession or take the lead. Twice, U-M lived to tell the tale. The third time was not the charm.

“We have to stay focused longer, we have to continue to fight when we have the lead,” May said. “With the same level of urgency.”

The good news is all the individual pieces appear to be there. Danny Wolf comes off a near triple-double and is looking like a Big Ten Player of the Year candidate. After a slow start, Vlad Goldin is averaging 20 points and 7.5 rebounds over the past four games. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Tre Donaldson are both averaging 12 points per game and U-M’s bench whether it’s Will Tschetter or Sam Walters has shooters and energy to spare.

However, even with that, Michigan has allowed more 10-0 run than any other team in the country. Much of that happens because of giveaways and not securing boards.

“I know at home the magic formula is the timeout,” May said. “We have to play basketball, can’t turn it over, cant throw the pick-sixes that lead to easy baskets, those are energizer plays. So yeah, the pace we play at, the style we play, we’re succeptible to runs but we’re also capable of stretching leads.

“There’s a give and take with every style of play.”

Ten games into the season, the style of play U-M is employing does not seem to be a problem. Execution at times, is lacking. But part of that is still to be expected as a group that hasn’t been together yet as a complete unit for even six months has navigated a rather difficult schedule with few blemishes.

May is pleased, but not exuberant, about where his team is. He’s said multiple times this year that he could probably plan a little bit better for today, but that it wouldn’t prepare his teams as well for the long run. It’s a fine balance between tweaking playing rotations, emphasizing points of weakness and keeping the momentum all moving forwards.

But the Wolverines have done that 10 games into 2024-25. Now, in self improvement week, they want to take another step.

“We do respond to failure pretty well,” May said of what he’s learned of this group early. “Wake Forest, we came back with the mindset of being eager to fix what needed to be fixed. It seems like after our second loss, we’re in the same mindset.”

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

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Showers, thunderstorms expected to hit SE Michigan Thursday — What to know

Published

5 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Showers, thunderstorms expected to hit SE Michigan Thursday — What to know

4Warn Weather Alert issued for Thursday afternoon, evening

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Thursday afternoon and evening in Metro Detroit.

A 4Warn Weather Alert was issued for the afternoon and evening of March 26 due to the threat of severe storms across Southeast Michigan.

Latest forecast –> A warmer Wednesday across Metro Detroit before severe weather threat arrives Thursday

Here’s what to expect:

Timeframe

3 p.m. to 9 p.m. is the wide window, but latest model data is trending to pull the more widespread severe threat through between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Where storms will hit

There is still uncertainty as to how far north the instability will reach. From I-696/I-96 south, there is a slight (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather. A marginal (level 1) risk is from I-696 to around I-69.

Damaging winds, tornado probabilities

All threats are on the table, but hail and tornadoes will be the most significant.

Hail: Conditions will be favorable for large hail (up to 2 inch/tennis ball-sized) even in the marginal risk area.
Wind: Damaging wind potential will be little greater closer to the Ohio state line. However, most of the area will be at risk for isolated damaging wind gusts greater than 60 mph.
Tornadoes: Tornado probabilities are a little higher in our southern communities, but isolated strong (EF-2+) tornadoes are not out of the question across much of Southeast Michigan.
Flooding: Heavy downpours are possible, but flash flood risk remains low.

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Experts reveal where Michigan’s gas comes from and why pump prices continue to rise

Published

17 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Experts reveal where Michigan’s gas comes from and why pump prices continue to rise

LANSING, Mich. — No matter where Michiganders go, they’re paying more to fill up, but experts say there’s a lot that goes into those rising prices.

According to AAA, Michigan’s gas price average hit $4.01 on Tuesday, which is about $1.10 higher than a month ago.

The prices echo what’s being paid for crude oil, which sits just below $100 a barrel.

That’s being driven by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for the world’s oil.

But what Michigan drivers are putting in their car isn’t impacted by that, at least not when it comes to transportation of the oil used in domestic gasoline.

“You have some oil coming from Canada, you have oil coming from literally out in the middle of the Gulf of America, as we call it today, coming up from Texas, it comes on pipelines from out west, from the Dakotas.,” Michigan Petroleum Association President Mark Griffin said.

The U.S. is a net exporter of oil, meaning it produces more than it uses, but even with a large domestic supply, high prices are the result of basic economics.

“It’s much like if you were to buy a share of stock from a company today at a hundred bucks and we find out tomorrow that they’re the only source for this widget that we all have to have and their stock rises up to $200,” Griffin said. “The company did nothing unique on that day, but their stock went up and now it’s worth more. That same thing happens to us with crude oil.”

Griffin, who also represents convenience store owners, says there’s not much gas stations can do.

“The typical gas station, about 70% of their gross sales is motor fuel, but it’s only 30% of their profit,” he said. “Retailers have to adjust their prices first to be able to pay for replacement costs. If you’re buying 10,000 gallons at a time and the price goes up 50, 70 cents a gallon, like we’ve seen, you have to raise your prices now to be able to afford that next load or you’ll go out of business.”

Other pressures facing fuel include the annual switch to the summer blend of gas that can temporarily lower supply and boost prices.

Michigan’s gas tax structure also changed this year, leading to a price increase, according to Griffin.

To stay competitive, Griffin says many gas stations do try to sell below cost, hoping to ease the burden and bring customers in.

“Our in-store sales go down because people literally just don’t have the money in their pocket to spend inside the store,” he said. “That’s one reason why we would much rather see these costs go down.”

So, there’s not much drivers can do to escape the high prices, but AAA has tips.

“Now is a really good time for drivers to consider shopping around,” AAA Michigan Spokesperson Adrienne Woodland said. “They may want consider paying cash for gasoline. Some retailers charge more if you use a credit card. Now is also a great time for drivers to enroll in fuel reward savings programs”

Otherwise, both Griffin and Woodland believe gas prices will remain volatile alongside oil prices, so it’s not clear whether they will come down any time soon.

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Kyle Whittingham is dreaming big for Michigan football; it’s doable

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Kyle Whittingham is dreaming big for Michigan football; it’s doable

Kyle Whittingham is the new head coach of Michigan football following Sherrone Moore’s firing.
Whittingham believes the team can compete for a Big Ten championship in his first year without a rebuild.
Michigan still has many talented players, including quarterback Bryce Underwood and running back Savion Hiter.
The new coaching staff plans to implement a physical, run-heavy offense and a versatile, turnover-focused defense.

Each day Kyle Whittingham walks into Schembechler Hall, he is reminded of Michigan football’s tremendous power. The program he now leads possesses a rich tradition, abundant resources and immense brand recognition.

“I mean, it’s all here,” he said last week at the outset of spring practice.

A convincing case can be made that the Wolverines’ built-in advantages have diminished the impact of their own self-inflicted controversies, which stirred intense turmoil and caused reputational damage but did not lead to complete devastation. Even in the turbulent wake of former coach Sherrone Moore’s shocking firing this past December, college football’s winningest program weathered a destabilizing leadership change and remained relatively unscathed.

In this era of mass player movement, the Wolverines managed to retain many of their top contributors and the bulk of their 2026 signing class, which was ranked 11^th-best in the country by 247Sports. Whittingham, in fact, is so bullish about Michigan’s new crop of freshmen that he told reporters “a lot of those guys are going to help out right away.”

Following his awkward, bitter divorce from Utah – the school where he coached in some capacity for the past 32 years – the 66-year-old Whittingham understands that he landed in a fortunate situation at a place he calls “one of the pinnacles of college football.” It’s why he has already set his mind on achieving lofty goals in his first season in Ann Arbor.

“At Michigan,” Whittingham said, “I would say if you’re not thinking Big Ten championship every year, then something’s wrong.”

Whittingham has reason to believe he can completely bypass the rebuilding phase that usually accompanies a regime change and complete organizational reboot. The team he inherited, after all, won nine games and remained in contention for a College Football Playoff berth until halfway through the third quarter of a 27-9 loss to Ohio State in the regular-season finale.

It was a rather impressive achievement considering Michigan was led by Moore, a flawed, inexperienced coach who still seemed out of his depth in his second year in charge. There is reason to assume Whittingham is capable of producing even better results given that he is more seasoned and successful than his disgraced predecessor. Eight seasons with 10 or more victories during Whittingham’s 21-year tenure at Utah’s helm support that supposition. The Utes, Whittingham noted, were a “more of a development” program populated with lower-tier recruits.

Michigan is not that.

The Wolverines have a strong talent base loaded with players other elite programs coveted. Bryce Underwood, the team’s sophomore quarterback, was the top high school prospect in the 2025 class. Savion Hiter, a five-star freshman, was rated the No. 2 running back in the nation as a high school senior. They headline a large cohort of blue-chippers that dot a roster returning 63% of its production from last season, a share that is among the 20 largest in the country, according to ESPN. With 10 starters back, including seven on offense, the transition should be relatively smooth.

While defensive coordinator Jay Hill noted that that Whittingham and his new staff will have to build their “own identity” and a new “culture,” the football philosophy appears similar to the one Moore, and his mentor Jim Harbaugh, espoused.

Whittingham, just as they did, said he wants the Wolverines to be “physically tough” and control the line of scrimmage. In Whittingham’s final season at Utah, the Utes finished second in the country in rushing, averaging 266.3 yards per game on the ground. Much in the same way Michigan has done for years, they feature their tight ends in the passing game and rely on a healthy diet of play-action throws.

“They’ll pack it in and pound you and they’ll spread you out and throw it,” said Hill, who was BYU’s DC the past three seasons and matched wits with Michigan’s new OC Jason Beck last year, when he was at Utah.

Hill noted that the offense is versatile, much like his own defensive scheme, which he likened to the one Michigan ran under Jesse Minter during its run to a CFP championship in 2023. Minter’s system, which had NFL roots and included a menu of coverages, multiple fronts and packages of simulated pressures, was a huge success; it allowed the fewest points and yards per game in the country that year. Michigan also created the fourth-most takeaways. As Hill watched the Wolverines back then, he noted, “That defense looks just like us.”

BYU, under Hill, then began to resemble them in results. Over the past two years, the Cougars forced 53 turnovers, the fifth-highest total in the nation during that span.

The numbers, Hill said, show that his scheme “works.”

“We believe emphatically that it is the best system in the country,” he added.

Hill is eager to prove it. Much like his boss, he sees no point in tamping down expectations. A rebuild, he said, is not even a consideration because “no one puts up with that in today’s world.

“Do we expect to be good in Year 1?” Hill asked rhetorically. “Absolutely. Do we expect to be competing for championships? That’s why we came here.”

The program they now lead has seeded them with the confidence their goals can be accomplished in short order. While history has shown Michigan is not too big to fail, it’s understandable why anyone given ownership of this football Leviathan would think it is. As soon as he assumed control, Whittingham realized he was set up for success. Now, it’s his mission to achieve it.

It seems eminently possible he will, if he can make the right moves with all the quality pieces he has come to possess.

Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com.

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