Michigan Basketball Notebook: Painter Says U-M Defense Is Improving

Michigan sophomore Moritz Wagner was the big reason the Wolverines hammered Purdue, 82-70, Sunday, but Purdue head coach Matt Painter cited another reason, as well … the Wolverines’ defense.

The Boilermakers shot only 5-for-16 from three-point range, including a few from frosh Carsen Edwards he made from across the street during a late Purdue rally. Painter thought the looks were “alright,” but it was clear U-M did its part to run the Boilermakers’ shooters off the line.

“Michigan has gotten better defensively,” Painter said. “They definitely make it harder for you to catch, to catch in the post. We got some good looks … not a bunch of them, but we had enough. We got the ball at the rim enough and the ball on the perimeter.

“Even though we turned it over some, I don't think deep down offense is our issue here.”

It was part of the issue, however. The other was figuring out how to defend the Wolverines. U-M’s style — shooters all over the floor, spread out to create room to drive — made life miserable for the Boilers.

Count Painter among those impressed.

“When you have a good point guard [like senior Derrick Walton Jr.] and bigs that are skilled, that can shoot and spread you out, then you have to pick your poison,” he said. “We can flip it on them, but when you don’t score the ball at the rim … and I thought we had a lot of opportunities to [center Isaac] Haas in there, a missed dunk, layup, a little hook he normally makes … we could have lived with all of it, because we wouldn’t have been out of the game.”

Instead, the Wolverines opened a 22-point bulge with under 10 minutes to go and held on despite taking a foot off the gas down the stretch.

Walton’s big three with just under two minutes remaining was the dagger, pushing a six-point lead to nine. Walton finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Had he been healthy the last two years, Painter said, the Wolverines would have been even better.

“I wouldn’t say it’s his development. In his defense, this is the first time he’s been healthy in a while,” Painter said. “He was banged up his sophomore and junior year.

“When you come back as a player, you don’t want to talk about it. You can see he has that step back, can make plays with that quickness, that athleticism. He’s been great. He’sw hat college basketball is about … keep improving, keep getting better, be a good leader. He stuck it out, and that’s what it’s about.

“He’s a really good player and will probably be a first team all -conference guy.”

NOTES

• Wagner was the difference in the game, Painter said, causing Purdue to change things up at the half. He finished with 24 points, 22 in the first half, and Painter said he wished he hadn’t waited so long to adjust.

“Wagner had a great game. He was the different not just the first half but the whole game, setting the tone, even though he didn’t score very much in the second half,” he said. “His ability to stretch the defense and their ability to find him in that matchup … he’s obviously a very skilled guy, can drive the ball, shoot threes, very talented. He had a great game.”

They had to be just as cognizant of redshirt sophomore D.J. Wilson, Painter said. They were at least as concerned about him entering the game.

“We have the same respect for D.J., too,” Painter said. “You watch tape and D.J. was better than Wagner. He’s made more. They have a very similar skill set and can do both things. [Wagner] was just the guy with the hot hand.”

• Wagner took his matchup with Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan seriously. He couldn’t remember having a better half in his life.

“I had an aggressive approach, let’s say that,” Wagner said. “He’s a really good player … it wasn’t necessarily the plan, but I tried to be aggressive out there. It worked out.

“I don’t really care about offense. What made me proud today, whether I scored or not, was we were locked in defensively. Individually or as a team, we executed the game plan really well. That was my focus.

“After every basket to have to guard national player of year candidate right now, that might have been it. It was fun.”

• Walton on his huge three down the stretch: “God was definitely looking out for me on that shot. I’m just thankful for these four years. Myself and Zak [Irvin] will have so many memories to talk about going forward. It makes things much more sweet. You only get four years to do this. I’ll relish the moment and be forever grateful.”