ANAHEIM, CALIF. — The hardest part about raised expectations is how much more it hurts when goals aren’t met.
John Beilein and his team felt the pain in a big way after Thursday night’s stunning, 63-44 loss to Texas Tech in which the Wolverines played one of their worst games of the year — “a bad day for a bad day,” as Michigan’s head coach put it.
When those happen in the NCAA Tournament, especially in the Sweet 16, more often than not you’re going home. And make no mistake — the Red Raiders had plenty to do with that, their swarming defense throwing the Wolverines out of rhythm from the start, their athletes taking over in the second half. Texas Tech was probably the best team Michigan faced all year, Beilein said, and they looked it in the second half.
U-M wasn’t going to win this game without its stars bringing their ‘A’ games. This team had always had its deficiencies (especially on offense), but junior point guard Zavier Simpson has usually been able to find ways to win. It’s what he does, Beilein said earlier this year. He’s a pit bull who eventually beats his opponent against the odds.
On Thursday, however, the house finally won. Simpson was held scoreless with four turnovers against only one assist, and he was flustered, something that doesn’t happen very often.