Michigan Wolverines Basketball, The 3-2-1: Missed Opportunity & Heartbreak

Michigan came out locked in on defense in its Elite Eight game with UCLA, as it has most of the year. The Wolverines had a chance to open up some room early, but they never found their rhythm on offense, played the Bruins' type of game and let one get away in a disappointing, 51-49 loss that ends the season.

Here are the three lasting impressions, two opinions on the future and one prediction going forward.

THREE LASTING IMPRESSIONS FROM A SEASON-ENDING LOSS

3. The Wolverines played like they knew they were the favorites to win, and they were clearly tight. The defense was outstanding and gave them a chance to win, but that chip they had on their shoulder when many were picking them to lose against LSU and Florida State ... it wasn't there Tuesday.

After jumping out 11-4 on a triple by Chaundee Brown, the Wolverines bungled their way to missed opportunity after missed opportunity, unforced errors leading to eight, first-half turnovers and several wasted possessions. On the other end, they let Johnny Juzang (28 points) get too many open looks early. When he heated up, he single-handedly kept the Bruins in the game.

But even when U-M made a run from nine down to take the lead in the second half, it never really felt like the Wolverines were going to win. Nobody was playing with confidence offensively other than Brown, who simply didn't get enough touches. And down the stretch, guys seemed to panic or tightened up when they were needed the most.

"Both teams missed some shots that we normally make, if you look at the shooting percentage," Howard said.

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In reality, though, U-M missed many more. They shot 39.2 percent and scored 49 points in an abysmal showing. The missed their last eight shots, many of them at the rim, and five free throws.

"It was truly a Big Ten style of play with 51-49 and with UCLA shooting 39 percent and Michigan shooting 39 percent from the field ... fortunately enough for them, they were 6 for 7 from the free throw line and we were 6 of 11," Howard said. "They got eight turnovers; unfortunately for us, we had 14 ... that was the difference in the ballgame."