Postgame Notes: Michigan 60, Illinois 55
3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 11, 2011
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• With the win, Michigan improves to 20-12 for the season. This was the Wolverines' third consecutive win and ninth in their last 12 games. The win marks U-M's second 20-win season in the last three years, and is John Beilein's 16th 20-win campaign in his 33 years as a head coach.
• Michigan improves its Big Ten Tournament record to 11-12 (7-11*). The Wolverines have won their first game at the Big Ten Tournament in each of their last five seasons. With the win, Michigan will make its first trip to the semifinals since 2004.
• With the win, Michigan improves to 72-85 (68-80) all-time against Illinois. The win snaps U-M's four-game losing streak against the Fighting Illini.
• The Wolverines are now 1-2 against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan improves to 2-2 all-time against the Fighting Illini on neutral floors.
• Friday's game marked the second matchup this season between Michigan and Illinois. The teams split the two games, with Illinois taking the previous meeting, 54-52, in Champaign on Feb. 16.
• Darius Morris led the Wolverines with 17 points on 7-of-13 (54 percent) shooting, including 3-of-4 (75 percent) from the free throw line. Morris has led U-M in scoring in 11 games this season. Morris added a game-high seven assists, as well as four rebounds and a block, in the victory.
• Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting (36 percent), making all of his field goals from beyond the arc (4-of-7; 57 percent). He also shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Hardaway has scored in double figures in each of his last 13 Hardaway added two rebounds and two steals in the win.
• Zack Novak scored 14 points on 4-of-8 (50 percent) shooting, with all his attempts coming from three-point range. This was Novak's highest scoring output since scoring 19 at Michigan State on Jan. 27. Novak added two rebounds and an assist in the victory.
• Stu Douglass led the Wolverines with a game-high seven rebounds, marking the first time this season Douglass led the team in rebounding. Douglass added three points and four assists in the win.
• U-M shot 42 percent (20-of-48) from the field -- 36 percent (9-of-25) in the first half and 48 percent (11-of-23) in the second half. The Wolverines also shot 46 percent (11-of-24) from beyond the arc -- 36 percent (4-of-11) in the first half and 54 percent (7-of-13) in the second half.
• U-M shot 82 percent (9-of-11) from the free throw line -- 50 percent (1-of-2) in the first half and 89 percent (8-of-9) in the second half. This marked the Wolverines' best second half from the charity stripe since shooting 93 percent (13-of-14) in the second half at Penn State on Feb. 6.
• Michigan lost the rebounding battle, 31-30. The Wolverines are 10-11 this season when they are outrebounded by their opponent.
• The Wolverines had 13 assists and turned the ball over 10 times. Michigan is 16-7 this season when it records a positive assist/turnover ratio.
• U-M's defense forced Illinois into 12 turnovers, leading to nine points. The Wolverines are 11-6 this season when they commit fewer turnovers than its opponent.
• Michigan outscored Illinois in fast-break points (18-2), points off turnovers (9-6) and second-chance points (9-5). The Fighting Illini outscored the Wolverines in points in the paint (20-18).
• The game featured four ties and three lead changes. Michigan led by as much as seven in the first half and took its final lead on a Tim Hardaway Jr. three-pointer with 1:44 remaining.
• John Beilein coached his 1,000th career game. Coach Beilein has a 617-383 record as a collegiate head coach, having never served as an assistant coach at any level.
• The Wolverines wore their white jerseys for the 11th time this season. Michigan is now 10-1 this season when wearing white.
• For the eighth straight game, Michigan went with the starting lineup of Darius Morris, Stu Douglass, Zack Novak, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jordan Morgan. U-M is 6-2 during this stretch.
