Michigan coach Juwan Howard was forthright in attributing the defensive breakdown against Michigan State to himself. He acknowledged the importance of a defensive mindset, emphasizing the need for players to be fully committed to the task. Howard took complete responsibility, stating that as a coach, he accepts full blame for the team’s defensive struggles.
Howard easily identified the issues plaguing Michigan’s defense, with miscommunications, missed assignments, and mental lapses leading to their loss against Michigan State. The Wolverines’ defensive frailty was evident throughout the game, allowing Spartans coach Tom Izzo to celebrate his 700th win. Even in garbage time, Michigan’s defensive effort was lacking. An example came when down 15 with less than four minutes remaining, a defensive lapse allowed Michigan State’s Jaden Akins to score his seventh 3-pointer. The collapse originated from porous defensive fundamentals, making Akins’ later shot a bitter reminder of the team’s shortcomings.
Earlier in the game, Michigan failed to close down on the three, providing Akins with an open shot. The zone defense proved ineffective, allowing Michigan State numerous second-chance opportunities. The Wolverines struggled both on the perimeter and interior, with defensive breakdowns leading to easy scores for the Spartans. Despite Howard emphasizing the importance of defending key players like Tyson Walker, the defensive game plan failed comprehensively, resulting in frustration and an inability to recover. Howard tried to reinforce defensive fundamentals, but by that point, the damage was done, and the defensive shortcomings were evident both on and off the stat sheet. And Howard knew it. He only had himself to blame.