U-M hoping SDSU doesn’t follow Ohio’s lead

Last year, Michigan was bumped out in the first game of the NCAA tournament at the hands of a guard heavy Ohio Bobcat attack. One year later, the Wolverines will face a similar opponent in South Dakota State but look for a different result.

Auburn HILLS, Mich. 26-7. That is the record the Michigan basketball team will walk into the Palace of Auburn Hills with when the Wolverines do battle with South Dakota State Thursday night at 7pm/EST in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Although records will be thrown out the window and onto passing cars on I-75 once the ball goes in the air, Michigan assistant lavall jordan wants everyone to know the Wolverines didn’t exactly lose games to division three schools. Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State aren’t exactly bad losses.

“We’ve accomplished a great deal to this point and had a pretty good year,” said Jordan Wednesday.

“As fans and coaches sometimes we’re all sore losers,” said Jordan. “And with young people you want them to be consistent but that’s not always the case. And so you’re building toward again learning all of those lessons so that you can be consistent at the right time of year.”

Though the loss to Wisconsin Friday afternoon in the second round of the Big Ten tournament was a disappointment for the Wolverines, the extra time off allowed for added rest, relaxation, preparation, and practice. As Jordan alluded to, the mental vacation was as vital as anything especially for Michigan’s young players.

“You don’t get new information for those couple days,” he said. “And it’s been information on top of information throughout the whole year -- a different team, a different scout, different coverage, different strategy, different way that we might want to attack. It’s a lot.

“You get to decompress and just say, ‘hey, here’s what we did well and this is what we’re going to need to do moving forward.’ That’s a little bit less information than all the rest.”

Michigan made the short bus trip to their team hotel Tuesday evening before Wednesday’s open practice for fans and media. Walking out onto the NCAA decorated court made an experience some of the Wolverine’s freshman had been dreaming about, a reality.

Though 6-4 senior point guard Nate Wolters will command plenty of attention in the Wolverines defensive scout, the rest of the Jackrabbits can hop along just fine, and Michigan must be ready for the battle tested team that boasts just one freshman in their seven man rotation.

“It’s more than just Nate Wolters,” said Jordan. “They’re really good. They move the ball -- it’ll probably remind Michigan fans of our opponent last year at this time with Ohio where, really good point guard who has the ball in his hands a lot, shooters are all around him and he’s unselfish and they’re unselfish.

“They won’t be afraid. They cut it close last year with Baylor, falling short. They played Big Ten teams, they’ve played BCS teams and they’re older guys.”

To watch GBW’s one-on-one with Michigan assistant LaVall Jordan, press play below.