ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Bowling Green basketball coach Dan Dakich talked Monday about the athleticism he saw on tape from the Michigan Wolverines heading into last night’s game at Crisler Arena.
After last night’s game, he didn’t have to talk about it anymore. He saw it first-hand.
The Wolverine trio of Bernard Robinson, Jr., Lavell Blanchard and Daniel Horton, Jr. used their athleticism to beat Bowling Green in every way possible: to the basket, on the boards, and up and down the floor.
The result: a tired Bowling Green team and an 83-57 loss to the previously winless Wolverines.
Horton led U of M with 26 points — 24 of which came in the first half — and Blanchard and Robinson scored 23 and 20, respectively. But it was perhaps with the versatility that the three played that gave the Falcons fits.
Horton was able to mix in penetration with a hot outside shot to score over half of U of M’s points in the first half. Blanchard and Robinson both had 18 in the second half, and hit the boards hard. Both players had five offensive rebounds, while Blanchard finished with 10 boards and Robinson with eight.
Dakich said that the Wolverines’ athleticism was undoubtedly the difference in the game.
“I don’t think there’s any question, that was the difference in the game,” Dakich said. “Michigan comes in shooting nothing all year, and it was a comfort level that they were able to get against our defense. They were able to get very comfortable moving the ball around and knowing that they could get to the boards.”
Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said that they tried to wear out the visitors, and thought they did that well.
“We thought if could try to change defenses a little bit, because we knew they were missing some injured players, that we could possibly use any depth we have to extend the floor defensively and make it a 94-foot game,” Amaker said.
Dakich added that fatigue is a major concern for the team. “We have been practicing way too long,” Dakich said. “We practiced long on Monday and Tuesday, and you can’t do that. I think fatigue is a huge, huge factor. … We looked physically whipped at half-time.”
The Falcons continue to play without injured Germain Fitch and Josh Almanson, two players who possess comparable athleticism to that of Blanchard and Robinson.
Without those two players, BG dresses seven scholarship players, and walk-ons Cole Magner and Patrick Phillips.
