Michigan coach John Beilein: Minnesota game isn't must-win

Ann Arbor ? Two weeks into the conference season, teams already are jockeying for position atop the standings, especially after Wisconsin's upset win at Indiana sent shock waves through the Big Ten.

Michigan (16-1, 3-1) is in a five-way tie for second, a game behind the Badgers. But there are plenty of games left, so No. 5 U-M's showdown at No. 9 Minnesota is not a must-win for either team.

"I'd be dead if I looked at (conference) games like that. It's another great opportunity for us to grow," coach John Beilein said Wednesday. "Whether we have a team that is picked last or a team that is picked at top ends, it's all about the process. The journey and the process is what leads you to the end."

For Beilein, the only must-win games are at the end of the season or in tournaments, when titles or elimination are on the line.

"Last year, we had to win at Penn State to have a chance to be a champion," he said. "That's a must-win, but there's none of that right now."

Although tonight's game might not qualify as a must-win, it's a victory the Wolverines would like to have, on the heels of their loss Sunday at Ohio State. The players resumed practice Tuesday, and by all accounts were upbeat and ready to move on.

"The level of intensity we had in practice yesterday was very high. We know just from watching film that we had a lot to learn, a lot to get better on and a lot of adjustments to make," said Trey Burke, whose 3-point try would have given U-M the lead with 16 seconds left. "Just from watching the game and seeing how valuable each possession was, this team understands what we need to do in late-game situations like that."

Minnesota (15-2, 3-1) presents one of the most athletic rosters in the conference, with a healthy Trevor Mbakwe (9.5 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Rodney Williams (11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds) in the frontcourt. The Gophers are one of the best offensive-rebounding teams in the nation; Michigan is second nationally in defensive rebounding.

"They're freakishly athletic so we're going to have to keep them off the glass and make sure we take care of the ball and hopefully we can make some shots," said freshman Spike Albrecht, who had a season-high seven points against Ohio State.

Minnesota's Andre Hollins (14.4 points, 43 percent on 3-pointers) had 21 points against Michigan in the Big Ten tournament, a game won by the Wolverines in overtime. He'll be a tough defensive assignment for Burke, who scored 30 in the game.

Burke said through film review, he saw some of the flaws in the Ohio State game.

"Better shot selection. I took a couple tough shots in the first half and missed a couple guys coming off the pick-and-roll," he said. "From watching myself last game, I could have been a better decision-maker. In the second half, I made plays for the team and I took some tough shots down the stretch where I could have brought it out and ran a play and got a better shot."

Hitting the road

Beilein said Wisconsin's win Tuesday indicated how tough every conference game is going to be. The Badgers have won 11 straight against Indiana, including five straight at Assembly Hall.

"Wisconsin is just amazing. I look at them and Jordan Hulls got one 3-point shot off. The style is Wisconsin doesn't pressure you, yet Jordan Hulls gets one shot off and goes 0-1 from 3," Beilein said. "I'm not surprised by any game Wisconsin plays because they have a tried-and-true method of playing that is tough for everybody."

rod.beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter.com/detnewsRodBeard

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130117/SPORTS0201/301170356/1131/rss17

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