Teske Plays Like a 'Pro' But Can't Lift Wolverines to Victory at Louisville
12/4/2019 10:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Steve Kornacki
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Jon Teske made a statement against the nation's top-ranked team, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against Louisville in a marquee ACC/Big Ten Challenge game.
However, the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan (7-1) couldn't mount much offense without its senior center providing the points, and even he contributed to the 25.9 percent team shooting by making 6-of-18 shots. The Wolverines fell, 58-43, to the Cardinals before a raucous, packed house Tuesday night (Dec. 3).
The deep shots that dropped and the relentless offensive pressure Michigan displayed in beating a pair of top-10 teams to claim the Battle 4 Atlantis couldn't be duplicated in this one.
Teske, the MVP of that highly competitive tournament in the Bahamas that included North Carolina and Gonzaga, picked up right where he left off on Paradise Island and put on a show that often hushed the 21,674 partisan fans.
"Overall, Jon is one of the best bigs in college basketball," U-M head coach Juwan Howard told MGoBlue.com. "He's also one of the most talented bigs as well. So, I love that we have Jon Teske in our locker room, and I will go to war with Jon any day.
"In my mind, he's a pro. But we're going to enjoy his senior year first."
Howard smiled widely with that comment, fully realizing all that lies ahead for Teske this season.
"Jon is a competitor," continued Howard. "Early on in the first half, we kept going to him and he was delivering (Teske had eight of Michigan's 18 first-half points). And there were some shots that normally go in for him that weren't. And I loved the way Jon and his teammates competed."
(USATSI photo)
Teske hit three hook shots in the first half -- two with his left hand and one with his right.
He swished 15-foot baseline jumpers in the second half -- one from the right and one from the left.
Then he drained a three-pointer from 12 o'clock on the arc, hitting it straight in, nothing but net.
It was impossible to anticipate where he might strike from on the court -- down low, up top, right or left.
Teske, all 7-foot-1 of him, dove onto the court for a loose ball, and often does. He plays with true fire.
"He's a winner," noted Howard. "That's why he's had so much success in college. That's his track record. He's played in big games, won Big Ten championships and went to the (NCAA) finals. The guy has success written all over him."
Teske said, "I wanted to come out and play with high effort, and a lot of the plays we ran were run through me. But it was a tough one tonight. A lot of our shots weren't falling. Coach just told us to keep shooting. He had confidence in us, and the percentage that we shot, that's not us. You probably won't see that again."
Teske did everything he could, but it wasn't enough. Point guard Zavier Simpson, who had nine points, three assists and four turnovers, was the only other Wolverine to exceed five points.
"Give Louisville credit," said Howard, "they played a very solid game defensively. We did it defensively, too, but we just didn't make shots. The shots that we were taking will go in next time.
"Overall, I loved the fact that we weren't compounding the mistake on the other end. We defended very well, we got the rebounds, got out, and credit them for getting back in transition. But overall, I loved how we competed."
Howard pointed out that it was the first time on the road under the bright lights with meaningful minutes for starting forward Franz Wagner (five points, four rebounds), guard David DeJulius, center Colin Castleton and forward Brandon Johns Jr.
"We'll go back and watch film," said Howard, "and see what areas we can improve on because failure is some of the best teaching. ... The best way to learn sometimes is when you get punched in the mouth. Our guys will respond. I trust them, we all trust."
Teske added, "It's just one game. No team is going to go undefeated. You just tell the guys to keep going. We'll go back tomorrow, watch film, learn from it, and grow. This is the first time for them to be in there with meaningful minutes, and they'll learn from it, they'll grow. I know that when I was a sophomore and going in there, the only way you can get that (experience) is by going in there and playing. I know Dave, Colin and Brandon will all learn from it. You'll see it in future games."
(USATSI photo)
Teske had an up-and-down sophomore year but posted a season-high 14 points in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against Purdue in Madison Square Garden, and he never looked back. So, he knows all about growing pains and the rewards for lessons learned.
Howard, when asked about playing four games in eight days and making two road trips in order to do that, said, "We don't make excuses." Teske echoed his coach's sentiments, saying that their physical conditioning prepares them for such demands, noting that the Big Ten Tournament can require teams to play four games in four days. He was part of a Michigan team that did that in 2017 and won all four.
While Teske spoke, Howard again couldn't hide his smile. His star player was being accountable, saying the right things and setting an example for his teammates to follow.
Howard, after his first loss in eight games as head coach, also couldn't suppress how pleased he was with his defense. The Wolverines held the Cardinals to .367 outside shooting and were just as tough on them at the three-point arc. Both teams had 19 attempts from there, and Louisville made four while Michigan hit three.
The No. 1-ranked Cardinals had been averaging 81.7 points and 8.6 treys a game.
"Our defense was rock solid," said Howard. "Look at the fact of how we guarded the three-point line. We cut down their transition buckets (with seven fast-break points allowed) as well as making them work for every shot. They are a very good three-point shooting team, and they only made four.
"We're one of the best defensive teams, too, in college basketball, and tonight proved it. And I'm proud of our guys and how they compete."
Michigan will open Big Ten Conference play Friday night (Dec. 6) at Crisler Center with Iowa, and this game and the Battle 4 Atlantis were perfect lead-ins to the hotly contested conference action.
"All these games we've played, all eight of them, are great preparation for when we go home and play Iowa," said Howard. "We've gotten better every game, and I trust that we will get better leading into conference play. The beauty of this game is we get a chance to play again on Friday at home vs. Iowa, and we are champing at the bit."
Teske said, "We've played North Carolina, Gonzaga and these guys, and they were all a big challenge. Now, we've just got to be ready. Going home will help, but we'll be ready for the challenge."
