Moussa Diabate's burst a bright spot despite Michigan basketball's consistent struggles
In the first half of Michigan basketball’s blowout loss to North Carolina, freshman forward Moussa Diabate looked like a seasoned veteran.
Diabate put together a seemingly coming-of-age performance during the first 20 minutes in front of a raucous crowd in Chapel Hill.
In his first start of the season, Diabate’s dominance masked the Wolverines’ shortcomings in shooting, ball control and offensive execution. He was unstoppable, scoring 11 first-half points on an efficient 5-for-6 from the field.
“He’s a high-energy guy, so it brought a big spark,” Eli Brooks said of Diabate’s first-half performance.
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Perhaps more impressive than his shooting numbers was the variety of ways in which the 6-foot-11 big man scored.
He began with a smooth hook shot, followed by a turnaround in the post. When the defense adjusted to his quick start, so did Diabate by making good on his first 3-point attempt of the season. Diabate continued flashing his raw talent, making multiple outside jumpers, including a difficult shot off the jab step in isolation over 6-9 forward Brady Manek.
Although Diabate’s first half showed his offensive potential, it also highlights Michigan’s continued offensive struggles. Diabate jab-stepping in open space is certainly a solid option, but it optimizes Michigan’s offense up to this point.
Lacking ball movement, disjoined, incohesive and inefficient.
Instead of loosening the defense for open dunks or drawing double teams in the post, Diabate was forced to create his own shot in the face of a lengthy defender. His ability to do so kept the Wolverines’ lackluster offense in the game. Once his scoring tapered off in the second half, so did Michigan’s chances.
Michigan coach Juwan Howard blamed the second half drop on UNC’s ability to get Hunter Dickinson into foul trouble.
“It’s tough when you miss one of your best players,” Howard said. “He generates a lot of offense for us.”
Michigan struggled offensively in both halves, and so did Dickinson. In the 18 minutes he was on the floor, he scored just four points while committing three turnovers, leading to a plus/minus of minus-13. Despite his struggles, Dickinson’s mere presence is a factor for opposing teams. He attracts attention from multiple defenders, while using his 7-1 frame to patrol the paint on the other end.
Once Howard pulled Dickinson following his fourth foul, disaster struck. With Dickinson’s removal at about 18 minutes left, the shaky Wolverine offense lost its focal point. From there, the defense consolidated more of its effort to stop Diabate, who wouldn’t score for the remainder of the game.
While Michigan’s overall scoring was largely unchanged from half to half — scoring 27 in the first and 24 in the second — the Tar Heels erupted. They caught fire versus a Dickinson-less defense, pairing their 29-point first-half performance with a 43-point avalanche in the last 20 minutes.
“From there, North Carolina really took advantage,” Howard said. “Scoring inside in the paint, pretty easy, with less resistance.”
What looked to be a signature game by Diabate was spoiled. Losing Dickinson made the burden of masking Michigan’s issues too great for the promising freshman to bear.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan basketball's struggles continue vs. UNC
