As Michigan’s defensive woes came to a head in early January, some asked why it wasn’t playing zone defense.
The Wolverines had bottomed out in the first four games of the Big Ten season, allowing opponents to shoot 53% from the field and 57% from three-point range. Those numbers have improved in the past three games -- with opponents shooting 50% from the field and 37% on threes -- but it's still an issue.
Coach John Beilein says Michigan has tried to play conventional zone defense in spurts, but it hasn’t worked.
“The 2-3 zone, we’ve been playing that a little bit,” Beilein said on his Monday radio show.