In Evanston, Tarris Reed Jr. faced a daunting task with only one practice session to prepare. Despite his limited readiness, the sophomore forward found himself as the lone big man for the Michigan men’s basketball team against Northwestern, due to various factors like sickness, injury, and suspension affecting his teammates.
Coach Juwan Howard expressed the challenges the team faced, with a significantly reduced roster for practice leading up to the game. The Wolverines entered the court with just eight scholarship players available, leaving Reed as the solitary representative of their once plentiful group of power forwards.
Reed’s availability for the game was uncertain due to illness, but he managed to suit up in time, albeit with minimal preparation. Throughout the game, Reed shouldered the responsibility of operating in the paint alone, leading the team in shot attempts and free throw attempts. However, without another true big man to support him, Reed struggled against Northwestern’s rebounding advantage and defensive focus.
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Despite his efforts, the Wolverines couldn’t overcome their depleted roster. With key players sidelined due to injury and illness, Reed found himself battling fatigue and extra defensive pressure. While he managed to contribute 10 points in the second half, it wasn’t enough to prevent another blowout loss for Michigan.
Despite the adversity, Reed’s resilience was noted by his teammates, who praised his energy and effort despite his recent illness. However, with the team severely shorthanded, relying on one player, even under such circumstances, proved insufficient for Michigan to secure a victory.