Fuller: Iowa got 'punked' by Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Two emotions seemed to grip Todd Lickliter as he walked to the podium last night after a 60-46 shellacking to Michigan.

The Iowa coach spewed frustration with a dose of anger. He had no answer for Michigan's offensive success, mainly because his team left its defense in Iowa City. His offense alternated between ineffective and incapable.

Lickliter questioned his team's effort, preparation and execution, which leads only to more questions.

“The pain on these sort of things is excruciating,” Lickliter said. “But I was thinking I should be very thankful actually because I haven't had very many of these in my career. ... I've had a few but not to this, not like this.”

Michigan (11-10, 4-5) started the game with a 13-0 run and scored 22 second-chance points. The performance had everyone from Lickliter to sophomore forward Aaron Fuller questioning the team's toughness and resolve.

“They set a tone from the get-go, and we couldn't match it,” Fuller said. “They took advantage of that, and they got second-chance points. Adding it all up that's a lot of points, and that's really why they won.

“We were soft really. They just punked us down there. They got every rebound that they wanted.”

Lickliter acknowledged his team's skill deficiencies, and those were among his chief concerns following the game. Iowa's players barely were in position to take charges or box out for rebounds. Of the 38 rebounds available following Michigan shots, each team had 19.

“Obviously it's my fault,” Lickliter said. “The preparation was awful. We only had 10 turnovers, that's pretty good. Five assists, we couldn't find a way to score it. I don't think we took a charge all night.

“It's pretty obvious, we've got to do things that are very unskilled-related to be able to compete, and we didn't do them.”

Michigan controlled the tempo from its first possession. Wolverines' guard Stu Douglass tossed inside to forward DeShawn Sims, who put Michigan ahead 2-0.

The Wolverines built a 17-2 lead before Iowa notched its first field goal with 10:34 left in the first half on a Matt Gatens' 3-pointer. Iowa (8-14, 2-7) clawed as close as 12 points at the half but never mounted a serious threat.

Aaron Fuller scored all of his 16 points in the second half. Fuller, who also had eight rebounds, was hit with three first-half fouls, which sent him to the bench. Nobody else could slow Sims, who tied teammate Manny Harris for game-high honors with 20 points. Last year Sims scored 27 points - including the game's first 14 - against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament.

“I don't know what it is about him,” Lickliter said. “I think he's really comfortable against us. I don't think he feels any ... I'm sure when he sees Iowa on the schedule, he highlights that because it's exciting for him. And I don't blame him.”

Lickliter was asked if the disappointment was deeper because the team had played well recently. Iowa had won three of its last five games and was competitive in the two losses.

“I think this would be disappointing no matter what,” he said. “I spent a whole afternoon begging. That isn't coaching.

“As bad as we played, it was 11 and we had the ball. We just crossed our fingers and hoped to make a play.”

Everyone acknowledges that, including Fuller.

“That wasn't us playing out there,” he said. “We were just so soft out there. It was almost embarrassing.”