Buckeyes, Wolverines and the Descent

This week, Michigan went to middling Illinois and got annihilated 85-69. Last night, Ohio State was dominated at the Kohl Center losing to a good Wisconsin team, 89-66. As good as Wisconsin might be, there's no reason for a program with as many resources as the Buckeyes to be embarrassed like that.

As of today, Ohio State is 58th in Ken Pom but 0-4 in league play and 10-7 overall. That's not even a NIT profile. Michigan is 46th in KenPom and 1-3 in league play. 

In 2013, Ohio State lost in the Elite 8 as a 1-seed, finishing 7th in KenPom. Michigan made it back to the title game, finishing the year 4th in KenPom. Michigan made it back to the Elite 8 in 2014 while Ohio State was upset in round one by Dayton. Michigan missed in '15 and Ohio State missed last year. It's unlikely either team sniffs the second weekend this year barring a big run, meaning two of the Big 14's flagship programs will be on a 3-year Sweet 16 drought. 

Ohio State has become a revolving door. Over the last year, a number of players have left the program. 2014's top ten recruiting class yielded one likely NBA player, D'Angelo Russell who was a on-and-done. The rest of that class simply hasn't developed like many thought it would. That's on coaching or evaluating talent. There is time but they've underwhelmed thus far.

Michigan's descent into mediocrity has been similar. Players have come and gone and those that stayed haven't been as good as expected. When we look back at the key contributors to the 2013 team, other than Mitch McGary and GR III, most weren't expected to be major contributors early. Instead Nik Stauskas was gone after his sophomore year with GR III and McGary. Caris Levert and Spike Albrecht battled injury problems.

Since then, John Beilein has missed on Kam Chatman, DJ Wilson, Ricky Doyle and Aubrey Dawkins. Along with the aforementioned early departures, it's been hard for the team to develop any consistency.  

Michigan's defensive efficiency has never been great under Beilein but it's entered the territory where no matter how good the offense is, it's hard to be a consistent club. Ohio State's offense has been its undoing, staggering into the 100's in efficiency 3 of the last 4 years. (86th right now, so 2 of 4 but we get the drift)

Ohio State and Michigan fans are getting restless. It's hard to imagine Thad Matta and John Beilein get run this year. What both coaches need is some roster stability. If they can't do that or right the ship after doing that, then you'll see a change and rightfully so. There's no reason at least one of these programs isn't a legit Big 14 contender each year.