To win games in college basketball, energy and effort are almost always prerequisites.

So when you hear from head coach Joanne Howard later on here on Defend the Block, you'll hear a

different tone than he had in the Friday night loss to McNeese State. In that game,

Michigan's energy, Michigan's effort, it did not reach that minimum bar you need to in order to compete. And the game certainly

played out that way. McNeese State rolled. The tone from Joanne Howard after this game was different.

There was some pride, some happiness with the effort. But that does not guarantee anything,

especially when you get into Big Ten play.

Michigan certainly played harder. They played with more energy. They played with a drive

and a determination down the stretch, but it wasn't enough. Too many times Minnesota delivered

a key three-pointer, sometimes when Michigan was celebrating a make offensively on the other end.

Too many times, Minnesota gobbled up critical rebounds.

In a game where Michigan still won the rebounding battle by one, but this was a game where

the more impactful rebounds tended to go to the gophers.

So looking forward, boy, does it seem difficult for this Michigan team because now

they're sitting at six and eight.

And when it comes to Big Ten play, the Wolverines have dropped two home games.

And these aren't home games to the likes of a team such as Purdue.

This is Indiana, a team that certainly hasn't wowed anybody.

In Minnesota, a ball club that Michigan took care of in both meetings last season,

and it's still in an early stage of a rebuild under third-year head coach Ben Johnson.

But Michigan, they need to be better than just having effort and energy.

They need better execution. They need better and energy. They need better execution.

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