Video & Analysis: Jon Teske Explains How Michigan Nearly Collapsed In The Second Half

Michigan is 1-0 but it got a lot scarier than it should've against Appalachian State after being up by 30.

Senior center Jon Teske started the first game of the 2019-20 season on fire scoring Michigan's first nine points against Appalachian State. Teske ended up with 15 in the first half as U-M took a 46-25 lead into the locker room.

The Wolverines came out in the second half and eventually pushed the lead to 30, but then things started to fall apart. Sloppy play, turnovers and missed shot allowed the Mountaineers to get back into the game and they ended up cutting the lead to just five. Ultimately U-M found a little success down the stretch and at the free throw line resulting in a 79-71 win in Juwan Howard's coaching debut.

On an individual level, Teske also fell apart a bit in the second half. After halftime he added just two points and two rebounds to his total to finish with 17 and 13 respectively. The 7-footer explained exactly why it happened and how he and the team hope to learn from their mistakes moving forward.

Brown's Breakdown

Props to Teske for starting like he did but also for shooting us straight as to why the second-half meltdown happened. There was a little coach/player speak in his answers but for the most part he named the exact and specific reasons why U-M crumbled after halftime.

This game showed us two things — how good and how bad this team can be in year one under Juwan Howard. It's not a secret formula and it's the same with any players and any coach — when the ball moves, defensive intensity is high and good shots are taken, the team looks pretty good. When things get sloppy, the ball sticks and turnovers start to mount, big leads can turn into little ones in a hurry.

Luckily Michigan's lead was big enough before Appalachian State's run started and the Wolverines are 1-0.

What did you see? What was U-M's biggest problem in the second half? Comment below!!!