COLUMBIA, S.C. _ Michigan still has some growing to do. Maybe a lot.
Coming off two dominating performances in New York, winning the 2K Classic last week, the No. 25 Wolverines played one of their worst games in years during Wednesday's trip to South Carolina, losing 61-46 at Colonial Life Arena.
The shots (mostly jumpers) weren't falling all game, with the Wolverines shooting just 19.2 percent from the field, the worst percentage in this decade at least.
Three-point range was a large part of it, hitting just 2 of 26 (7.7 percent.)
The Wolverines were led by Derrick Walton Jr.'s 15 points but he shot just 3 of 14 from the field.
Michigan (4-1) stayed close through much of the first half, mostly on free throws as the Wolverines hit just nine field goals.
So logic held it would improve after halftime and they could close the six-point deficit.
Instead, it got worse and South Carolina (5-0) was emboldened by its home crowd, as the Wolverines' road struggles continued. Michigan was 4-6 on the road last season but had problems against average to strong competition.
South Carolina qualified, especially guard Sindarius Thornwell, who scored 21 points.
Michigan needed a flurry to make the game competitive. Instead, the Wolverines hit just three field goals in the first 15 minutes.
There were many ways to assess capture the problems but senior Zak Irvin's night explained it well enough.
Irvin was off all night in every aspect, shooting just 2 of 13 from the field with eight turnovers and his final play was a charge with 5:33 to play, fouling out of the game.
Yet he played 30 minutes because there was no one to put in for him.
The much-praised defense was adequate in the first half, allowing 42 percent, but fell apart after the break as the Gamecocks kept attacking.
The Michigan basketball team hadn't played a competitive second half in 10 days, since IUPUI on Nov. 13 and showed no signs of life when it had the chance.
From 14:29 to play until just under two minutes left, U-M scored one basket.
The Wolverines had an atrocious first half shooting the ball _ 6 of 24 for 25 percent, just 1 of 11 from the field _ and went into halftime down, 33-27. They turned the ball over seven times, including a few that were unforced.
That U-M was so close was only due to strong free throw shooting (14 of 18).
Yet it could have been much more.
Michigan entered the free-throw shooting bonus with 9:25 left in the half, but missed 10 jumpers the rest of the way, shot six free throws and had one layup.
Mark Donnal started the second half in place of Moe Wagner (who had one point in eight first-half minutes and picked up another early foul) but it didn't matter.
Nothing mattered on this night.
