CHAMPAIGN – First-year Illinois coach John Groce's last meeting with Michigan was last March, when his Ohio Bobcats left the floor with an NCAA Tournament upset that cemented his status as an up-and coming coach and sent the Wolverines home.

On Sunday, after a 74-60 loss that left the Illini with just three wins in their last eight games, all Groce could do was grin a little as he shook Wolverine coach John Beilein's hand and state what's he said has become obvious about his cold-shooting team.

"You've got to throw a couple in," Groce said after his team shot 37.1 percent in spite of what he called solid shot selection. "We're all in here diagnosing this and that, looking at stat sheets."