For the second game in a row to start the season, Michigan's defense led them onward to a victory. Holy Cross had no second answer to Michigan's stifling pressure and for the second game in a row Michigan walks out as 19-point victors, topping the Crusaders, 56-37, in the Wolverines final tune-up before facing Villanova on Wednesday.
Game Story:
The first half told a different story than the final score. Michigan's offense found no true rhythm and Holy Cross took advantage of a hot shooting start to take an 18-9 lead by the second media time-out. It was helped in large part by Connor Niego's hot shooting, drawing Jon Teske onto the perimeter where the seven-footer just couldn't stick with him. All 13 of Niego's points came in the first half, including three-for-three from deep. Michigan found its offense through Charles Matthews but shot just 5/24 from the field and were down 24-18 at the half. The second half, though, was all about Ignas Brazdeikis. The freshman from Canada was fired up and took the game over. With seven of the Wolverines nine points in the second half, and even more by the end, Jacob Grandison's jumper with just under 18 minutes left was the last bit of scoring Holy Cross would find for over seven minutes. By the time they found their next basket, Michigan would have a ten-point lead over the Crusaders. Holy Cross then went another five and a half minutes without a point wherein Michigan then took a 16-point lead. Michigan's defense held the Crusaders to just 13 second half points and would walk out 2-0 after what was certainly a win with grit.
What Happened:
The Holy Cross Princeton offense, under coach Bill Carmody, threw Michigan for a loop to start the game, but Michigan was able to nicely recover. Michigan's interior defense is immediately presenting itself as a huge strength for this side. Michigan racked up a whopping nine blocks in the game, five of them from Jon Teske, to build off eight against Norfolk State (and four from Teske). Holy Cross struggled to find a way around the bigger post presences, especially with star man Jehyve Floyd in foul trouble. Still, the Crusaders found more of their success with Connor Niego in the game stretching Teske out to the perimeter. For that, John Beilein went small putting Isaiah Livers into the game for Teske and running a smaller five. That change really put the clamps down on the Holy Cross offense. With Floyd in the game, Teske could return and deter any Crusader from attempting any shots at the rim with his length, and it kept the Holy Cross offense at bay.
Focusing on Michigan's defense still, they forced Holy Cross into a tough performance shooting-wise, especially coming off the Crusaders stellar 93-point night in their season opener. In a nutshell, one just has to look at Austin Butler's performance. After an outstanding 10-for-13 shooting night with 26 points, Butler went just one-for-13 with two points against the Wolverines defense. Patrick Benzan, after 19 points, mustered up just two shots for two points off the bench. Floyd went one-for-six and Jacob Grandison was an inefficient five-for-15 with 12 points. Michigan's man-to-man defense has become a massive strength for the team and is becoming perhaps the most fun aspect of this team to watch.
Michigan's offensive performance was carried by Charles Matthews in the first half and Ignas Brazdeikis in the second half. Matthews had ten of the 18 first half points for the Wolverines. He finished the game with 20 points and took the most shots for Michigan with 17 of them. He hit two of the three Michigan threes but did a lot of his work with his favored mid-range jumpers and floaters, and was even a very solid four-for-five from the free throw line. Still, in the first half Matthews could only do so much. That's where Brazdeikis comes in. The Canadian hit the other three in the second half en route to 19 points on nine shots, helped in large part due to his eight-for-eight performance from the line. On any drive, you almost assume Brazdeikis is either going to make the shot or get fouled. His four misses consistent primarily of in-and-out shots. He really sparked the crowd and the team in general at the start of the second half and it gave Michigan the freedom to take control of the game over the visiting Crusaders.
Still, you cannot discount some of the worries that fans have with this side. Michigan was just three-for-19 from behind the line. Jordan Poole and Livers were a combined zero-for-seven from deep and while Poole's playmaking has been on display to start the season, he's scored just six points and distributed only four assists in the first two games. Michigan is going to need to get more from its sophomore leader, especially with Villanova waiting in the wings. The slow start to the game was worrisome, but the hope is going to be that, like the first two games, the defense will be able to carry Michigan through any stretches where the offense may not be up to par. The schedule is due to pick up and Michigan's two 'warm-up' tests have been passed, but not with full marks. Still, there was plenty to enjoy about the performances and Michigan is making defense an absolute blast to watch. The hope is that it will continue to be that way throughout the season.
What's Next:
It's a National Championship rematch on deck as Michigan squares off with Villanova in the newly renovated Finneran Pavilion on campus of Villanova. That game is this Wednesday, the 14th, at 6:30 PM and broadcast live on FS1. After that, Michigan heads to Connecticut to take on George Washington on Saturday the 17th at noon, followed by a match with either Providence or South Carolina the next day in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
Game Story:
The first half told a different story than the final score. Michigan's offense found no true rhythm and Holy Cross took advantage of a hot shooting start to take an 18-9 lead by the second media time-out. It was helped in large part by Connor Niego's hot shooting, drawing Jon Teske onto the perimeter where the seven-footer just couldn't stick with him. All 13 of Niego's points came in the first half, including three-for-three from deep. Michigan found its offense through Charles Matthews but shot just 5/24 from the field and were down 24-18 at the half. The second half, though, was all about Ignas Brazdeikis. The freshman from Canada was fired up and took the game over. With seven of the Wolverines nine points in the second half, and even more by the end, Jacob Grandison's jumper with just under 18 minutes left was the last bit of scoring Holy Cross would find for over seven minutes. By the time they found their next basket, Michigan would have a ten-point lead over the Crusaders. Holy Cross then went another five and a half minutes without a point wherein Michigan then took a 16-point lead. Michigan's defense held the Crusaders to just 13 second half points and would walk out 2-0 after what was certainly a win with grit.
What Happened:
The Holy Cross Princeton offense, under coach Bill Carmody, threw Michigan for a loop to start the game, but Michigan was able to nicely recover. Michigan's interior defense is immediately presenting itself as a huge strength for this side. Michigan racked up a whopping nine blocks in the game, five of them from Jon Teske, to build off eight against Norfolk State (and four from Teske). Holy Cross struggled to find a way around the bigger post presences, especially with star man Jehyve Floyd in foul trouble. Still, the Crusaders found more of their success with Connor Niego in the game stretching Teske out to the perimeter. For that, John Beilein went small putting Isaiah Livers into the game for Teske and running a smaller five. That change really put the clamps down on the Holy Cross offense. With Floyd in the game, Teske could return and deter any Crusader from attempting any shots at the rim with his length, and it kept the Holy Cross offense at bay.
Focusing on Michigan's defense still, they forced Holy Cross into a tough performance shooting-wise, especially coming off the Crusaders stellar 93-point night in their season opener. In a nutshell, one just has to look at Austin Butler's performance. After an outstanding 10-for-13 shooting night with 26 points, Butler went just one-for-13 with two points against the Wolverines defense. Patrick Benzan, after 19 points, mustered up just two shots for two points off the bench. Floyd went one-for-six and Jacob Grandison was an inefficient five-for-15 with 12 points. Michigan's man-to-man defense has become a massive strength for the team and is becoming perhaps the most fun aspect of this team to watch.
Michigan's offensive performance was carried by Charles Matthews in the first half and Ignas Brazdeikis in the second half. Matthews had ten of the 18 first half points for the Wolverines. He finished the game with 20 points and took the most shots for Michigan with 17 of them. He hit two of the three Michigan threes but did a lot of his work with his favored mid-range jumpers and floaters, and was even a very solid four-for-five from the free throw line. Still, in the first half Matthews could only do so much. That's where Brazdeikis comes in. The Canadian hit the other three in the second half en route to 19 points on nine shots, helped in large part due to his eight-for-eight performance from the line. On any drive, you almost assume Brazdeikis is either going to make the shot or get fouled. His four misses consistent primarily of in-and-out shots. He really sparked the crowd and the team in general at the start of the second half and it gave Michigan the freedom to take control of the game over the visiting Crusaders.
Still, you cannot discount some of the worries that fans have with this side. Michigan was just three-for-19 from behind the line. Jordan Poole and Livers were a combined zero-for-seven from deep and while Poole's playmaking has been on display to start the season, he's scored just six points and distributed only four assists in the first two games. Michigan is going to need to get more from its sophomore leader, especially with Villanova waiting in the wings. The slow start to the game was worrisome, but the hope is going to be that, like the first two games, the defense will be able to carry Michigan through any stretches where the offense may not be up to par. The schedule is due to pick up and Michigan's two 'warm-up' tests have been passed, but not with full marks. Still, there was plenty to enjoy about the performances and Michigan is making defense an absolute blast to watch. The hope is that it will continue to be that way throughout the season.
What's Next:
It's a National Championship rematch on deck as Michigan squares off with Villanova in the newly renovated Finneran Pavilion on campus of Villanova. That game is this Wednesday, the 14th, at 6:30 PM and broadcast live on FS1. After that, Michigan heads to Connecticut to take on George Washington on Saturday the 17th at noon, followed by a match with either Providence or South Carolina the next day in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan for plenty more Michigan basketball coverage, as well as AFC Ann Arbor and Liverpool FC coverage as well!
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