On a colder-than-freezing night in Ann Arbor, the Michigan students and fans showed up to fire up their Wolverines. Michigan showcased plenty of swagger and plenty of fight en route to a shellacking at home in front of Ohio State in a game that lived up to the rivalry moniker.
Game Story:
The game did not start out all good for Michigan. Ohio State started off on a quick 7-2 run just about two-and-a-half minutes into the game. Ohio State made it 12-6, also, a bit later thanks to another quick 5-0 run for the Buckeyes. The Wolverines defense helped greatly in keeping them able to fight back. A pair of threes from Jordan Poole and one from Isaiah Livers made Michigan leaders in the game for the first time with 7:09 remaining in the half and the score 22-19 to Michigan. Things went back and forth, but the last 2:12 of the half marked a significant switch in the game. With the Wolverines back behind 26-25, Zavier Simpson got to the rack and finished a lay-up, Simpson snared a rebound and fed Ignas Brazdeikis for a three. Michigan made two separate steals on OSU's next two possessions, then Charles Matthews followed his own miss with a tip. Michigan made a final key defensive stop and they would enter the half beating the Buckeyes 32-26.
It took two-and-a-half minutes, almost, for either team to score in the second half, a three by Kaleb Wesson. That merely seemed to wake Michigan up from their stupor after the start of the half. Michigan saw back-to-back lay-ups and a Livers three put Michigan up 39-31. A Jordan Poole three eventually made things 44-33, a double-figure lead for Michigan for the first time in the game, but Duane Washington's answer three cut the lead back to eight and saw Chris Holtmann take a timeout to rally the troops. The timeout worked and OSU got a turnover, but they missed two threes on the same possession, and Brazdeikis only needed one shot to swing momentum right back. Simpson hit a step-back three to make it 50-38 and Justin Ahrens missed a three, and Kaleb was called for a foul, his third of the night. From there, tempers flared. Simpson got into it with the bigger Wesson as Kaleb set a hard screen on him on that possession. The pair exchanged words, Jon Teske would get involved, as did Poole, so did Keyshawn Woods of Ohio State. The altercation saw Woods, Kaleb, Teske, and Simpson all get technical fouls, but only Teske took free throws after the common foul, he hit them both. From there, the altercation made Michigan more fired up. Michigan never lost control in the game and the celebrations kept on. Simpson, sitting on nine rebounds, got his tenth and secured a triple-double. The crowd celebrated, but they had more reason to as Simpson found Livers for a dunk, assist number twelve, to make it a twenty-point game. He was given a standing ovation as the crowd chanted his name being subbed off. OSU scored four more points, but Michigan took the game by the score of 65-49.
What Happened:
Imagine, if you will, nearly two years ago to the day. It was February 4, 2017, and the Michigan Wolverines had just gotten beaten in humiliating fashion against the Ohio State Buckeyes. This was a 14-9 Wolverines team that had been called 'white collar' by Illinois, who could only qualify for the NIT that season. Since that game, Michigan has dominated on their home court. They are 32-1 over that stretch, including six wins over ranked teams, and an iconic near-thirty-point drubbing over Michigan State in the immediate aftermath of that Ohio State loss, and the lone loss coming to #5 Purdue that saw a tight reversal, harsh foul call, and a half-court heave rim in-and-out. They have dropped the 'white collar' moniker and when teams like Ohio State step up to them, they no longer hesitate to drop them back down. When Kaleb Wesson of OSU got into it, it was Jordan Poole and a pack of Wolverines there to answer the big man's taunts with some of their own. Whereas one may have feared a Michigan team of yesteryear unable to back up the talk, instead Poole came off the court mocking the O-H I-O chant by moving the 'O' towards his 'you-know-where'. This is a team that has an attitude and fears no one. They answer punches with haymakers of their own. And, fittingly enough, this is a team led by the lone Wolverines that played in that Ohio State game two years ago. A point guard from Lima, Ohio, that considered Ohio State his dream school. A school that never even offered him a scholarship.
Described as "the littlest guy on the court" (accurately) by the ESPN broadcast team, Zavier Simpson played the game of his life achieving the sixth triple-double in Michigan's illustrious history. With eleven points, twelve assists, and ten rebounds, it was a stat-line fit for a king amplified by the fact he committed zero turnovers on the night. Even more impressive is the fact he could have had a few more if his teammates were able to hit a couple more open looks. He was as good as ever on defense and the stat line of the opposing point guard, CJ Jackson, is deceptively good for his limited contribution (four-for-six, eleven points, but zero-for-one from three). Point guard is regularly cited as the most important position on the court. That reigns true with Michigan. Simpson runs the show for Michigan with a seasonal assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.47, the highest in the Big Ten among qualified players. His passes range from the more simple ones that showcase his incredible vision, to the tough ones between defenders, to the downright audacious (his football pass to Jordan Poole last night comes to mind). He is not the most reliable scoring threat, that is true, but his sky-hook and willingness to shoot have him averaging just over thirteen points per game over the last seven. Michigan runs on Zavier Simpson. And he is a true leader for this team.
As has been the norm for many games this season, this was a team effort on the court. Ten made threes were spread around among five players and three players not named Zavier Simpson also finished with double figures in scoring. Jordan Poole led the team in scoring with fifteen points despite going five-for-fourteen from the field and three-for-ten from three. His confidence shooting is always appreciated as even when things are not going his way, he has the willingness to take a big shot that his team needs. Ignas Brazdeikis had fourteen points with two threes on just seven shots and continues to prove himself to be, arguably, the top freshman in the Big Ten. Brazdeikis sometimes showed his 'freshman-ness' with three turnovers, coming largely due to driving with his head down straight to the rim, but only seems to have Romeo Langford of Indiana as competition for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Finally, Isaiah Livers was back on for the Wolverines as he went four-for-six and three-for-five from three with twelve points and three steals. His hustle was vital in keeping the Wolverines scrappy and strong. There was plenty more from others: Jon Teske held Kaleb Wesson to three-for-ten from two, Charles Matthews did essentially the same to Andre Wesson, Brandon Johns gave three important minutes, Eli Brooks gave five, and it proved to be an overall strong team effort from everyone involved.
What's Next:
Michigan travels to Iowa on February 1st, Friday night, in search of exorcising more arena demons, this time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Similar to Wisconsin, despite a road win last season, Michigan has struggled in Iowa and had lost four in a row before then. This included five losses in a row and four by double-digits. Despite two losses in a row, Iowa had won five straight previously.
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 game did not start out all good for Michigan. Ohio State started off on a quick 7-2 run just about two-and-a-half minutes into the game. Ohio State made it 12-6, also, a bit later thanks to another quick 5-0 run for the Buckeyes. The Wolverines defense helped greatly in keeping them able to fight back. A pair of threes from Jordan Poole and one from Isaiah Livers made Michigan leaders in the game for the first time with 7:09 remaining in the half and the score 22-19 to Michigan. Things went back and forth, but the last 2:12 of the half marked a significant switch in the game. With the Wolverines back behind 26-25, Zavier Simpson got to the rack and finished a lay-up, Simpson snared a rebound and fed Ignas Brazdeikis for a three. Michigan made two separate steals on OSU's next two possessions, then Charles Matthews followed his own miss with a tip. Michigan made a final key defensive stop and they would enter the half beating the Buckeyes 32-26.
It took two-and-a-half minutes, almost, for either team to score in the second half, a three by Kaleb Wesson. That merely seemed to wake Michigan up from their stupor after the start of the half. Michigan saw back-to-back lay-ups and a Livers three put Michigan up 39-31. A Jordan Poole three eventually made things 44-33, a double-figure lead for Michigan for the first time in the game, but Duane Washington's answer three cut the lead back to eight and saw Chris Holtmann take a timeout to rally the troops. The timeout worked and OSU got a turnover, but they missed two threes on the same possession, and Brazdeikis only needed one shot to swing momentum right back. Simpson hit a step-back three to make it 50-38 and Justin Ahrens missed a three, and Kaleb was called for a foul, his third of the night. From there, tempers flared. Simpson got into it with the bigger Wesson as Kaleb set a hard screen on him on that possession. The pair exchanged words, Jon Teske would get involved, as did Poole, so did Keyshawn Woods of Ohio State. The altercation saw Woods, Kaleb, Teske, and Simpson all get technical fouls, but only Teske took free throws after the common foul, he hit them both. From there, the altercation made Michigan more fired up. Michigan never lost control in the game and the celebrations kept on. Simpson, sitting on nine rebounds, got his tenth and secured a triple-double. The crowd celebrated, but they had more reason to as Simpson found Livers for a dunk, assist number twelve, to make it a twenty-point game. He was given a standing ovation as the crowd chanted his name being subbed off. OSU scored four more points, but Michigan took the game by the score of 65-49.
What Happened:
Imagine, if you will, nearly two years ago to the day. It was February 4, 2017, and the Michigan Wolverines had just gotten beaten in humiliating fashion against the Ohio State Buckeyes. This was a 14-9 Wolverines team that had been called 'white collar' by Illinois, who could only qualify for the NIT that season. Since that game, Michigan has dominated on their home court. They are 32-1 over that stretch, including six wins over ranked teams, and an iconic near-thirty-point drubbing over Michigan State in the immediate aftermath of that Ohio State loss, and the lone loss coming to #5 Purdue that saw a tight reversal, harsh foul call, and a half-court heave rim in-and-out. They have dropped the 'white collar' moniker and when teams like Ohio State step up to them, they no longer hesitate to drop them back down. When Kaleb Wesson of OSU got into it, it was Jordan Poole and a pack of Wolverines there to answer the big man's taunts with some of their own. Whereas one may have feared a Michigan team of yesteryear unable to back up the talk, instead Poole came off the court mocking the O-H I-O chant by moving the 'O' towards his 'you-know-where'. This is a team that has an attitude and fears no one. They answer punches with haymakers of their own. And, fittingly enough, this is a team led by the lone Wolverines that played in that Ohio State game two years ago. A point guard from Lima, Ohio, that considered Ohio State his dream school. A school that never even offered him a scholarship.
Described as "the littlest guy on the court" (accurately) by the ESPN broadcast team, Zavier Simpson played the game of his life achieving the sixth triple-double in Michigan's illustrious history. With eleven points, twelve assists, and ten rebounds, it was a stat-line fit for a king amplified by the fact he committed zero turnovers on the night. Even more impressive is the fact he could have had a few more if his teammates were able to hit a couple more open looks. He was as good as ever on defense and the stat line of the opposing point guard, CJ Jackson, is deceptively good for his limited contribution (four-for-six, eleven points, but zero-for-one from three). Point guard is regularly cited as the most important position on the court. That reigns true with Michigan. Simpson runs the show for Michigan with a seasonal assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.47, the highest in the Big Ten among qualified players. His passes range from the more simple ones that showcase his incredible vision, to the tough ones between defenders, to the downright audacious (his football pass to Jordan Poole last night comes to mind). He is not the most reliable scoring threat, that is true, but his sky-hook and willingness to shoot have him averaging just over thirteen points per game over the last seven. Michigan runs on Zavier Simpson. And he is a true leader for this team.
As has been the norm for many games this season, this was a team effort on the court. Ten made threes were spread around among five players and three players not named Zavier Simpson also finished with double figures in scoring. Jordan Poole led the team in scoring with fifteen points despite going five-for-fourteen from the field and three-for-ten from three. His confidence shooting is always appreciated as even when things are not going his way, he has the willingness to take a big shot that his team needs. Ignas Brazdeikis had fourteen points with two threes on just seven shots and continues to prove himself to be, arguably, the top freshman in the Big Ten. Brazdeikis sometimes showed his 'freshman-ness' with three turnovers, coming largely due to driving with his head down straight to the rim, but only seems to have Romeo Langford of Indiana as competition for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Finally, Isaiah Livers was back on for the Wolverines as he went four-for-six and three-for-five from three with twelve points and three steals. His hustle was vital in keeping the Wolverines scrappy and strong. There was plenty more from others: Jon Teske held Kaleb Wesson to three-for-ten from two, Charles Matthews did essentially the same to Andre Wesson, Brandon Johns gave three important minutes, Eli Brooks gave five, and it proved to be an overall strong team effort from everyone involved.
What's Next:
Michigan travels to Iowa on February 1st, Friday night, in search of exorcising more arena demons, this time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Similar to Wisconsin, despite a road win last season, Michigan has struggled in Iowa and had lost four in a row before then. This included five losses in a row and four by double-digits. Despite two losses in a row, Iowa had won five straight previously.
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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