For the second straight game this week, Michigan brutalized a top-twenty team in full view of the nation on ESPN. Michigan trounced Purdue 76-57 in stop-and-stare fashion, never once trailing the game, only tying at 2-2, and for the eighth straight game, walks out with a victory. In a tough looking Big Ten this season thus far, Michigan is the early-season king.
Game Story:
Michigan's 13-4 run to start the game set the tone immediately for the Wolverines. The shooting was on fire from the first moment, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews each knocking down threes to set the pace. The three-point barrage continued, even as Purdue attempted to fight back. After Carsen Edwards made a tough lay-up to make it 21-16, Michigan reeled off a 10-0 run including a pair of threes and capped off by a Jon Teske jam. There were, however, some cold spells, and this was one of them. Michigan went from the Purdue time-out at 10:23 to the 6:03 mark without a point. Fortunately for them, the defense was lock down. Poole's run-snapping lay-up pushed the Wolverines lead right back to fifteen as only Edwards was able to find the hoop for the Boilermakers in that span. The offense was running on all cylinders, Michigan took a 44-28 lead into the half.
The second half saw a renewing focus from Purdue on offense, but no response on defense. Despite twelve points in the first four minutes (and eight seconds), Michigan saw themselves eighteen-point leaders at the first TV timeout thanks to more action from Poole, Teske, and Zavier Simpson. Michigan, up 60-40, then went from 14:30 to 5:54 without a field goal, and just four points. It was Teske to the rescue with his second three of the game to make it 67-50, a testament to the Michigan defense for holding firm. A Poole three ran the league back to twenty, and Michigan saw themselves to the line from the free throw line with six-for-six from the line, including a pair from Brandon Johns, and ran out of Ann Arbor as 76-57 winners.
What Happened:
In what can be classified as the eighth-straight blowout, it's all about the preparation that Michigan seemingly underwent to stop Purdue. As expected, it was just two players doing the harm to Michigan: Carsen Edwards and Ryan Cline. Edwards was latched onto by Zavier Simpson all night and went an inefficient 7-for-21 with just one made three and nineteen points. He committed five turnovers and contributed just three assists. Cline was markedly better, going three-for-five for three, all three, though, came in the first half. It was Charles Matthews on him and while he did get free, Matthews did well to stick to him. Aaron Wheeler was solid in the second half as well, but the rest of the key players were shut down. Matt Haarms was shut down by Jon Teske in his nineteen minutes, Nojel Eastern has not shown an ability to expand his game and Jordan Poole did well on the assignment, Sasha Stefanovic was locked up for only three points on three shots, and Evan Boudreaux went one-for-eight with just three points. It was picture-perfect game-planning on defense from Michigan and they should be very proud of their play.
On the Michigan end, it was all about Jordan Poole's performance. There was no question that this was the shooting guard's best game of the season as he went eight-for-nine, including five-for-five from three, on his way to 21 points leading all scorers. For my soccer fan readers, Poole reminds me of a creative attacking midfielder. He makes people better around him while also impressing on his own. He really showed up on defense as well and his defensive ability continues to improve as he grows as a player. Not to be forgotten, as well, is Jon Teske's memorable night. The big man had seventeen points on just six shots, helped greatly by a five-for-six night from the free throw line. He snagged eight rebounds, hit both threes he took, and had a massive posterization of Cline to get the crowd fired up. When he's on, it's looking like it will be tough to beat Michigan. They can play you inside with Teske, then when they are shooting like this from the outside, it's hard not to like what you see out of this team's ability and potential.
The story of the night in general was the Michigan three-point shooting. For the second game in a row, Michigan have shot 50% from long range and the good shooting has allowed for things in both games (poor free throw shooting against UNC and cold spells against Purdue) to be overcome in their favor. If they can continue shooting at a slightly more consistent rate than in the earlier season, not even 50%, then this team looks like it could be devastating. Additionally, over the course of the past two games, six of Michigan's seven regular rotational players hit a three, five of them hit more than one over the two games. Even the one who didn't, Zavier Simpson, will take the shot and functions as the heartbeat of the team in ways other than outside shooting. This is a team whose shot is coming into form, and that could be key in adding their next dimension.
Some other notes about the team that I want to cover: all five starters played over 30 minutes, with the three key bench pieces (Eli Brooks, Isaiah Livers, and Austin Davis) combining for just 26 minutes. Even with just seven total bench points, a weaker night from Charles Matthews and Ignas Brazdeikis, and two long cold spells, Michigan was still able to beat Purdue with relative ease. Purdue also is a team that needs a bit of soul searching after that game. Tyler Eifert really offers little to the Boilermakers in terms of offense, Aaron Wheeler is a sound, albeit young, player. They really struggled with floor spacing and while Cline can create his own shot, if it's only him on the floor, you can sag off on Eastern, sag off on Eifert, and help away from Matt Haarms. Playing Wheeler and Stefanovich more at the same time, perhaps with Boudreaux, gets you more to offer around the floor.
What's Next:
On deck is game number two of the Big Ten season. Michigan ventures into Illinois to take on Northwestern on Tuesday. The teams square off at 9 P.M. EST (8 P.M. CST). The Wildcats pushed Indiana on the road, but they lost 68-66 thanks greatly to a turnover on their last position. They now have to play host to Michigan, who have lost their past two games on the road to Northwestern. They hope to snap that skid.
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:
Michigan's 13-4 run to start the game set the tone immediately for the Wolverines. The shooting was on fire from the first moment, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews each knocking down threes to set the pace. The three-point barrage continued, even as Purdue attempted to fight back. After Carsen Edwards made a tough lay-up to make it 21-16, Michigan reeled off a 10-0 run including a pair of threes and capped off by a Jon Teske jam. There were, however, some cold spells, and this was one of them. Michigan went from the Purdue time-out at 10:23 to the 6:03 mark without a point. Fortunately for them, the defense was lock down. Poole's run-snapping lay-up pushed the Wolverines lead right back to fifteen as only Edwards was able to find the hoop for the Boilermakers in that span. The offense was running on all cylinders, Michigan took a 44-28 lead into the half.
The second half saw a renewing focus from Purdue on offense, but no response on defense. Despite twelve points in the first four minutes (and eight seconds), Michigan saw themselves eighteen-point leaders at the first TV timeout thanks to more action from Poole, Teske, and Zavier Simpson. Michigan, up 60-40, then went from 14:30 to 5:54 without a field goal, and just four points. It was Teske to the rescue with his second three of the game to make it 67-50, a testament to the Michigan defense for holding firm. A Poole three ran the league back to twenty, and Michigan saw themselves to the line from the free throw line with six-for-six from the line, including a pair from Brandon Johns, and ran out of Ann Arbor as 76-57 winners.
What Happened:
In what can be classified as the eighth-straight blowout, it's all about the preparation that Michigan seemingly underwent to stop Purdue. As expected, it was just two players doing the harm to Michigan: Carsen Edwards and Ryan Cline. Edwards was latched onto by Zavier Simpson all night and went an inefficient 7-for-21 with just one made three and nineteen points. He committed five turnovers and contributed just three assists. Cline was markedly better, going three-for-five for three, all three, though, came in the first half. It was Charles Matthews on him and while he did get free, Matthews did well to stick to him. Aaron Wheeler was solid in the second half as well, but the rest of the key players were shut down. Matt Haarms was shut down by Jon Teske in his nineteen minutes, Nojel Eastern has not shown an ability to expand his game and Jordan Poole did well on the assignment, Sasha Stefanovic was locked up for only three points on three shots, and Evan Boudreaux went one-for-eight with just three points. It was picture-perfect game-planning on defense from Michigan and they should be very proud of their play.
On the Michigan end, it was all about Jordan Poole's performance. There was no question that this was the shooting guard's best game of the season as he went eight-for-nine, including five-for-five from three, on his way to 21 points leading all scorers. For my soccer fan readers, Poole reminds me of a creative attacking midfielder. He makes people better around him while also impressing on his own. He really showed up on defense as well and his defensive ability continues to improve as he grows as a player. Not to be forgotten, as well, is Jon Teske's memorable night. The big man had seventeen points on just six shots, helped greatly by a five-for-six night from the free throw line. He snagged eight rebounds, hit both threes he took, and had a massive posterization of Cline to get the crowd fired up. When he's on, it's looking like it will be tough to beat Michigan. They can play you inside with Teske, then when they are shooting like this from the outside, it's hard not to like what you see out of this team's ability and potential.
The story of the night in general was the Michigan three-point shooting. For the second game in a row, Michigan have shot 50% from long range and the good shooting has allowed for things in both games (poor free throw shooting against UNC and cold spells against Purdue) to be overcome in their favor. If they can continue shooting at a slightly more consistent rate than in the earlier season, not even 50%, then this team looks like it could be devastating. Additionally, over the course of the past two games, six of Michigan's seven regular rotational players hit a three, five of them hit more than one over the two games. Even the one who didn't, Zavier Simpson, will take the shot and functions as the heartbeat of the team in ways other than outside shooting. This is a team whose shot is coming into form, and that could be key in adding their next dimension.
Some other notes about the team that I want to cover: all five starters played over 30 minutes, with the three key bench pieces (Eli Brooks, Isaiah Livers, and Austin Davis) combining for just 26 minutes. Even with just seven total bench points, a weaker night from Charles Matthews and Ignas Brazdeikis, and two long cold spells, Michigan was still able to beat Purdue with relative ease. Purdue also is a team that needs a bit of soul searching after that game. Tyler Eifert really offers little to the Boilermakers in terms of offense, Aaron Wheeler is a sound, albeit young, player. They really struggled with floor spacing and while Cline can create his own shot, if it's only him on the floor, you can sag off on Eastern, sag off on Eifert, and help away from Matt Haarms. Playing Wheeler and Stefanovich more at the same time, perhaps with Boudreaux, gets you more to offer around the floor.
What's Next:
On deck is game number two of the Big Ten season. Michigan ventures into Illinois to take on Northwestern on Tuesday. The teams square off at 9 P.M. EST (8 P.M. CST). The Wildcats pushed Indiana on the road, but they lost 68-66 thanks greatly to a turnover on their last position. They now have to play host to Michigan, who have lost their past two games on the road to Northwestern. They hope to snap that skid.
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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