Michigan 89, Indiana 65
Archie Miller is going to wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, the image of Zavier Simpson maneuvering through his defense seared into his brain. He won't know if Simpson will dump the ball off to a rolling big, kick it out to an open shooter, or finish the play himself; he'll also know it hardly matters.
Simpson's virtuoso performance keyed Michigan's blowout of Indiana for their fifth win in six games. As IU stubbornly kept hedging Simpson, he kept whipping passes to open teammates, tallying 11 assists against a lone turnover. When help defenders overplayed the pass, he showed off his finishing repertoire, scoring 12 points on nine shooting possessions, highlighted by a pull-up hook shot over Indiana big man Trayce Jackson-Davis.
in ur base [Campredon]
This is when the Wolverines play at their best, when Simpson is primarily a distributor. Four additional Michigan players scored in double figures. Franz Wagner led the team with 16 points, pairing his usual swooping layups with a 2-for-4 mark from beyond the arc. Brandon Johns connected on all three of his three-pointers and bullied the Hoosiers defense into putting him on the line repeatedly, finishing with 14. Eli Brooks curled and floated his way to 13. Isaiah Livers added 12 points, looking like his old self until rolling an ankle early in the second half; while Livers later returned to the floor, he had a noticeable limp and didn't stay out there for long.
Other than the injury scare, this was the ideal game for Michigan. They led for over 35 minutes of game time and spent almost the entire second half ahead by double digits. Only two Indiana players had a significant offensive impact: backup center De'Ron Davis, who hit all nine of his shots—a couple of them rather improbable—but also gave a lot back as an immobile defender, and guard Al Durham, who scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half. For the first time, Juwan Howard deployed a 2-3 zone as more than a changeup out of timeouts; both man and zone concepts proved effective.
"brunner" doesn't quite have the same ring as "threeli" but [Campredon]
Every time it looked like Indiana might make the game competitive again, Simpson would dart into the lane and zip a pass to Johns for an open corner three, or hit the big man rolling for an uncontested finish, or thread a bounce pass between two defenders to Wagner for a transition layup, or find Brooks darting into the paint for a runner, or hit his man with a hesitation spin move and lay it in himself. Michigan had 18 layups or dunks; Indiana had ten, all layups—in spite of their athleticism they did not cross the E-line.
In an encouraging sign for the present and future, David DeJulius looked plenty capable of playing the point himself, handing out three assists with no turnovers and adding what's becoming his patented baseline floater when Simpson got a breather. Austin Davis nearly became the sixth Wolverine to hit double figures, scoring nine points on 4-for-6 shooting with a couple offensive boards. Jon Teske had six points, seven boards, and four blocks—he deterred IU's guards from even attempting to get to the rim. Cole Bajema tantalized with a deep pull-up three to beat the shot clock in garbage time.
three ball, corner pocket [Campredon]
The victory gets Michigan level at 7-7 in the Big Ten. With the weekend slate complete and no league games scheduled for Monday, the Wolverines are now tied with Ohio State for eighth in the conference, and there's the possibility for a whole lot of movement—third and 13th place are separated by two games in the loss column. If Michigan wants to keep moving up, they'll have to become the first visiting team to win at the RAC on Wednesday when they face Rutgers. Playing like they did today would give them a damn good shot.
[Hit THE JUMP for a lovely Wagner family photo sequence from MG and the box score.]
February 16th, 2020 at 4:27 PM ^
To score 89 points and have your leader with 16, that is some nice team basketball.
February 16th, 2020 at 6:18 PM ^
This is what I was thinking watching this game:
As excited as we all are to have these potential one-and-dones coming in, it's got to be difficult to feed all the players who bring such dreams with them, while still executing the type of team basketball we saw today.
For all that may be gained, something may be sacrificed as well...
I'm hoping for good health for this squad - they just may do something special!
February 17th, 2020 at 12:14 AM ^
Oh, something will definitely be sacrificed. I keep saying that I'd rather have a bunch of four star juniors than five star freshmen. That's how Villanova, Gonzaga and UVA (and Michigan to a lesser extent) have been so good under their current coaches.
The UNC team that won it all in 2017 started four upperclassmen, not one and dones.
In all of Calipari's years of having the #1 recruiting class, he's only won the title once. Back in 2012 with Anthony Davis. Even Duke last year with the top three recruits couldn't beat seniors Matt McQuaid and Kenny Goins.
Only 2015 Duke and 2012 UK won the title with two freshmen one and done's playing significant minutes.
The vast majority of one and done's have a ton of potential but not nearly enough knowledge of the game to play well as a team.
Howard will have a coaching job ahead of him next year to integrate everyone well, provided he does get a couple top 15 guys that won't intend to stay beyond one year.
February 17th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
I keep saying that I'd rather have a bunch of four star juniors than five star freshmen.
You get to have both next season. Johns, DDJ and Castleton were all four stars (as was Livers, who would be a senior).
February 16th, 2020 at 4:33 PM ^
Thank you, Archie! Why on earth would you want to hard hedge X and turn him into a passer?
February 16th, 2020 at 5:46 PM ^
Indeed and most incredible. This is basketball ignorance 101 out in full force.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:30 PM ^
And that was the weird thing. They kept running that defense over and over and over again. It was like, the definition of insanity out there.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
It eventually worked. Simpson got benched with 2 minutes to go in the game.
February 16th, 2020 at 9:26 PM ^
Underrated comment
February 17th, 2020 at 12:20 AM ^
He saw Simpson make Izzo pay and didn't want a repeat.
That was sarcasm.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:34 PM ^
Loved everything about this game except the Livers' injury and the fact that Indiana got at least 5-6 "and ones". If you're gonna foul them get your money's worth fellas.
February 16th, 2020 at 9:33 PM ^
Yeah, but they threw up some stuff that somehow went in. Lots of crazy-ass banks.
February 16th, 2020 at 10:24 PM ^
It says a lot when an objective watching of that game says, ‘wow, Indiana was really lucky to only lose by 24’. Yet, that is a most accurate conclusion.
February 18th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
Agreed. Sooo much junk went in. Behind the back Hail Mary flip; 3 bounce rim shakes, et al.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:37 PM ^
I was actually impressed with how well Indiana played; they still managed to score near their average. They didn't have a bad game and we blew the doors off them; I think the fellas are rounding into shape. I like our chances at the RAC; this team has matured and is ready to make some moves up the Big Ten standings. This team is looking like the squad that won the Battle 4 Atlantis, and ya know how well the winner of that tournament has done the past few years.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:06 PM ^
You could definitely argue that this team has looked BETTER than the Atlantis squad
Johns, Davis, and Franz have made huge leaps
Brooks was out of his mind in that tournament but he's definitely stabilized the last few games after having a lull in the middle of the season. Teske is the only one that's regressed. We need him up and running and we could legitimately go far in the tournament if we stay healthy. It's ANYONE'S game this year
February 16th, 2020 at 9:18 PM ^
Need to finish the season strong and get up to a 5 or 6 seed. An 8 seed would suck. Not impossible to make a run, but much more difficult.
February 16th, 2020 at 11:51 PM ^
Usually that’s right, but I don’t think it matters much this year. There really aren’t any great teams to try and avoid early on.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:39 PM ^
Again, hit FTs, get reasonable officiating at MN and IA and that O$U thing, and this team could be 11-3 in the B1G.
My goodness this team could be wicked dangerous in March.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:41 PM ^
If Livers had played in those games, they probably don't go down to the wire at all. At full strength, we may be the Big Ten's best team.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
We will have a chance to prove it in Indy!
February 16th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^
Crazy that we're still alive for a double bye. But if past tournaments are any indication, we like playing 4 in 4 days
February 16th, 2020 at 6:51 PM ^
February 16th, 2020 at 9:31 PM ^
Don't forget the Turgeon factor.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^
Feels weird to to be excited about a game against Rutgers. Doesn’t it?
February 16th, 2020 at 6:21 PM ^
RAC it!
February 16th, 2020 at 6:54 PM ^
If we can shoot 57/53/82 at the RAC, like we did today, we win easily. But Rutgers defense at home is hellaciously better than IU"s.
February 16th, 2020 at 8:50 PM ^
Shooting 53% from 3 is usually going to get you a W
February 16th, 2020 at 5:33 PM ^
It's actually the 5th win in six games.
We've got a tough stretch ahead though, since four of our last six are on the road. That includes games at OSU (who beat us at Crisler) and at Maryland (a top 10 team). Time to shine. GO BLUE.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
OSU played us without Livers and needed a horrible, game-deciding call to win. I look forward to playing them at the Value City Discount Dollar Tree Low-Cost Arena.
February 17th, 2020 at 10:58 AM ^
All true, but don’t expect a friendlier whistle there either.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:44 PM ^
They looked phenomenal on offense today. Locked in and in sync all day, ball was moving around constantly, guys knew where to go with the ball, and multiple guys attacking the basket. Just a great team performance. I was critical after the osu game. I thought this team was really playing some bad basketball, but very impressed to see Juwans team looking like the team we saw at the battle for Atlantis. It’s one thing to look that way in November, it’s another to regain that form in February. Of course, these recent run all coincides with livers being back, but it’s great to see juwans team look this good again.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:47 PM ^
Exemplary performance from Simpson. Well done young man.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
Assuming no road wins...If we go into the BTT 18-13 against what will prob be the #1 or 2 SOS are we in? regardlesss of the BTT?
February 16th, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
Don’t even worry about that because we’ll be 19-12 going into the tournament
February 16th, 2020 at 7:50 PM ^
I concede no game. We can win ‘em all.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:30 PM ^
Player availability is something the Committee is supposed to consider. If they factor in Livers’ absence, we should get at least 2 seeds better than the record would indicate.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
Or...assuming 6 more regular season wins and 3 BTT wins...Michigan will be 25-9 heading into the tournament.
February 16th, 2020 at 9:16 PM ^
I wouldn't feel completely confident finishing 18-14. Also, losing in the first game of the BTT means losing against a lower seed (unless you're the 13th or 14th seed.)
Anyway, I think 19 wins gets Michigan in. Good chance to reach it in the next three.
February 17th, 2020 at 1:27 AM ^
I think Michigan would absolutely be sweating bullets if they finish 18-14, with a 2-9 road record (6-10 road/neutral record), especially because they would have just lost a game to a likely bubble team, and the NET (#26) doesn't seem to like Michigan as much as KenPom (#14) or Torvik (#13).
And Michigan doesn't have a top SOS according to whatever asinine metrics the committee is using. They're #61 overall and #107 in the non-conference. I suppose it could get better... but I can't fathom how it's this bad to begin with, so who knows?
I'd say they'd probably be bubble-in at that point, but a few upsets in conference tournaments could be fatal (or maybe, Dayton at best).
Here's to not leaving that in the hands of the committee, starting with... (checks team sheet) (double checks) (checks KenPom)... Wednesday's... Q1A game... at the RAC... against Rutgers.
February 18th, 2020 at 8:34 AM ^
Apparently SOS is still measured using RPI even though the committee has stopped using it as a metric. So, that's dumb as hell.
February 16th, 2020 at 6:12 PM ^
Pretty soon Archie Miller's going to wake up unemployed.
February 16th, 2020 at 6:19 PM ^
his brother already should be
February 17th, 2020 at 12:25 AM ^
Is he still at UofA? They're actually pretty good this year but yeah, he should have been banned by the NCAA right?
February 16th, 2020 at 9:22 PM ^
I'm actually sad about this. I'm a Dayton grad and obviously can't fault him for taking a job at a blue blood program (helps that UD is absolutely killing it right now), but rooting for IU after UM seems pretty easy. Apart from Samson it's hard to dislike them
February 16th, 2020 at 10:31 PM ^
Jeff Meyer could not disagree with this take any more strongly
February 16th, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
Au contraire. Bobby Knight. Alumni Hall. Tom Crean. Did I mention Bobby Knight. Indiana has long been one of the EASIEST teams to dislike. In fact, I don't know how one feel otherwise. Remember, Indiana is the only State south of Mississippi.
February 18th, 2020 at 12:38 PM ^
You had me until you said the thing about Indiana being south of the Mississippi?
February 16th, 2020 at 6:37 PM ^
Indiana seemed to make about 10 junky looking bank shots throughout the game, or this could have been more lopsided. Simpson's solid 3 pt shooting lately seems to be deterring teams from dropping off him as much, which leads to him being a maestro like he was today.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:00 PM ^
People have been making crazy shit like that at Crisler against us all year this year.
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