Michigan 60, Rutgers 52
Rutgers hadn't lost on their home court all season. Isaiah Livers, nursing a twisted ankle, didn't even go through warmups. The Scarlet Knights pulled down 14 offensive rebounds to Michigan's four, committed one fewer turnover, and got up 16 more shots from the field. The Wolverines made only 6-of-23 three-point attempts. Livers's replacement, Brandon Johns, scored a single point and had more fouls (four) than rebounds (three).
Nonetheless, Michigan found a way to become the first team to win at the RAC since March 6th, 2019.
It took some searching. Not long after Rutgers climbed their way out of an early first-half deficit, Johns picked up his second foul, and Juwan Howard planted him on the bench in favor of Adrien Nunez. The offense went cold and the defense looked shaky as Michigan mostly went to a 2-3 zone. With a stepback three at the halftime buzzer, Geo Baker put the Scarlet Knights ahead, 31-28.
David DeJulius hit some big shots [Wilcomes]
When Johns fouled Akwasi Yeboah on RU's first possession of the second half, Colin Castleton went to the scorer's table in Nunez's stead. The decision to go big paid immediate dividends. Castleton drove through Shaq Carter for an and-one layup just after the Scarlet Knights had taken a nine-point lead, their biggest of the game. He sealed off his man to free David DeJulius for a baseline floater and hit two free throws after he rebounded a DeJulius miss, cutting the deficit to one on each play. He teamed up with Jon Teske and Franz Wagner to form a forest of arms on the back line of the zone, stymieing repeated efforts to get to the basket. Yeboah tried to take him off the dribble and lost the ball out of bounds.
DeJulius then hit a runner followed by a corner three off a beautiful setup from Zavier Simpson to give Michigan a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Castleton finished with five points, four rebounds, and a block while going +9 in ten minutes that turned the tide of the game.
Eli Brooks went 3-for-4 inside the arc [Wilcomes]
Simpson had another great performance, leading the team with 16 points on 13 shooting possessions and adding six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. He knocked down two early threes—he was the only Wolverine to make more than one triple—to get Rutgers to stop ducking under screens against him, then feasted the rest of the game by getting into the middle of the defense at will. He scored his 1,000th career point tonight, becoming the fourth player in school history to surpass 1,000 points and 500 assists; fittingly, it came on a hook shot over a center to beat the shot clock.
Whenever it looked like Rutgers might pull even, the Wolverines would come up with a stop and a bucket. Michigan looked to be cruising to the finish line up six with the ball heading into the under-four media timeout when Wagner carried the ball trying to break a full-court press. Yeboah airballed a contested corner three, however, and Johns hustled to help ensure Paul Mulcahey couldn't reel in a long rebound. After a ragged possession, Eli Brooks stepped into a pull-up three that caught Mulcahey leaning back and put the final dagger in Rutgers's home winning streak.
The win, Michigan's fourth straight, moves the Wolverines to 8-7 in the Big Ten. Barring a brutal collapse, they've solidified a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Not bad for a team that's rarely been at full strength while navigating the toughest conference in the country with a first-time head coach taking over someone else's roster.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
February 20th, 2020 at 11:41 AM ^
I'd much rather see Colin in the game against Maryland than Davis for example, Maryland doesn't play a traditional post, Jalen Smith would absolutely roast Davis with athleticism, Colin's got more foot speed. In that one if Teske sits it either needs to be Colin or you play Livers and Johns as the forwards.
February 19th, 2020 at 10:49 PM ^
Ace, hopefully your health is good/improving/completely stable perfect. Regardless, your writing is exemplary and just gets better. Cheers and Go Blue!
February 19th, 2020 at 10:50 PM ^
that’s a big old win, right there.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:35 PM ^
Big fat win
February 19th, 2020 at 10:55 PM ^
DeJulius played some really good defense tonight.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:27 PM ^
Yes, Michigan played fantastic D down the stretch in the second half.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:32 PM ^
I like DDJ more and more. I think he’s learning to be a complete player and has improved from when he would just jack shots. He’s still aggressive but it’s usually more within the offense and he’s been able to distribute a little more.
And I agree on his defense. Only gripe is I wish he would stop slapping the floor...
February 19th, 2020 at 11:53 PM ^
Floor slaps against Sparty are funny and deserved when done mockingly
Against anybody else....don't do it
February 20th, 2020 at 12:28 AM ^
You’re not kidding. He had Geo Baker on his heels for most of the second half!
February 20th, 2020 at 12:47 AM ^
I think Baker only scored 4 points in the second half and Rutgers made zero second half threes.
February 20th, 2020 at 6:47 AM ^
I love that spin move he does off of screens as much as I love Simpson hook shots
February 20th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
did anyone else see him shot freethrows and after sinking the first one, step forward to slap fives only to realize he was the only michigan player near the rim?
he slapped one rutgers player and looked up and was like 'oops my bad' lol
February 20th, 2020 at 11:50 AM ^
My kiddos and I had a good laugh over that!! So funny.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:18 PM ^
Hail to the Victors! Gritty win was gritty. Good for Colin, who stayed ready.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:36 PM ^
Castleton has a higher ceiling than Davis, and that’s why Davis will grad transfer (Davis has been awesome this year and I really like his grit)
February 20th, 2020 at 1:46 AM ^
Davis won't willingly transfer even if he gets passed. He'd still be the backup and he absolutely would stay for that. He's a M man through and through.
He'll only leave if Juwan doesn't have a spot for him and that'll probably come down to whether Juwan wants to make his son a walk-on.
February 20th, 2020 at 5:36 AM ^
Well, he could leave to become a starter elsewhere versus a 10-12 minutes per game backup here.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:51 PM ^
Could Davis choose to become a fifth year walk on? Is such a thing possible?
February 19th, 2020 at 11:42 PM ^
13-0 vs Rutgers, hope the streak never ends! Go Blue!
February 20th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
I did have a question: when did blocking shots become equal to blocking a punt? As long as you get ball first you can absolutely maul the shooter? Credit to DDJ for continuing to pick himself up.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:24 AM ^
This was a great win because it was an ugly win and Michigan needed to learn how to win ugly. No Livers, tough road game, shots not really falling, high number of turnovers - but they played tough. Four weeks ago they lose this game in excruciating fashion. Rutgers couldn't shoot but Michigan's defense didn't let up the whole game and made them work hard for whatever they did get. And some guys hit some really difficult shots against Rutgers's tough defense.
They're playing together now and with a lot more focus. Playing hard will help you overcome a lot of mistakes. Hopefully they get LIvers back and get another road win vs Purdue this Satuday. Keep it rolling.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:32 AM ^
Couldn’t be happier with the win. No Livers. Castleton stepped up. Simpson lead well. DeJulius played GREAT D against Baker. Everyone else was solid and we played as a team. Looking forward to the run this team can make over the next month!
February 20th, 2020 at 12:36 AM ^
Simpson giving DDJ his Popeye look. All he needs is the corncob pipe and sailor hat.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:48 AM ^
Saw that too. Great shot with Simpson in the background.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:54 AM ^
Bang! Bang!
Gritty ass win boys , hell yeah.
Go Blue
February 20th, 2020 at 5:19 AM ^
The best part of the DDJ picture above in Simpson’s “big mood” in the background.
February 20th, 2020 at 7:22 AM ^
Another solid win. Rutgers little run has been cute, but they are still a bottom tier big ten team and they will end up there in the standings by the end of the year. Hustle can only get you so far when you lack talent.
February 20th, 2020 at 8:02 AM ^
We need a compilation of M players screaming triumphantly after making big plays - such as DDJ this game and Yes he's banner photo from last year (or was it the prior year?)
February 20th, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
“Not bad for a team that's rarely been at full strength while navigating the toughest conference in the country with a first-time head coach taking over someone else's roster.”
Well said.
February 20th, 2020 at 9:22 AM ^
I decided to check out The Knight Report, a Rutgers basketball message board. It's always interesting to see the takes of other fans. Especially fans other than Ohio State and Michigan State fans because we always know what their take is. According to some Rutgers fans...
- Michigan is a bunch of Corn-fed Corn boys. Whatever the fuck that is.
- Zavier Simpson is our whole team. The fact that he went out with 4 fouls and M was still able to pull away just blows their minds.
- Michigan is not more talented
- Phil M is the coach and Pick was outcoached by Phil last night. Not Juwan.
- Hate Michigan and hate losing to Michigan. They hate the fact they're 0-13.
- The fact they weren't able to beat Michigan without Livers at home just makes them so mad.
- One guy said it's the hardest he's taken a Rutgers basketball loss in a LONG LONG TIME.
- They can't believe we beat them twice this year.
Okay I'm done slacking off. Back to work.
February 20th, 2020 at 12:08 PM ^
i'm picturing pissed off Marvin the Martian as a Scarlet Nut in #6.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/152081185040-0-1/s-l1000.jpg
February 20th, 2020 at 9:57 AM ^
Less Teske. More anyone else.
February 20th, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^
You mean the guy that completely dominated inside on defense? Learn more about basketball.
February 20th, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
Seeing the ups and downs of MGoBlog comments increased by an up-&-down season reminds me of an object lesson from the first Rutgers game.
Leaving, I happened to be in step with a couple Rutgers fans, and complimented them on their coach's great work turning the team around. Fresh off a tough loss, they rejected the praise. All they saw was a loss, so our conversation quickly sunk into a string of complaints till I could veer off. "Fuck him! We lost." "Fire the bastard."
Unlike the ironic comments that sometimes pop up on MGoBlog, their diatribes were sincere and pissed off. And like other comments that pop up here, they were absolutely convinced their coach made stupid mistakes, and this player or that was a dog, and needed to ride the bench.
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