Michigan 62, Penn State 58
Eli Brooks is about this life.
With Michigan clinging for dear life to a two-point lead with 24 seconds to play, Penn State called a timeout to set up the game's most critical possession. Jim Ferry called an isolation for guard Sam Sessoms with four other shooters spreading the floor. This meant the defender would be on an island with no help at the rim, a scenario that hasn't gone well for the Wolverines this year.
Penn State chose the wrong defender.
Brooks mirrored Sessoms as they moved in tandem towards the basket, then got vertical to force a tough shot that barely caught iron. Isaiah Livers cleared the rebound and iced the game at the line.
Franz Wagner is also about this life. One possession earlier, he similarly stonewalled a drive by Izaiah Brockington, whom he'd been chirping with throughout what become an unexpectedly hard-fought victory. Unfortunately, situational substitute Terrance Williams missed two free throws to give PSU new life, only for Brooks to subsequently snuff them out.
lockdown [Campredon]
Hunter Dickinson appears more than ready for this life. In his first start for an injured Austin Davis, the freshman big man scored 20 points on 14 shooting possessions, pulled down seven boards, and blocked three* shots in a dominant 28 minutes. He saved his best for the end, an extremely promising sign for his conditioning. Michigan made only seven of their last 21 field goal attempts; Dickinson accounted for five of those makes, including the tying dunk and go-ahead layup in the final minutes, with a single miss in that stretch.
Chaundee Brown may be the most about this life. The ACC transfer was so at home in the Big Ten that he received an in-game highlight montage illuminating his terrific work on defense. Despite not scoring a point, he finished a team-best +7 in 20 minutes. Brandon Johns had his ups and downs but made some crucial plays on both ends of the floor while getting his most extensive time at center so far this year; he, too, finished +7, and while that was largely a product of being on the floor when Michigan got hot from three, his presence helped space the floor for that to happen.
It wasn't the prettiest of wins by any stretch, but when was the last time Penn State—which, remember, beat Michigan in Crisler last season—made anything easy? For a few minutes late in the first half it looked like this would be an exception, as a rapid 12-2 run bookended by Brooks three-pointers stretched M's lead out to 15 points.
Smith and Brooks combined for four three-pointers [Campredon]
Instead, the Nittany Lions embarked on a 16-2 run of their own that bridged the halftime gap; a short shot from center John Harrar gave PSU their first lead of the game with 16:36 remaining. The game would stay within a possession until four straight points from Wagner gave the Wolverines a tiny bit of breathing room that evaporated with another extended offensive drought. An and-one by Sessoms gave PSU a two-point lead with under three minutes to go.
That's when the other newcomer, point guard Mike Smith, stepped up to show he, too, is ready for this conference. After working his way into the paint off a screen, he wrapped a gorgeous pass around center Trent Buttrick to assist Dickinson's tying dunk, then split a double team before feeding Dickinson for the eventual winning points.
The win may not have gone how Juwan Howard would've drawn it up, but he has a team that's going to erase a lot of what the other team draws up, too. This afternoon, his senior point guards and freshman center were the players most responsible for Michigan hanging onto a critical conference win.
Come Christmas against Nebraska, Dickinson will probably play a starring role again, but who knows which players will step up around him. Livers and Wagner combined to shoot 3/12 from the field. Any time that happens and the Wolverines still win, they've got to feel good about the balance and depth of this team.
*Okay, yes, one of them was an obvious goaltend the refs missed. So it goes, suckers.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score and full photo album.]
Full photo album from MG is up on Flickr.
December 13th, 2020 at 8:47 PM ^
WOTS is that Ace was a member of the Ypsi Crps.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:40 PM ^
Ypsi Creeps? Makes sense
December 14th, 2020 at 2:18 AM ^
I know you're joking, but claiming "Ypsi Crips" would get you shot for being 12 aka the police.
December 13th, 2020 at 9:24 PM ^
It means this is what they do and they don't shy away from it.
So if someone is "about that defensive life", it means that player doesn't mind play physical, gritty, tough-nosed, in-your-face defense.
December 13th, 2020 at 6:47 PM ^
For the second game recap in a row I disagree with Ace on his assessment of Johns. I guess he hit a three, but otherwise I thought it was a pretty rough performance and gives me concerns with Davis out.
I thought the goaltend was iffy too and even if it was still below the rim...giving these refs a lot of credit for seeing that. The charge call on Smith was horrible.
December 13th, 2020 at 8:25 PM ^
Whaaaaat...you don't think 5'11 Smith can bulldoze a 6'8, 260lb forward by grazing him?!!
December 13th, 2020 at 10:33 PM ^
Yeah, Johns is now a junior. He is tentative and prone to mistakes. Would that it weren't so.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:35 PM ^
Johns continues to show flashes, but still hasn't put it together. He's a junior and it's getting a little late from him, but I think a DJ Wilson type leap is possible mid season. The 3 was nice, he had a nice block, moved well on defense, but he definitely still needs to work on his offensive and defensive positioning
December 13th, 2020 at 11:35 PM ^
4 turnovers in 14 minutes is way too many
December 13th, 2020 at 10:42 PM ^
Agree. Johns is a player I really really want to like, but he is not taking that step.
December 13th, 2020 at 6:49 PM ^
Incredible to win when you have 16 turnovers, and livers and wagner being invisible on offense. Dickinson and free throw shooting (!!) saved us from an ugly loss.
December 13th, 2020 at 7:30 PM ^
Last couple years we lose that game based on FT shooting. It’s glorious to have a team competent (dare I say good?) from the stripe.
December 13th, 2020 at 6:57 PM ^
every time i see chaundee brown i think he'd make a tremendous SS or WLB. looks like he would enjoy and excel at contact.
December 14th, 2020 at 10:49 PM ^
I bet he can make a good throw to first from deep in that 3B/SS hole!
December 13th, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
The thing that struck me (and impressed me) the most about this game was that the defensive improvement since the beginning of the season has been not just noticeable, but significant. On day one of the season, I doubt we would have won this game. But clearly defense has been a point of emphasis for Juwan after our early struggles on that side of the ball. This game showed that this team is now capable of winning low-scoring grinders. If it wasn't for our defense (and HD's monster game), those 16 turnovers would have done us in.
This team is a joy to watch, really. A team that can win in multiple different ways is a team to be feared.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:38 PM ^
We jumped like 10 spots in KenPom after this game. PSU kept it close though by hitting so many timely 3s
December 13th, 2020 at 8:43 PM ^
Man, I don't want to be Mr. "Cliche," but Livers and Wagner are too indecisive offensively and seem to lack some of the toughness it takes to finish plays off (Note: I am not saying they aren't tough and they are both plus defenders). Livers also seems to be in a fog at times, just going through the motions. Big 10 is going to be a blood bath this year. Should be noted the refs swung this thing 6-8 points PSU's way.
December 13th, 2020 at 8:46 PM ^
Great win and very good test for the upcoming B1G season.
I would hope this was one of the worst games Livers will have the season. Not concerned at all about John's yet, he needs to find his rhythm quickly though. Franz is perplexing if not troublesome, and wish Juwan would have found a way to get Williams in earlier then when the game was on the line late in the 2nd.
Chaundee maybe played the best non-scoring game I've ever seen.
December 13th, 2020 at 9:39 PM ^
If Wagner's outside shooting doesn't magically become way better than it has been throughout his UM tenure...
December 13th, 2020 at 8:54 PM ^
Twill needs more time, especially if Franz continues to struggle with his shot.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:05 PM ^
While I like Williams and think his energy needs at least a few shifts per game, I don't see it at all related to Wagner. Despite his outside shooting continuing to be worse than it should be, he brings a lot more to the game with his defense, rebounding, and 2pt game. Williams, for all of the little things he does well, is not a useful offensive player right now as he hasn't shown he can shoot or dribble. He's an opportunistic cutter, rebounder, and can feed the post. I like him for energy, but I don't think you take minutes from Franz because of him.
The good news is that we're deep and versatile - so we can play a bit of the hot hand between Livers, Wagner, Brown, Johns, and Williams.
December 13th, 2020 at 11:00 PM ^
I don’t know how good PSU is going to be, but they defend well, iso the crap out of teams, move & cut hard, and generally look competent.
Dare I say “Gritty”?
December 13th, 2020 at 11:34 PM ^
Did anyone else catch the interaction when Phil Martelli stood up to say something to Juwan Howard and Howard basically dismissed him? Was kind of conflicted - Martelli's experience should garner at least modicum of respect even if Howard disagreed with whatever point Martelli was making at the time. But also slightly interested to see Howard's confidence in his own opinion.
There was also a funny interaction in the huddle when it looked like Howard was cautioning against biting on shot fakes, Livers stepped in and started demonstrating, Howard told him to chill a bit, and Livers immediately responded with a "My bad, Coach."
December 13th, 2020 at 11:50 PM ^
Gotta give credit to Penn State, they were playing HARD, really scrapping, and refused to fold even when down 15. They are kind of chuckers, so are not going to turn the ball over as much, and we did.
Brooks was fantastic, Brown was a force even while missing his only two shots, Smith was solid, and Hunter D came up big, again. He is clearly, already, our most indispensable player.
Livers has to start hitting his open 3s, Franz has not been doing much offensively, either. Johns is a turnover machine, and I had no idea T Will was so bad at free throws. That is going to make him unplayable at the end of games.
Great win!!
December 14th, 2020 at 1:38 AM ^
Okay, yes, one of them was an obvious goaltend the refs missed. So it goes, suckers.
Wrong. For goaltending the ball has to 1. Be on its way down 2. The ball has to be above the rim not below or even with rim.
From what I saw and bardo n his broadcast partner both mentioned was that said ball was not above rim.
December 14th, 2020 at 1:38 AM ^
Brockington was dangerous but Wagner did a great job on him when the game was on the line. He not only got the block Ace noted but I believe he also was in his face on the previous possession and made him alter his shot shoot to get over that long arm. I think Penn State was counting on Brockington to make the winning shot on those two possessions.
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