Michigan 82, Gonzaga 64, Battle 4 Atlantis Champs
When Zavier Simpson had evidently established his three-point shot so that a pump-fake got him past a defender and he could finish a left-handed hook shot over a Gonzaga big man, I started cackling in my living room, surrounded by all my friends, just out of frame.
I don't know how else to react. After falling behind by as many as five points in the early going, Michigan dominated the last 33 minutes and change; unlike yesterday's victory over North Carolina, the lead only grew for most of the second half, and every time the outcome felt in doubt, the Wolverines would hit a shot.
After running through Iowa State, UNC, and the Zags in three days, Juwan Howard and his 7-0 Wolverines are dancing into a B1G/ACC Challenge matchup at should-be #1 Louisville next Tuesday. Literally.
[Hit THE JUMP for Juwan dancing, the rest of the recap, and the box score.]
Jon Teske dominated the game on both ends, scoring 19 points on 15 shots, grabbing 15 rebounds (five offensive), blocking four shots, and adding a steal for good measure. Gonzaga center Filip Petrusev, a 60% shooter on a normal day, went 4-for-16 with three turnovers, with his only real damage coming on perimeter shots Teske was willing to cede. As a team, the Zags shot 9-for-25 at the rim.
Isaiah Livers needed only 11 shots to score 21 points while handling a tough defensive matchup as Gonzaga fielded two 6'10" players at almost any given time. Simpson ran the offense on a string, scoring 13 points on 11 shots with six rebounds, 13 assists, a steal, and only two turnovers. In his third game, Franz Wagner was the fourth Wolverine in double figures with ten points, looking more comfortable in 25 improved minutes.
The guard duo of Eli Brooks (eight points, five rebounds, two assists) and David DeJulius (nine points on 3/5 threes) again provided solid all-around play. Brandon Johns continued to be active on defense off the bench, nabbing a steal in his three-minute shift, while fellow sophomore Colin Castleton blocked a Killian Tillie shot and held his own in eight minutes spelling Teske. Adrien Nunez put up a six-minute trillion but didn't have glaring defensive errors on first watch. Even Cole Bajema got into the act, hitting a tough runner in KenPom time.
The season could hardly be off to a better start. Despite having some obvious areas to improve, Michigan now boasts four top-100 wins, two against top-ten squads, and they've shot up from #25 to #12 on KenPom. While they face an extremely tough matchup at Louisville on Tuesday, they're playing with house money in non-conference play, and it's hard to put anything past a team playing this well.
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November 29th, 2019 at 4:57 PM ^
What’s really amazing is that they are doing this while still having lots of room to improve.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
I was going to say the same thing. We have excellent talent (thank you John Beilein) and an excellent staff. They are fun to watch and they are having fun playing. Every player has improved over last year, some more than others, but 2 or 3 can still improve a great deal and I think they will.
Johns may be the best rebounder on the team. When he can earn more minutes he will add a lot.
Bajama is a terrific scorer. He is going to add a lot at some point.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
What is awesome is that he isn’t going to be forced off schedule out of need. We can let his talent marinate and go to it when the time is right. That is what was so crucial about Wagner coming here.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:29 PM ^
Yes, they may not be a perfect team, but they look like a complete team. It's very encouraging this early in the year. And there's so much time to get better.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:39 PM ^
Also very impressive was how we fell behind early in all 3 games and kept our poise and just dominated all 3 games the rest of the way, Iowa St. actually played us the toughest of the 3.
This team looks like a Final Four caliber squad, thank you Coach B for what you built and thank you Coach Howard for looking like you have the coaching chops to be a big time winner and recruiter and what a hell of a staff he put together, I'm stoked!
Great week so far and a win over OSU tomorrow would be just terrific, Go Blue!!!
EDIT:
Teske & Simpson have led U-M to a 96-27 record thus far in their careers with a chance to get to 120 wins in 4 years, I would say that that makes Go Blue a Blue Blood!
November 29th, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^
I hate to be a wet blanket on this one but Michigan is a mostly veteran team shooting the lights out. I was extremely optimisitc about this team and thought they should be a sweet 16 at worst given the talent. And they're playing at just about the best case.
The one obvious area for improvement is Wagner. I think he's going to get better and better.
But let's take a look at some other areas:
- Zavier Simpson is shooting 44% from three. Zavier Simpson!
- Isaiah Livers: 51%!! Eli Brooks: 50%! David DeJulius: 48%! I expected a major breakout for Eli but he's playing as well as could have hoped for. He, Livers, Simpson and Teske are all very good and playing their best ball, but they're upperclassmen and probably aren't gonna play much better than this stretch, especially as B1G coaches devise schemes for them.
- The team in general is the second best shooting team by eFG% in the country. I don't think the above guys are going to sustain those insane percentages. Things will regress to them mean a bit. There will some slumps.
- Opponents are only shooting 30% from three which is some three point luck.
There are some areas from improvement but not many.
Franz will get better. Maybe a lot better. He has the potential to be a great scorer.
The team might cut down on turnovers but a lot of that is the style they're playing so I don't think it's going to come down much. They want to run and take some more risks on offense.
This is a veteran team playing extremely well, if they keep this up or stay close to it, that'd be incredibly impressive.
November 29th, 2019 at 11:05 PM ^
I agree the offense is shooting at a level not likely to continue, but the defense holding opponents shooting low can definitely continue.
November 30th, 2019 at 9:11 AM ^
Fair points all. The shooting will cool off. The counterpoint is that just about everyone U-M puts on the floor is a threat to score.
Most teams have a wing who’s just an athlete, a big who’s just a rebounder, etc. U-M is different, and you could tell when they got open 3s in transition the past two days. There isn’t one or two guys you have to lock down in those situations; Livers, DDJ, Brooks and Wagner are all dangerous in that scenario.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
Does Kenpom use any of last years data (like Connolly) in computing rankings? Gonzaga fans here at Atlantis are saying “wow - how is Michigan not ranked?”
November 29th, 2019 at 5:05 PM ^
i don't know the answer re: kenpom but one of the espn commentators said we were going to be ranked in the top 5 in the polls next week. i believe top ten is the minimum.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:08 PM ^
I doubt we will be ranked in the top 10, as crazy as it is not to. #12 is where I think we will be. That is my prediction.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:16 PM ^
because of the way we won, i think it's gonna impress anyone with a vote. we demolished the #6 and #8 teams in the country; wouldn't surprise me if we stole #8 and gonzaga slid to the 12-14 range.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:16 PM ^
IDK, I give the poll people at least a little more credit than that to not leave the team with arguably the best resume right now out of the top 10. They easily belong in the top 5 honestly if we are just looking at resumes so far. It would be a steaming pile of shit t Io leave them outside the top 10. The two top 10 wins were also in convincing fashion. Lol at all the Sparties who said wait till basketball season.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:44 PM ^
The pollsters are not ranking “résumés.” They’re ranking basketball teams. And there is a very obvious rhythm to the way that the polls work. Michigan started the week ranked around #30, and while there is some precent for bumping teams up based upon who they’ve beaten, the simple fact of the matter is that generally a team floats its way up the rankings based upon everyone else losing. This is especially true toward the top of the poll.
My guess yesterday is that Michigan would enter the poll between #15 and #20 with a win today. Due to the lopsided final score, I might bump that up to #13-#18, but not much further than that. There’s a ton of inertia in the polls.
Also, Michigan only has the best résumé if you are measuring their résumé based upon assumptions about the teams they’ve played. I mean, the best win by Michigan’s opponents is Oregon, who lost both to North Carolina and Gonzaga. Beyond that, it’s slim pickings. So, you’re basically arguing for both sides: you’re arguing for using the résumé when it suits Michigan, but using the perceived strengths of the teams when that suits Michigan.
The nice thing about basketball is that the polls don’t matter, though. :)
November 29th, 2019 at 9:55 PM ^
Your point makes no sense, you say my logic as flawed based on making assumptions about teams and at the same time arguing that pollsters should stick to preseason assumptions about teams in the initial poll for an extended period. Yes you are right they rank how good teams are/have looked and so far UM has looked like a top 10 team and there is not an argument someone could currently make to dispute that. Rankings should be as fluid as possible early in the season, the fact that it is not that way most of the time is a flaw in the system. Of course not ranking teams before anybody has played a game would be the best option.
November 29th, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
The pollsters are much more flexible in their opinions this early the the season though. They know they were guessing to start the year.
Michigan will absolutely be ranked in the top 10. No worse than 8th. And they will get some first place votes (because some do rank resumes and Michigan has by far the best).
November 29th, 2019 at 10:51 PM ^
They should be #1.
November 30th, 2019 at 8:05 AM ^
I'm sure there are plenty of members (here) who are in a similar position as I am. Over 50 years ago, as a player, I began encountering the press...then over 40 years ago as a coach. One learns to sigh, smile and chuckle a lot in their regards. Here, for the most part, the poll-voters know no more about the game than the fans...and that is way off the deep end of "Oh My!!!" territory. It is what it is. Objectively Michigan is #1 right now. It's a long season.
I lettered in cross-country, football, baseball and basketball in high school-10 letters in 4 different sports. Basketball is the best sport to play...by a very great margin. And how this team is playing the game right now is the reason I assess it as the best sport to play. Playing this game well includes all the best components of individual and team play of each of the other sports.
What Juwan Howard and his staff are doing here deserves the highest praise. Clearly the egos are checked at the door and the goodness and well-being of the players is at the top of the coaches' priority list. Sadly, this is a rare thing.
I guarantee you that the players and coaches, at this point in time, could not care less about the polls-they are all well aware of who is voting.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:37 PM ^
Yes. Last year’s data factors in heavily until past January 1.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:03 PM ^
That made my weekend great.
Thanks Fellas.
Go Blue.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:06 PM ^
Awesome start to what will be a great Meechigan weekend! Go Blue!
November 29th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
Hopefully this is just the start of a great outcome sports weekend! Way to go guys!
November 29th, 2019 at 5:12 PM ^
juwan howard's end of game interview was beautiful and made me feel like a million bucks. he is the real deal. if anyone can find it i will give you all the mgopoints i can possibly bestow-- all i can seem to find is the video of him dancing immediately afterward.
November 29th, 2019 at 6:45 PM ^
postgame interview (and then dancing)
November 29th, 2019 at 8:54 PM ^
thank you!
EDIT: god damn, it's so good to have him back and coaching here.
November 29th, 2019 at 8:53 PM ^
His interview made me want to commit on the spot.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
Howard has had an amazing start
November 29th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
Appreciation for Coach Sanderson: 3 games in 3 days at the beginning of the year against 3 tournament-caliber teams and the team seemed like they were playing their best ball of the season at the end of the 3rd game.
Brooks played 103 minutes over the last 3 days. He averaged 12.8 minutes a game last year (he only needs 1 more point to match his season total from last year). DDJ played 67 minutes this tournament after playing only 95 minutes total last year (an average of 3.8 minutes a game). Wagner played 81 minutes in 3 days after not playing at all this year in his first collegiate action ever. Yet they all excelled down the stretch. Love it!
Couple those 3 with the dominant upperclassmen trio (who combined for 53 points, 22 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 double-doubles, and shot over 50% from 3 today) + contributions from Castleton and Johns, and the sky is the limit (or is the ceiling the roof?).
November 29th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
I just can't get over looking at that box score. The longer you look, the more unbelievable things pop out at you. Gonzaga shot 12 threes in the game. Michigan *made* 12 threes. Michigan shot 62%(!!!!!) from 3 in the second half. Michigan *outrebounded* them. Michigan outscored them in the paint. Michigan turned it over less and scored more points off of turnovers. Just a beyond-complete performance.
Make no mistake, in two games against two top-10 teams in two days (after playing a solid team the day before), Michigan absolutely shredded them. No team has played better so far this year than them. The offense is hitting on all cylinders with shooters consistently getting open from deep and the defense is only getting better and more suffocating as the season wears on. Go Blue!
November 29th, 2019 at 8:55 PM ^
In a way, it might have been a bit of a blessing Zavier got in foul trouble vs. UNC as it kept him fresh and focused for Gonzaga.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:17 PM ^
Sky is the limit. Go Blue !!!
November 29th, 2019 at 5:36 PM ^
How many people have pointed out that Juwan Howard has more top ten wins than Harbaugh?? ?
November 29th, 2019 at 5:52 PM ^
I fail to see a reason to compare football wins to basketball wins. Michigan alumni might call that a non sequitur.
Or as Robin said to Batman back in the 60's, "Holy non sequitur, Batman."
November 30th, 2019 at 2:03 AM ^
2 = 2
But good joke tho
November 30th, 2019 at 7:26 AM ^
Only you, asshole.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:45 PM ^
I think Teske has proven Craig Ross right as the most skilled big man. I’d like to hear Terry call in Thursday on MGoPodcast .
November 29th, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^
Win at Louisville and Michigan will be #1!! Beat LOUISVILLE!!! Remember 2013 when Michigan was ROBBED by officials....REVENGE REVENGE REVENGE
With Louisville AND Oregon still on the Nonconference docket our SOS has to be in the top 2 or 3
November 29th, 2019 at 9:16 PM ^
The block was clean. And that ref knew it.
November 29th, 2019 at 11:11 PM ^
The block was clean, and so was the team.
November 29th, 2019 at 5:57 PM ^
Michigan now boasts four top-100 wins, two against top-ten squads, and they've shot up from #25 to #12 on KenPom
Still underrated.
November 29th, 2019 at 6:12 PM ^
That was fantastic. I'm impressed by Wagner's defense. He uses his super-long arms to good effect.
November 29th, 2019 at 7:58 PM ^
Wagner looked much better today; like he got his sea legs. Awesome that he's only going to get better and add another dimension to this team.
For that matter, so should others like Johns and Castleton.
I'm amazed at what I am seeing.
November 29th, 2019 at 9:18 PM ^
Wagner's blow by down the lane for a layup in the second half was exciting. I literally said "whoa" out loud to my empty living room. That's a level we haven't seen much here and is really exciting.
November 29th, 2019 at 9:43 PM ^
Once he get used to the speed of the college game plus getting into game shape, he'll be an asset for Michigan down the road. He showed some nifty european moves driving down to the hoop. When he gets his shooting touch back, Michigan will be that much better.
November 29th, 2019 at 11:09 PM ^
That .... Wagner just posterized the guy. Can't wait to see him grow into his game week by week
November 30th, 2019 at 7:42 AM ^
I agree- Franz' defense was a revelation to me, he is 2 way player which is big and fits in with most of the rest of this year's team.
November 29th, 2019 at 6:14 PM ^
Amazing how effortless the team makes good basketball look. Nice to have juniors and seniors at this time of year to go along with the coaching.
November 29th, 2019 at 6:25 PM ^
A team with Simpson and Teske has a floor of 20 wins based on defense alone. With the shooters clicking the sky is the limit. The OOC schedule has been a resounding success.
November 29th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
After running through Iowa State, UNC, and the Zags in three days, Juwan Howard and his 7-0 Wolverines are dancing into a B1G/ACC Challenge matchup as should-be #1 Michigan is at Louisville next Tuesday.
FIFY.
November 29th, 2019 at 6:37 PM ^
In other news Dick lost to DePaul.
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