If one altered the announcing crew, production value, and the various logos slapped all over Mackey Arena, this could easily have passed for a mundane November non-conference game. 

Michigan charged out to a 7-0 lead on Texas Southern, then worked the margin up to 18 twice, including when the halftime buzzer sounded with the score at 42-24. Hunter Dickinson didn't miss a shot on his way to eight first-half points and blocked a pair on the other end, looking like the proverbial man among boys. The Wolverines spread out their scoring attack with five other players netting five or more points, including freshman guard Zeb Jackson, who drained two three-pointers in his six-minute shift.

Even though Juwan Howard tinkered with several different lineup combinations, including at least a couple that hadn't seen the court together this season, Michigan spent most of the second half with the lead in the 20s. A tight whistle down low started adding up, though, as Dickinson only played nine second-half minutes—and added another eight points—before fouling out; his fifth foul drew a review and flagrant for, by my eye, elbowing a much smaller man in the armpit while turning with the basketball, which never left both of his hands. He earlier picked up a foul for setting a screen too hard.

Mike Smith led the team with 18 points [Michael Hickey/NCAA Photos via Getty Images]

Texas Southern spent much of the late stages of the game in the bonus and took full advantage, going 13/16 from the line in the half. The game got boring and choppy. The Tigers gnawed away at the lead but never reduced it to fewer than 12 points; each time that happened, the Wolverines responded with a bucket, the second a Franz Wagner three-pointer to dispel any notion this could turn into a competitive basketball game.

There were some moments that may foreshadow what we'll see the rest of the tournament. Brandon Johns scored 11 points on nine shot equivalents, repeatedly got to the line with powerful drives, filled every category in the box score, and even drilled a stepback three after a steal. He played 25 minutes, including several at center. Austin Davis, on the other hand, played only one minute in the first half before seeing nine more with Dickinson battling foul trouble in the second. 

when allowed to play, Dickinson dominated [Hancock/Getty]

Chaundee Brown had a quiet game, going 0/1 with three rebounds and three fouls in 16 minutes. Terrance Williams was a noticeably active participant, following his own miss for an and-one and chipping in two defensive rebounds and two assists in 11 minutes split between small and power forward. Jackson played six of his eight minutes in the first half and certainly didn't shy away from the moment, getting up five shots and grabbing two boards to go with his six points.

While the second half was a slog, it was fun to see Michigan use a first-round NCAA Tournament game to experiment in the lab. We'll have a much better idea of what was true preparation and what was saving the players' legs when U-M faces eight-seed LSU, winners earlier today over St. Bonaventure, in the second sound on Monday.

[Hit THE JUMP for the box score]