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ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Earlier this week there were questions about how Michigan’s No.3 basketball team would hold up against two of the top 10 opponents and two of the nation’s top three offenses in the country.
They answered a number of questions in a victory at No.4 Ohio State on Sunday. Thursday night there weren’t many questions left.
Holding National Player of the Year Luka Garza to one of their worst games in years, stifling Iowa’s 3-point opportunities and coming to life on offense in the second half, Michigan continued what has been a special season, moving away from ninth place. Hawkeyes in a 79-57 win.
The win puts the Wolverines (12-1 Big Ten, 17-1 overall) within two Big Ten title wins. If a few more games fall in Michigan’s favor, the Wolverines could clinch their first Big Ten regular season title since 2014 on Saturday.
Franz Wagner scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half, while Isaiah Livers and Hunter Dickinson added 16 and 14 points respectively. Luke Garza – who entered the game leading the country with 24.7 points per game – scored 16 points and only shot 6 of 19 from the field. The Hawkeyes entered the nation on the 13th night with 10.2 3s per game and fourth nationally with a 40.4 shooting percentage, but only made 6 of 19 3s in the contest, including 2 on 9 in the second half.
While the game should be noted for Michigan’s defensive effort, the Wolverines outscored Iowa 47-28 in the second half, making 19 of 35 shots after starting the game just 9-for-29 from the field.
From the start of the match the game was filled with the intensity you’d expect from a Top 10 game. Luka Garza and Hunter Dickinson took a few seconds to start building up their muscles, both teams headed for the lane at the top. place to shoot 3 and even their benches were heard from the jump. Perhaps ironic at the offensive firepower of both teams, however, the game was lousy. Iowa missed its first five shots, while the Wolverines missed six of their first eight. Five minutes later, the game was tied at seven.
As the score technically resumed, neither team seemed comfortable with their game on the attacking side. Michigan struggled with stroke selection and was inconsistent as they cycled through a multitude of bench players to minimize fouling issues. Even generally normal tasks, like put-in layups and avoiding press defenses and late play violations, were at times strenuous for the Wolverines against a hungry defense from the Hawkeyes. Michigan opened the game just 9 for 29, including a 3-point 2-for-9 mark.
Iowa, meanwhile, saw its two main scoring methods blocked by the Wolverines defense. Luka Garza, who scored 77 points against Michigan in two games last season, has been contested on almost every shot. He put the Wolverines in trouble, but also struggled with the added pressure. He finished the half with just seven points on a 3 for 11 shot. Iowa also entered the game 13th overall nationally with 10.2 to 3 points per game, but was limited to four in the game. first half.
In the end, it was a tight half that didn’t see either team’s lead go past Michigan’s 5-0 lead early on. The Wolverines, however, closed the half with a 5 for 6 shooting streak, including an Austin Davis tip to the buzzer to give Michigan a 32-29 lead.
After a grueling period for both teams, Michigan came to life in the second half. It all started with Franz Wagner, who scored nine points in the first five minutes of half-time. But then, as Garza’s frustration increased and the Wolverines’ shots resumed – they made 19 of 35 shots in the second half and 5 of 9 3s – Michigan began to pull back.
Perhaps the biggest sign it was Wolverines night came on a 12-3 streak early in the second half. After Dickinson was knocked out with his third foul with 5:30 p.m. to go, Davis played perhaps his best streak in a Michigan uniform. Although Garza had the advantage in size, experience and skill, Davis held his own on the defensive end and even scored another layup. In the meantime, Wagner’s hot streak helped Michigan turn what was a 36-36 draw when Davis came in at a 48-39 lead when he checked.
From there Michigan had smelled blood. Pushing the pace and working the ball, the Wolverines scored 1.30 points per possession, including 13 from Wagner and 10 from Livers. Whenever Michigan seemed to fall asleep, a different player stepped in for the Wolverines.
It has become a common theme for the Wolverines this season, but against a Top 10 opponent in a physical game, it was all the more indicative of what Michigan can accomplish this season.
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