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The Michigan No.3 reinforced his argument as a team worthy of grouping with No.1 Gonzaga and No.2 Baylor as he retired in the second half against No.9 Iowa for a 79-57 victory.
Any doubts about how the Wolverines, now 17-1 this season, might respond to their long COVID-19 hiatus have been erased by a four-game winning streak that includes road wins over No.21 Wisconsin and Ohio State’s No.4 ahead of Thursday’s 22-point victory over another top 10 foe. Michigan’s victory only strengthens the potential for a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament , brings the Wolverines one step closer to securing the Big Ten regular season title and adds to the case for Juwan Howard as the conference candidate and national coach of the year.
The game was packed for the meeting of the leader of the Senior National Player of the Year, Luka Garza, face to face with Michigan rookie Hunter Dickinson, especially after the 7-foot-1 center led the Wolverines with 16 of its 22 highlights. in the second half of the victory at Ohio State. But early trouble for Dickinson limited his floor time, and Garza, as he finished with 16 points, the top of the team, never picked up the pace and was content with his offensive production on 6. shots on 19. Partly that’s an honor to Dickinson, who did a great job in the second half defending Garza without landing a fourth foul, but it was a total team effort to limit the star’s ability to. Iowa to resume the path it had had the last two. times he faced the Wolverines.
What Michigan got in place of Dickinson’s offensive production was stellar play from Franz Wagner, who finished with a team-record 21 points on a very efficient 9-for-12 shooting night, and a strong performance from senior Isaiah Livers, who added 16. points with four 3 points.
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