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After dropping four straight games late, Michigan has rebounded with back-to-back wins entering a rivalry showdown with Ohio State tonight.
Both the Wolverines and Buckeyes started the 2019-20 season hot, earning spots in the AP Top 5 back in December. However, the month of January was unkind to both programs.
Michigan and Ohio State both went 2-5 last month and now find themselves unranked and in the bottom tier of the Big Ten standings with 4-6 records in conference play.
Both clubs struggled to score in the early-goings, but the Buckeyes began asserting themselves to take a 16-9 lead with around 9 minutes remaining in the half.
The Wolverines fought tough to take a 22-21 lead with 3 minutes remaining, but enter the locker room trailing 28-27.
POSITIVES:
- Brandon Johns Jr. continued his recent hot streak in the first half tonight. The sophomore has 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting. Johns Jr. has also pulled down 3 rebounds and had a block that led to a fast break bucket for David DeJulius. Johns Jr. is playing really good basketball right now.
- Franz Wagner really struggled with Rutgers’ physicality on the boards, but perhaps he was challenged by the coaching staff in the days between that game and tonight’s against Ohio State. The freshman was extraordinarily active on the glass in the first half, grabbing an incredible 8 rebounds in 18 minutes of play.
NEGATIVES:
- Michigan got quite a few clean looks on offense to start the game, but was unable to take advantage. The Wolverines opened the night 3-for-15 from the floor, and just 1-for-8 from three-point range in the opening ten minutes. Michigan closed the half shooting just 31 percent overall and 25 percent from three-point range.
- Michigan got sloppy with the ball towards the end of their win over Rutgers on Saturday, and that trend continued into the first half tonight. The Wolverines had 5 turnovers in the first 11 minutes and finished the half with a total of 6. Ohio State scored 8 points off those turnovers.
- Michigan struggled to defend the Buckeyes’ best player, Kaleb Wesson. The Ohio State junior got several open looks from three-point range and hit 3-of-5 attempts from deep. He’s up to 15 points already. It’s inexcusable to give one of the better shooting big men in the Big Ten the amount of good looks that the Wolverines allowed Wesson. That will need to be addressed quickly in the second half.