Tag: Eli Brooks

5 takeaways: No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 10 Oregon

Five takeaways from the Top 10 showdown between No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Oregon on Dec. 14 at the Crisler Center.

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Coming off their second loss of the year at Illinois, Michigan had no time to lick its wounds with No. 10 Oregon coming to the Crisler Center on Saturday.

The nonconference showdown with the Ducks (7-2) provided an excellent opportunity for the No. 5 Wolverines (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten) to bounce back from their first conference loss of the season.

Michigan got off to an extremely slow start, scoring just 9 points in the first 12 minutes. Oregon built as lead as high as 16 points, before the Wolverines closed to within 31-23 by halftime.

In the second half, Michigan came out firing on all cylinders to come all the way back to take a lead late in the second half. Oregon punched back, and the two teams traded blows on their way to a 63-63 tie to end regulation.

Overtime proved to be a dogfight as well, but in the end, the Ducks delivered the last punch as they outlasted the Wolverines by a final score of 71-70.

1. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

The Wolverines were nowhere to be found when this one got underway. Michigan opened the game 3-of-17 from the floor (including three missed dunks) and 1-of-8 from the three-point line in the first 12 minutes. The Wolverines finished the half shooting just 24 percent overall. In the second half, however, Michigan caught fire, making 10 of their first 15 attempts from the floor and 5-of-6 from three-point range. As a whole in the second half and overtime, the Wolverines went 18-of-32 from the floor and 6-of-8 from deep to improve their total shooting percentage to 41 percent. Still, scoring lulls like we saw in the first half are concerning. That was something that plagued the team last season as well, and it cost them on Saturday.

2. DEJULIUS CARRIES THE FIRST HALF

The Wolverines desperately needed a spark offensively in the first half, and they got one off the bench in the form of sophomore David DeJulius. The second-year guard scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three-point range in the first 20 minutes. DeJulius carried Michigan into the locker room, and though he didn’t have the same impact in the second half — finishing with 14 points — he gave the Wolverines a chance to get back in the game.

3. FRANZ WAGNER. EARLY STRUGGLES, BIG TIME RESPONSE

It was another youngster lifted Michigan in the second half, as true freshman Franz Wagner came to like to score 18 of his 21 total points in the first half and overtime. He was Like the team as a whole, Wagner struggled to find his way in the first half, but he hit big shot after big shot in the second half. The freshman has had an up-and-down experience in Ann Arbor thus far, as he continues work his way back to full speed following a wrist fracture before the season. But he came up big in this game. Fans should be patient with some of his “freshman mistakes” this season, because the talent here is clear and obvious.

4. TESKE, SIMPSON WERE DISAPPOINTING

Earlier this week, head coach Juwan Howard named Jon Teske and Zavier Simpson as the team’s captains. The pair had a rough first outting with their new titles. Teske was a complete non-factor, finishing with only 4 points and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes of play. He was replaced by Brandon Johns Jr. ( 8 points, 9 rebounds) in the second half and overtime. Simpson did have 11 assists, that should be highlighted, but the senior had 4 turnovers, struggled with his on-ball defense (which is supposed to be his specialty), and was just 3-of-11 from the floor. The senior’s on-ball defense looked subpar against Illinois as well, and that is a major concern moving forward.

5. Wolverines are IN A SLUMP

After opening the season 7-0 and surging to a Top 5 ranking, Michigan has now lost three of it’s last four games. Two of those came against Top 10 opponents, and losses on the road in the Big Ten are going to happen, but this was an opportunity that the Wolverines let get away. A win over a ranked Oregon squad after the loss at Illinois would have righted the ship, but instead it’s likely Michigan will take a steep fall in the rankings. The Wolverines have a week off before beginning the road back next Saturday against Presbyterian.

Halftime Analysis: No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 10 Oregon

Looking at the positives and negatives at halftime of No. 5 Michigan’s Top 10 showdown with No. 10 Oregon at the Crisler Center.

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No. 5 Michigan returned home off their 71-62 loss at Illinois on Wednesday into a Top 10 nonconference matchup with No. 10 Oregon.

The Ducks (7-2) come in having already faced four Top 25 opponents, with wins over Seton Hall and Memphis and losses to Gonzaga and North Carolina. The Wolverines (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated the Zags and Tar Heels in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Michigan got off to an extremely slow start, scoring just 9 points in the first 12 minutes. Oregon built as lead as high as 16 points, before the Wolverines closed to within 31-23 by halftime.

NEGATIVES:

  • Michigan’s shooting woes against Illinois carried over in spades for this game, as the Wolverines opened the game 3-of-17 from the floor and 1-of-8 from the three-point line in the opening 12 minutes. Those numbers improved slightly by the end of the half, but could have come up even more had the Wolverines not missed three dunks down the stretch. Michigan is up to 24 percent (7-of-29) from the floor, but the Wolverines will need to shoot the ball much better in the second half to make a comeback.
  • On the other end, Oregon is having no such struggles offensively. The Ducks shot 12-of-26 (46 percent) overall and 5-of-10 from deep. Michigan has contested shots decently well, but Oregon is finding ways to make tough shots fall.
  • The Ducks employed a three-quarter court press in the first half, and it seems to take the Wolverines out of their rhythm offensively. Michigan turned the ball over 5 times in the first half, and the pressure may have contributed to the shooting woes as well.

POSITIVES:

  • The Wolverines desperately needed a spark offensively, and they got one off the bench in the form of sophomore David DeJulius. The second-year guard scored 12 points in the first half on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three-point range. DeJulius carried the Wolverines in that first half.
  • Michigan played pesky defense in the first half, despite of the Ducks’ solid shooting percentage. The Wolverines forced 9 turnovers in the first half, which is really what allowed them to stay in the game. Michigan scored 7 points off those giveaways. The Wolverines will need to keep up the pressure in the second half.

Despite the extraordinarily ugly start, the Wolverines have gritted their way into just a 8-point deficit. Michigan is within striking distance as the second half begins.

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Halftime Analysis: No. 4 Michigan vs. Iowa

Halftime analysis from Michigan basketball’s Big Ten opener against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the friendly confines of the Crisler Center.

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Coming off its first loss of the season at No. 1 Louisville, the fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines welcomed Iowa to the Crisler Center.

After facing three straight teams ranked in the Top 10, the unranked Hawkeyes are no slouch for Michigan either. Iowa already has wins over Texas Tech and Syracuse this season.

After trading blows early on, Michigan’s hot shooting eventually allowed them to pull away towards the end of the half. At the break, the Wolverines lead by a score of 50-38.

POSITIVES:

  • After finishing with 9 points, 3 assists and 4 turnovers against the Cardinals, Michigan point guard Zavier Simpson got off to a fast start and looked more like himself in the first half against Iowa. At the break, the senior is already up to 7 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal. The senior and has 2 turnovers.
  • The Wolverines got off to a great start shooting the ball, which was a welcome sight after they struggled so mightily in that department at Louisville. After opening the game by shooting north of 60 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range, Michigan ended the half 17-of-31 from the floor (55 percent) and 6-of-13 from deep (46 percent).
  • Freshman Franz Wagner was active in first half for Michigan. While he only attempted two shots, making one, Wagner was assertive on offense and got to the free throw line on several occasions, going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to finish the half with 8 points.
  • Brandon Johns Jr. provided some nice minutes off the bench for the Wolverines. At the break, he’s up to 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. It was perhaps the sophomore’s best half of basketball since donning a Michigan uniform.

NEGATIVES:

  • Iowa’s Luke Garza came into the contest as the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 20 points per game, and third in the conference in rebounding with 10 per game. Michigan did nothing to slow down the Hawkeye center’s fast start to the season, as Garza finished the first half with 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting, and added 4 rebounds. It didn’t matter who coach Juwan Howard had guarding Garza, the Iowa big man had his way.
  • Sophomore Colin Castleton left the game with an injury early in the game after he took an elbow to the mouth from Garza on a rebound attempt. Castleton did return to the game with 2:30 remaining in the half, sporting a cut lip. He went to the free throw line shortly after and converted both of his foul shots.

Five takeaways from Michigan hoops vs. Elon

Five takeaways from Michigan basketball’s win over Elon University in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

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Michigan hosted Elon University on Friday night in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis college basketball tournament.

After a slow start the game, the Wolverines settled in to cruise to a 70-50 victory to improve to 3-0 on the young season. Juwan Howard is off to a strong start in his first stint as a head coach, though far bigger tests await than Michigan’s opening three games against Appalachian State, Creighton and Elon. The Wolverines will potentially play North Carolina later in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, and have future out of conference games against No. 4 Louisville and No. 14 Oregon coming in December.

Below are five takeaways from Friday’s victory for the Wolverines:

1. RESPONDING TO A SLOW START

Michigan opened the game sluggish and uninterested. Through the first ten minutes of play, the Wolverines shot 3-of-12 from the floor — including 1-of-7 from three-point range — and turned the ball over five times. Michigan finished the first half strong however to take a 31-22 into halftime, and carried that into the second half. The Wolverines finished the game 28-of-58 from the field (48 percent) and had just 5 turnovers in the final 30 minutes of play.

2. TESKE DOMINATES THE PAINT

Jon Teske’s game mirrored the Wolverines’ in that he responded after a slow start of his own. The 7-foot center was easily the biggest guy on the floor Friday night, and started to play like it around the midway mark of the first half. Teske finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals to help the Wolverines pull away. The big man also help Michigan dominate the Elon in the paint, as the Wolverines outscored the Pheonix 34-16 down low.

3. DAVID DEJULIUS CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

The Wolverines needed a spark after the slow start on Friday night, and that spark came in the form of sophomore David DeJulius. In the first half, the combo-guard had 8 points and a team-leading 8 rebounds for Michigan despite being the shortest player on the floor for the Wolverines. DeJulius finished with 10 points but did not add to his rebounding total in the second half.

4. SHARE THE WEALTH

Michigan finished the game with four players (Teske, DeJulius, Zavier Simpson, Eli Brooks) scoring in the double digits, and junior Isaiah Livers was close to double figures with 9 points. The Wolverines moved the ball well offensively, and got multiple people involved once they settled into the game. Michigan finished the game with 12 assists — Simpson led the Wolverines with 7 assists.

5. REBOUNDING STILL A CONCERN

Michigan has struggled to rebound in the early goings this season, and that continued to some degree in this contest. The Wolverines out-rebounded Elon 38-31, but edging the oversized Pheonix by only seven is disappointing. This has become a trend for Michigan this season. The Wolverines were out-rebounded 38-27 against Creighton, after giving up an ugly 18 offensive rebounds to the Bluejays earlier this week. Michigan also struggled to out-rebound lowly Appalachian State in the opener (34-33).