Tag: Franz Wagner

Michigan’s Franz Wagner shows growth vs. Oregon

Michigan true freshman Franz Wagner put on an excellent performance in a Top 10 showdown with Oregon on Saturday at the Crisler Center.

[jwplayer 5jkBfN6r-XNcErKyb]

True freshman Franz Wagner is off to somewhat of an unbalanced start to his career at the University of Michigan.

The younger brother of former fan-favorite Moe Wagner, Franz came to Ann Arbor with high expectations and big shoes to fill. Some of that hype and excitement was tempered when Wagner injured his wrist a few weeks before the season began, but now that he’s in the starting lineup his play has been critiqued rather closely.

Because of the legacy left behind by his brother, it’s easy to forget the younger Wagner is only 18 years old. Six games into his career, the freshman is averaging 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He’s also averaging two turnovers per game.

Wagner’s shooting percentages – 35 percent from the floor, 22 percent from three-point range – suggest he’s still adjusting to the college game, and it’s hard to say how much the wrist injury has affected his confidence shooting the ball.

On Saturday against No. 10 Oregon, however, Wagner’s confidence shined bright in a second half comeback for the Wolverines. Trailing by as many as 16 points, and facing a 31-23 deficit at halftime, Wagner led Michigan back in second frame to force overtime. The Wolverines eventually fell by a final score of 71-70.

“We’re a good team and we stick together,” Wagner said. “We came back from a 16-point deficit, so I’m really proud of our guys on how we stuck together, how we fought back together. I think that’s really important. We’ve lost two straight now, and we’re going to get even closer and be a much better team. After losing you can learn from that.”

After being limited to 3 points in the first half (on 1-of-5 shooting), the freshman was a blistering 7-for-8 in the second half and overtime, scoring 18 points. Wagner hit four three-pointers throughout the game, including three big ones after halftime.

“My teammates picked me up at halftime, just told me to stay confident and be myself, and they really helped me I think,” Wagner said. “Just being more aggressive, being more confident and taking the shots that I can make.”

It’s not entirely accurate to call this a “breakout game” for the freshman, given the fact he scored 18 points against Iowa just eight days prior, but this one had a different feel to it.

Against the Hawkeyes, Wagner was 4-of-10 from the field and just 1-of-5 from deep. He scored half his points from the foul line, going 9-of-10.

On Saturday, the freshman did his damage from all over the floor. He shot over 61 percent overall and 57 percent from behind the arc.

“I felt good today,” Wagner said. “Sometimes you have a good offensive game, sometimes you don’t. I just got to take what the defense gives me and stay confident out there. I think everybody does that out there, and I think we have to continue to do that.”

Against Oregon, Michigan saw the guy that created so much excitement around Ann Arbor when he signed with the Wolverines. Like all first-year players, Wagner is still adapting to the college basketball and working through those “freshman mistakes”.

But the potential here is clear and obvious. The younger Wagner is far ahead of where his brother was as a true freshman for the Wolverines. Michigan doesn’t need Franz to be “senior-season Moe”. It just needs to be patient and let his growth continue to shine through.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

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.

[jwplayer 5jkBfN6r-XNcErKyb]

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.

[jwplayer llP8Q1fz-D3ux87Cq]

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Juwan Howard confident Franz Wagner’s shot will start falling soon

Why the Wolverines head coach is confident that the true freshman’s shot will start falling.

[jwplayer llP8Q1fz-XNcErKyb]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  Michigan freshman Franz Wagner now has six games under his belt, and it’s been something of a hit-or-miss affair.

With his freshman debut slightly delayed due to a fractured wrist he suffered in training camp, Wagner has shown flashes of the greatness that’s been expected of him — highlighted in an 18-point performance against Iowa last Friday — but his play has been somewhat uneven to start.

It’s to be expected of new college players, and though Wagner has experience playing in the professional ranks overseas, for his native Alba Berlin, it’s still been an adjustment.

His head coach, Juwan Howard, says that Wagner can be really hard on himself, but he’s working to ensure that he remains patient and doesn’t press too hard.

“He is his worst critic – that’s what makes him great,” Howard said. “I just want to make sure he doesn’t beat himself too much. Because it’s gonna happen. The last game, he wasn’t the only one that had a game that felt like he could have had a better game. Some shots did not fall for him. 2 threes in a row – I love those threes that he took. It’s gonna go down, and I trust it.

“Does he beat himself up? Yes, he does. But, no, he’s not pressing.”

Through six games, Wagner is averaging 7.6 points-per-game, shooting an average of 34.9% in 27.8 minutes-per-game. In his breakout performance against the Hawkeyes, Wagner went 4-of-10 from the floor, including one three-pointer, and made 9-of-10 free throws.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

5 takeaways from the Big Ten-opener for No. 4 Michigan

No. 4 Michigan bounced back from their loss to No. 1 Louisville with an impressive 103-91 victory over Iowa to open Big Ten Conference play.

[jwplayer tM27HB9Z-XNcErKyb]
Hosting Iowa for their Big Ten season-opener, No. 4 Michigan bounced back nicely from their first loss of the season at No. 1 Louisville by defeating the Hawkeyes by the score of 103-91.

The two teams traded blows early in the game, before the Wolverines ended the half with a 7-0 run to take a 50-38 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Iowa got within 78-71 but Michigan’s offense was too much as they pulled away again, improving to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes fall to 6-3 on the season.

Five takeaways from the Wolverines’ victory:

1. BACK TO (SHOOTING) FORM

Michigan had an ugly shooting night against Louisville, finishing at just 26 percent from the floor and 16 percent from three-point range. However, the Wolverines returned to form against Iowa, shooting 32-of-58 from the floor (55 percent) and 10-of-24 from deep (42 percent). It was a welcome sight, and a product of better ball movement and fluidity on offense than Michigan had against the Cardinals.

2. SHARING THE WEALTH

As mentioned above, the Wolverines’ ball movement was noticeably better on Friday night, leading to 21 assists on 32 made shots. As a result, Michigan was able to get several guys going offensively, finishing with an impressive six players scoring in double figures (Franz Wagner, Jon Teske, Zaver Simpson, Isaiah Livers, Eli Brook, Brandon Johns Jr.). The offensive outburst led to the Wolverines scoring their most points in a Big Ten game since 1998, when they scored 112 against Indiana.

3. BATTLE OF THE BIGS

Iowa center Luka Garza, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, had a career-high with 44 points and added 8 rebounds to lead the Hawkeyes. Michigan had no answer defensively for the Iowa big man, and Wolverines center Jon Teske picked up four fouls trying to defend Garza. However, Michigan countered with the combined efforts of Teske (16 points, 5 rebounds), Brandon Johns Jr. (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Austin Davis (8 points, 3 rebounds). The Wolverines will need to tighten up their post defense moving forward, but it was good to see the response from Michigan’s big men on offense.

4. OWNING THE BOARDS

One area that Michigan appeared to struggle in early this season was rebounding, but the Wolverines have seemed to correct that as of late. Michigan held their own on the glass throughout the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament — out-rebounding their opponents by 10 over the course of three games — and that trend continued against the Hawkeyes. The Wolverines won the rebounding battle 38-30 over Iowa. It was a team effort to win on the glass, as five Michigan players finished with five rebounds or more.

5. YOUNG WOLVERINES BREAK OUT

A pair of young Wolverines had their best outings in maize and blue uniforms, as freshman Franz Wagner finished with a career-high 18 points to lead Michigan in scoring. He was aggressive throughout the game and went 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Brandon Johns Jr. also had a career game for the Wolverines, scoring 12 points (career-high) and adding 8 rebounds (tied career high). John Jr.’s minutes off the bench were vital with fellow sophomore Colin Castleton being limited due to a non-serious first half injury, and junior Isaiah Livers struggling with foul trouble.

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.

[jwplayer tM27HB9Z-XNcErKyb]

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.

Juwan Howard: How Franz Wagner is acclimating to Michigan basketball

With three games under his belt, it’s been a little bit of an uneven debut for the German star.

[jwplayer 9BNF5f5B-XNcErKyb]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  It was a huge lift to a first-year head coach in Juwan Howard, to nab a Michigan legacy as well as a player that would have likely been considered a five-star recruit had he played ball stateside. Plus, it quelled the loss of Jalen Wilson, who flipped to Kansas after John Beilein departed for the NBA.

While expectations were high for small forward and Berlin native Franz Wagner, the younger brother of Michigan standout Moe Wagner, his progress was derailed after he suffered a wrist injury in preseason training.

Wagner made his Michigan debut nearly a week ago, when the Wolverines tipped off against Iowa State in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, not just getting his first taste of NCAA college basketball, but also coming in as a newfound starter. The former Alba Berlin player has had experience playing at a high-level, but that doesn’t mean he was truly ready to go once he hit the court.

It’s somewhat showed. He had 6 points in his debut, but was held to just 3 points and 16.67% shooting against North Carolina in his second game. He rebounded nicely going 50% from the floor and 10 points vs. Gonzaga, but watching, you could sense the frustration he had as some simple shots — like layups — rimmed in-and-out.

For his new head coach, he sees the first-year Wolverine making progress, but notes it’ll take some time for him to get his bearings.

“He’s played great to me – maybe not to his own eyes,” Howard said. “Because – sometimes the fact that the ball isn’t going in all the time for him, but it takes time. It’s not gonna happen overnight where you just come right in and three straight games and you play the way you probably played in the past where the ball falls right in every time for you or your rhythm is playing, you feel so comfortable out there on the floor. Your conditioning is at an all-time high. Right now, he’s not in basketball shape. It takes time for him adjust to that schedule of change of direction and your body with those different type of movements.

“Yeah, you can run all the quarters you want without practice. You can go out there on the treadmill, prepare yourself for the conditioning. But basketball shape is totally different.

“The cones are undefeated! Well – you can score a lot versus the cones. But, when you have that arm in your hand, or arm in your face and somebody’s beating your body, that’s a different level of play right there.”

But what does he need to do to get to where he needs to be?

Howard says, just keep doing what he’s doing.

“I would say this: Franz competes,” Howard says. “He’s the ultimate competitor. You can tell how he’s defended defensively down there in the Bahamas, how he’s battled things on the board. He’s not making excuses for himself. If anything, he gets down on himself, and I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You’re not gonna have that. Next play mentality. It’s gonna fall. You’re just not feeling your legs underneath you. It’ll all come back. When it comes back, it’s gonna come back in stretches, where it’s like domino effect. Make five in a row.’ I trust and believe that.

“But it’s not all about making shots. It’s about when he plays, and he’s diving on the floor for loose balls, after having a wrist injury. It goes to show you he’s a competitor.”

He’ll have a prime opportunity on Tuesday night as No. 4 Michigan heads to Kentucky to take on No. 1 Louisville.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Michigan basketball freshman could make college debut on Wednesday

The Wolverines true freshman is a game-time decision.

[jwplayer 7UIroIUy-XNcErKyb]

When former Michigan head coach John Beilein departed this offseason for the NBA, the Wolverines lost one prized recruit in Jalen Wilson, but after Juwan Howard took over the job, it got another in Franz Wagner.

Franz Wagner, the younger brother of former Michigan star Moe Wagner, opted to join the maize and blue instead of going pro in Germany, and very likely could have been considered a five-star prospect had he been evaluated as a U.S. recruit. Given the early departures of Jordan Poole, Charles Matthews and Ignas Brazdeikis, having a blue-chip player coming in was a huge boon for the Wolverines.

But, as the team prepared for the season opener last month, Wagner suffered a wrist injury, and was set back approximately six weeks.

The regional nightmare might be coming to an end on Wednesday, as a report states that Wagner might be able to give it a go against Iowa State, in the opening Battle 4 Atlantis matchup in the Bahamas.

We’ll see if Wagner is able to make his college debut at noon EST, with the game being broadcast on ESPN.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=2092]