Jon Teske – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Five takeaways: Wolverines get massive win over MSU

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Entering the week, Michigan basketball sat near the bottom of the Big Ten and needing a big conference win for program morale, a chance to move up the standings and for a boost to their NCAA Tournament resume. On Tuesday, the …

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Entering the week, Michigan basketball sat near the bottom of the Big Ten and needing a big conference win for program morale, a chance to move up the standings and for a boost to their NCAA Tournament resume.

On Tuesday, the Wolverines watched an opportunity slip away against rival Ohio State in a 61-58 loss.

Michigan didn’t have to wait long for another shot at a rival however, as Michigan State visited the Crisler Center on Saturday.

The Spartans (15-7 overall, 8-4 overall) enter the contest tied for second in the Big Ten, while the Wolverines (13-9, 4-7) currently sit near the bottom of the standings at 12th.

Both clubs struggled offensively in the first half, but Michigan was able to take a 29-23 lead into halftime due to aggression on the offensive glass, solid three-point shooting and by overall out-hustling the Spartans.

The Wolverines outplayed Michigan State in the second half as well, and defended Spartan star Cassius Winston well on their way to a …. win.

1. HOWARD’S FIRST WIN OVER IZZO

Juwan Howard was somewhat emotional after Michigan failed to beat the Buckeyes. But this win was bigger than a victory on Tuesday would have been. Michigan State is the face of the conference, and arguably the bigger rival for the Wolverines in basketball. It will also give Michigan a bigger boost in the eyes of the selection committee than a win over Ohio State would have. In addition, Howard moves his career record versus Izzo back to .500 at 1-1. A big win for the head coach as well.

2. LIVERS LOOKS GOOD IN RETURN

Isaiah Livers returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, much to the delight of the home crowd at the Crisler Center. The junior looked good in his return too, as he finished with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and added 4 rebounds. Livers may not solve all of the Wolverines’ problems, but they’re a different (and better) team with him on the floor.

3. TESKE STRUGGLES, MAKES PLAYS LATE

Jon Teske was virtually nonexistent in the first half, which is a big problem for your 7-foot center. The senior has seemed to disappear for long stretches of games throughout the season. However, Teske picked up his play in the second half and ended up making a sizeable impact on the game, finishing with 7 points and 8 rebounds. Still, Teske was only 2-of-8 from the floor for the game, and that needs to improve drastically.

4. LIMITING THR WOLVERINE-KILLER

Cassius Winston has had Michigan’s number for the past several meetings, and he seemed to always make the “winning plays” in this rivalry. But on Saturday, Michigan defended him about as well as possible. Winston did score 20 points and dish out 6 assists, but the Wolverines forced him to shoot just 5-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-8 from the three point line. Howard and his coaching staff had a good plan, and the players executed on defense.

5. A MASSIVE WIN

It was mentioned above, but it’s worth repeating: This was a huge win for Michigan. On a basic level, Howard gets his first win over the in-state rival and a college basketball legend in Tom Izzo. On a bigger scale, this win makes the Wolverines a little more comfortable on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. It’d be irresponsible to say this victory secures Michigan’s spot in the Big Dance, but it’s a massive feather in the cap on Selection Sunday.

Michigan State at Michigan odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Wolverines sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Michigan Wolverines (13-9, 4-7 Big Ten) host the rival Michigan State Spartans (16-7, 8-4 Big Ten) at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor Saturday at 12 p.m. ET in a Big Ten Conference clash. We analyze the Michigan State-Michigan odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Michigan State at Michigan: Three things you need to know

1. The Spartans are on a two-game skid, losing at Wisconsin 64-63 last Saturday, and at home against Penn State by a 75-70 count Tuesday. They’re also just 3-4 straight up and against the spread across their past seven games.

2. The last time these teams met was Jan. 5 in East Lansing, and the Spartans took the Wolverines behind the shed, winning 87-69 to cover a nine-point number with the over (145) cashing.

3. Michigan ranks 166th in the nation with 68.9 points per game allowed, and they’re 175th with a 42.6 defensive field-goal percentage. F Jon Teske leads the way with 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Michigan State at Michigan: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Michigan State 71, Michigan 65

Moneyline (ML)

MICHIGAN STATE (-143) is looking for the series sweep, and the Spartans are not a bad play laying only a little bit on the road. While they’ve been in a bit of a tailspin lately, Michigan (+120) isn’t exactly killing it, either. Sparty is a much better team overall.

Against the Spread (ATS)

MICHIGAN STATE (-2, -115) has posted a 4-1 ATS mark in its past seven games following a non-cover. While Michigan (+2, -106) is 4-0 ATS in the past four as a home underdog, the Wolverines are just 1-3-1 ATS in the past five at home, 1-8-1 ATS in the past 10 against winning teams and 2-6-1 ATS in the past nine games overall. The Wolverines are also a dismal 0-5 ATS in the past five as an underdog.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 142.5 (-110) has been the rule for both sides lately, and neither is playing with very much consistency at the offensive end. The Under is 7-0-1 in Michigan State’s past eight games overall, and 3-0-1 in the past four on the road. The Under is 4-1 in Michigan’s past five overall, and 4-0 in its past four at Crisler Center. This won’t be a defensive slog, but it won’t be a track meet, either.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Jon Teske previews Rutgers matchup

What the big man in the middle sees as the biggest challenges to face the Wolverines when they take on Rutgers at Madison Square Garden.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In November, no one was looking at Michigan vs. Rutgers on Feb. 1 as a big matchup, and if anyone was expected to get a big win in the game, it would have been Michigan.

But times, they change.

The Scarlet Knights come into the game ranked No. 25, while the Wolverines are unranked for the second week in a row, after a four-game losing streak derailed much of the early season hype.

Not only does the AP Top 25 have Rutgers at No. 25, but so, too, does KenPom, the advanced analytics site. Michigan, as of current, is No. 27, after being a top ten team at the beginning of the year.

Where Michigan’s struggled has mostly been on the defensive end of the court, but offensively, it’s also been a whirlwind of frustration, with open shots not falling. It’ll get no reprieve on Saturday, with Rutgers bringing in the nation’s No. 9 defense, per KenPom.

Senior captain and center Jon Teske broke down the challenges that the Scarlet Knights present and what the Wolverines expect to see in New York City on Saturday.

“They’re very skilled,” Teske said. “They have so many guys that can come in and get points. They can get hot in a hurry. They play defense well as a team. They keep guys in check. They’re very well-coached. We’ve gotta be ready for them. It’s a very tough challenge and they’re playing well this season. So give credit to them. We’ve been watching a lot of film the last couple days. In practice, we’ve done a good job preparing and I think we’re ready for them.”

While guards Ron Baker Jr. and Geo Baker lead the charge for the New Jersey state college, Teske will have his hands full with center Myles Johnson, who averages 9.1 points-per-game, 8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.

So, what does Teske see as the challenge on that front, especially considering big men have dominated him during Michigan’s troubling month of January.

“He’s just very athletic,” Teske said. “Gets a lot of offensive rebounds. Very active around the rim. Likes to dodge the basket, finishes around the rim well. So I gotta use my length on him, make it hard for him to score and just box him out.”

The Wolverines and Scarlet Knights will tip-off on Saturday at Madison Square Garden at 4:30PM EST.

Jon Teske reacts to Kobe Bryant’s tragic death

The Wolverines center noted the impact Kobe Bryant had on his formative years as an aspiring basketball player.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was devastating news, but news that seemed bring the whole country together, with the shocking story of how former Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant — a 20-year NBA veteran — perished in a helicopter accident on Sunday morning in Calabasas.

From the avid professional basketball fan, to the players at all levels, to those who knew close to nothing about the sport, Bryant’s death had a giant impact, garnering reactions across the nation, and assuredly internationally, as well.

It also impacted those in Ann Arbor, who didn’t know or play with Bryant, but grew up watching him dominate on the basketball court in their formative years.

Among those, Michigan center Jon Teske, who spoke about the incident on Monday at the Wolverines press conference previewing Nebraska.

“It was terrible news,” Teske said. “We were still practicing, and we came back into the locker room and got that update. It was awful news. For someone — just shows it doesn’t matter how much money you have or status, you could be gone in a second. Just growing up, watching him, watching LeBron and him battle, huge impact in basketball. It just is a very sad loss.”

As a center, Teske’s game is quite different than that of shooting guard Kobe Bryant, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t pay close attention to the ‘Black Mamba.’

Teske noted Bryant’s impact on his youth and his play, saying that he always made especially sure to watch him whenever he got a chance to.

“Always watching him, playing (video game NBA2K), watching him play LeBron, those battles that they always had, and just in your backyard, yelling ‘Kobe!’ (throwing refuse into) the trash can, it’s just memories,” Teske said. “It’s very sad.

“I think it just showed my love for the game more. I just loved watching him play. Whenever I had the chance to watch him play, tried to turn on the TV. Just kinda goes from there.”

2020 aggregate NBA mock draft 4.0: Evaluating the rising upperclassmen

Somehow already past the midpoint of the college basketball season, the 2020 NBA Draft is starting to shape up with far more clear rankings.

Somehow already past the midpoint of the college basketball season, the 2020 NBA draft is starting to shape up with far more clear rankings.

As always, we examine the most trusted analysts to give us the best idea of a consensus for what the upcoming draft class will look like in June. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from experts at ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic and USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.

The top four players (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Cole Anthony) have remained the exact same despite none of the latter three players being active for various different reasons.

Meanwhile, Iowa State sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton entered the Top 5 and replaced 19-year-old Israeli prospect Deni Avdija – who has not seen much playing time in the Euroleague.

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Included below are brief scouting reports for senior guards who have improved their draft stock the most since our last update. These players listed are all four-year NCAA players who could be ready to make the jump to the NBA like Josh Hart and Malcolm Brogdon did in their respective classes.

MARKUS HOWARD, MARQUETTE

Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 46

One of the most important things to know about Marquette senior Markus Howard is that despite the fact he has four years of collegiate experience, he is just 20 years old. Few teams operate their offense through one player quite like Golden Eagles do with Howard, who has taken 42.5 percent of their total field goal attempts. Fortunately, the guard brags one of the most efficient and prolific jump shots among all NCAA players. Howard operates well when he is shooting off the catch and off the dribble, which will make him a good fit for almost any offense in the NBA. He is currently averaging 28.4 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent on three-pointers. Similarly, no guard in college has been fouled more often than Howard has thus far. He should be a lock win Big East Player of the Year and should be a strong contender for the National Player of the Year, too. As a pro, he can likely become a spark-plug scoring option off the bench. His draft stock has improved from No. 68 up to No. 46 month-over-month.

PAYTON PRITCHARD, OREGON

Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 47

Oregon senior guard Payton Pritchard was a Top-50 recruit coming into the Pac-12 back in 2016. He attended West Linn High School, where he was able to lead his squad to four consecutive state titles. That accomplishment was an especially impressive feat considering the program had only won the OSAA Boys Basketball Championship once before and it was way back in 1997. He has since played for the Ducks in the Final Four (2017) and also won MVP of the Pac-12 Tournament last season. He is currently averaging 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists with 1.7 steals per game. His assist rate (32.7 percent) is Top 20 among seniors and he has connected on 40.7 percent of his three-pointers. Now more than halfway through the season, he is the heavy favorite to win Pac-12 Player of the Year and could be a sleeper for National Player of the Year as well. He has leaped from No. 96 in December all the way to No. 47 now in January.

SKYLAR MAYS, LSU

Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 57

During his senior year of high school, Skylar Mays was actually teammates with Howard at Findlay Prep. Also on the roster was 2019 first-rounder PJ Washington and Toronto Raptors two-way wing Oshae Brissett. For what it is worth, their roster also had current college basketball standouts Tristan Clark (Baylor) and Lamine Diane (CSUN). Their team has already sent tons of prospects into the NBA and Mays could very well be the next in line. He is a potential 3-and-D threat, averaging 1.4 three-pointers and 2.1 steals per game for the LSU Tigers as an NCAA senior. Meanwhile, LSU’s adjusted offensive rating (116.6) ranks Top 5 in college basketball. Along with Reggie Perry (Mississippi State) as well as Kerry Blackshear Jr. (Florida), Mays has a strong candidacy to win SEC Player of the Year. He has jumped from No. 90 last month to No. 57 this month.

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Five takeaways: Michigan in free fall after 3rd straight loss

Michigan dropped its third consecutive game on Wednesday with a 72-63 loss to Penn State. The Wolverines fall to 2-5 in Big Ten play.

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Michigan entered Wednesday’s home game against Penn State coming off two straight conference losses and having fallen back out of the AP Top 25.

A momentum shift was needed, but instead it was more of the same for the Wolverines, who dropped their first home game in conference play, 72-63.

Michigan is now 11-7 overall and 2-5 in the Big Ten after opening the season 7-0 and skyrocketing to No. 4 in the nation.

Five takeaways from a disappointing night in Ann Arbor:

1. WOLVERINes are in free fall

With Wednesday’s loss, the Wolverines have now lost three games in a row, four of their last five, and six of their last nine. To make matters worse, two of Michigan’s three wins during that stretch came against Presbyterian and UMass-Lowell, meaning the Wolverines are 1-6 in their last seven games against power conference opponents. Adversity has struck in Juwan Howard’s first season as head coach at Michigan, and he’ll need to find a way to rally his players to overcome it.

2. No easy answers here

Looking at the box score, there’s not a single player or statistic you can point at to explain the performance tonight. This was the epitome of a team loss. Zavier Simpson shot under 35 percent from the floor and had six turnovers. Jon Teske failed to stay out of foul trouble once again. Franz Wagner was 1-of-8 from the three-point line. Eli Brooks started 3-of-4 from the floor and finished 4-of-12. David DeJulius, who has been a spark plug-type player off the bench this season, finished with 2 points and was 0-of-3 from the floor. The full roster, top to bottom, contributed to this incredibly poor performance.

3. SHots still aren’t falling

We’re passed the point where we can call these ‘shooting woes’. It’s more accurate right now to simply say that Michigan is not a good shooting team. There’s not much more to say: The Wolverines were 24-of-68 from the floor (35 percent) and an abysmal 5-of-28 from three-point range (18 percent). The numbers tell the story. Michigan has had a rough go of it shooting the ball for much of the past two months, and the performance tonight may have been the crescendo of that fact.

4. teske hits the glass

Jon Teske came into Wednesday’s game averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. That’s not a bad number, but it’s somewhat underwhelming for a guy his size. The senior reached double-digit rebounds against the Nittany Lions however, finishing with 11. Teske needs to reach double-digit rebounds more consistently moving forward, there’s really no excuse for a guy his size to not be more of a force on the glass.

5. Not going to get much easier

Looking at what Michigan has coming up, the schedule continues to look challenging. The Wolverines play host to No. 21 Illinois this coming Saturday, before hitting the road for a trip to Nebraska. Michigan is winless in true road games this season. The Wolverines will then return home for a matchup against No. 24 Rutgers, before hosting rivals Ohio State and Michigan State in back-to-back contests. Injured starter Isaiah Livers appears to be getting closer to a return, and its hard to imagine the Wolverines being more desperate for his presence on the floor than they are right now.

Five takeaways: Wolverines still winless on the road

Five takeaways from No. 19 Michigan’s 90-83 defeat on the road at Iowa. The Wolverines fall to 0-5 on the road.

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After starting 0-4 in true road games to start the season, No. 19 Michigan traveled to Iowa on Friday night in desperate need to change the narrative away from Ann Arbor.

The Hawkeyes built a double-digit lead in the first half, but Michigan battled back with a run to end the frame to cut their deficit to 47-43 at the break. In the second half, Iowa built his lead back to seven before the Wolverines went on a 14-2 run to take a lead of their own.

However, the Hawkeyes made the money plays down the stretch to retake the lead and hang on for a 90-83 win, handing Michigan another crushing loss on the road to drop them to 0-5 away from the Crisler Center.

Here are five takeaway’s from the Wolverines’ defeat:

1. better shooting on the road

The biggest factor in Michigan’s struggles on the road this season has been poor shooting. The Wolverines still shot below average from the three-point line (11-for-34), but overall Michigan shot 50 percent from the floor (34-of-68). That’s a sizable improvement from what the Wolverines have shot in their other road games this season.

2. welcome back Eli Brooks

Michigan got a huge lift from junior Eli Brooks in this one. The shooting guard had gone through a rough stretch shooting the ball in recent games, but Brooks came out of his funk to score 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. A night like this can’t be expected every time Brooks steps on to the floor, but if the junior can consistently be a threat from outside, it will open Michigan’s offense up more for other guys.

3. frustrating NIGHT FOR johns jr., simpson

Brandon Johns Jr. had a poor night in Iowa City. The sophomore fouled out of the game, and finished the game with more turnovers (3) than points (2). Meanwhile, point guard Zavier Simpson was mostly held in check by the Hawkeyes. He finished with 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting, and dished out six assists. For Simpson, it was good to see him not try to force things offensively — he had just two turnovers, one coming in the closing seconds — but he’ll need to find ways to make a bigger impact offensively. For Johns Jr., this performance simply wasn’t good enough in a starting role, plain and simple.

4. free throw line discrepancy

Juwan Howard was visibly frustrated with the officiating on Friday night, and was issued a technical foul early in the second half. Michigan’s 14-2 run quickly followed that technical. The Wolverines had to battle through foul trouble most of the night, having been whistled for 23 fouls as opposed to 13 for Iowa. The Hawkeyes went 27-of-30 from the foul line, while Michigan was 4-of-5. Style of play is also a factor when considering the number of trips a team makes to the charity stripe, so the discrepancy in foul shots can’t be attributed to officiating alone however.

5. letting another slip away

Michigan got off to a strong start at Minnesota last week, leading by double digits in the first half, but couldn’t keep that momentum going in a 75-67 defeat. The Wolverines had a chance to end their road losing streak once again tonight. They battled through adversity throughout the game, and found themselves somehow with a 7-point with under 10 minutes to play, yet once again Michigan couldn’t make the finishing plays required to pull out a road win in this conference. As a result, the Wolverines find themselves 2-4 in conference play, and may be already out of the race.

Halftime Analysis: No. 19 Michigan at Iowa

Halftime analysis of No. 19 Michigan basketball’s road trip to Iowa, as conference play rolls on in the Big Ten conference.

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After opening the season 7-0 and rising as high as No. 4 in the country, Michigan has gone 4-5 in its last nine games and settled into the No. 19 spot in back-to-back weeks.

Four of those losses came away from Ann Arbor, and the Wolverines have yet to win a game in an opponent’s arena (0-4). Michigan (11-5 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) tries to turn that around with it’s trip to Iowa (12-5, 3-3) tonight.

The Wolverines defeated the Hawkeyes, 103-91, earlier this season at the Crisler Center. Iowa has gone 6-2 overall since their defeat in Ann Arbor.

The Hawkeyes had revenge on the mind at home, building a double-digit lead in the early-goings of the half, but Michigan was able to hang around and get themselves back to within four points at the break. The Wolverines currently trail, 47-43.

POSITIVES:

Welcome back Eli Brooks. The junior carried Michigan in the first half, scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting including a pair of three-pointers, breaking a 1-of-16 slump from deep. Brooks had been very quiet in recent games, and the Wolverines missed his scoring desperately. He led Michigan in scoring in the half.
David DeJulius was very good off the bench for the Wolverines, scoring 8 points on 4-of-8 shooting with 3 rebounds and 2 assists. His contributions were big given that starting point guard Zavier Simpson was out of the game for an extended stretch with foul trouble.
Michigan did an excellent job taking care of the ball in the first half, with just two turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

NEGATIVES:

Michigan struggled on defense in the first half, as the Hawkeyes managed to shoot nearly 52 percent from the field (15-of-29) and over 45 percent from the three-point line (5-11). Iowa knocked down a couple tough shots, but for the most part they got the looks they wanted in the first 20 minutes, and knocked them down more often than not. The Wolverines need to be stingier on the defensive end in the second half.
Foul trouble is a major concern for Michigan entering the second half. Backup center Austin Davis had three fouls in the first half, while starters Zavier Simpson and Franz Wagner both had two fouls. Iowa took advantage of the fouls as well, shooting a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line.

Five takeaways: Michigan falls to 0-4 in true road games

Five takeaways from Michigan’s 75-67 road loss at Minnesota. Wolverines fall to 2-3 in Big Ten conference play on the season.

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After boosting their Big Ten record to 2-2 with a double overtime win over Purdue on Thursday, No. 19 Michigan traveled to Minnesota on Sunday with the intent of building momentum in conference play.

The Wolverines started fast, opening an 11-point lead with hot shooting to start the contest. Michigan knocked down it’s first four three-point attempts, but finished the half 6-of-14 from outside.

Minnesota was able to close the gap with a 9-0 run to end the half, and the Wolverines saw their lead get chopped to 31-30 at the break.

Momentum continued to trend the Gophers way in the second half, as they took control and never allowed Michigan to get back into the rhythm they found early. The Wolverines fell by a final score of 75-67.

1. A similar story on offense

We’re approaching “beat a dead horse” territory, but the fact remains that Michigan will struggle to win games if it continues to shoot this poorly. The Wolverines started 8-of-13 from the floor and 4-for-4 from three-point range, but came crashing back down to Earth soon after. Michigan finished the day at 42 percent from the floor (26-of-62) and 36 percent from deep (10-of-28). With Isaiah Livers out, the Wolverines are struggling to find scoring replacements. Michigan needs him back desperately.

2. Simpson Plays well again

Zavier Simpson did all he could to try to will the Wolverines to another victory. The senior has put two good conference games together back-to-back to conclude this week. After scoring 22 points and dishing out 9 assists against Purdue, Simpson led the way for Michigan again on Sunday with 19 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Unfortunately, the senior struggled from the floor as well, shooting just 9-of-17. However, with the limited options offensively as mentioned above, it’s hard to blame Simpson for forcing the issue at times.

3. Howard sticks with his plan

Juwan Howard has a strict policy on guarding the post. Michigan is going to play one-on-one defense down low, and refuses to help off of perimeter shooters. The idea is to not allow opponents to get open looks from three by doubling the post. Against that strategy, Minnesota’s Daniel Oturu gave Michigan fits in the post, finishing with a career-high 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting and added 7 rebounds. This comes after the Wolverines surrendered career games to Iowa’s Luka Garza (44 points, 8 rebounds) and Purdue’s Trevion Williams (36 points, 20 rebounds). If Howard is going to continue utilizing this strategy, he needs to coach up his big men and get them to defend better down low.

4. DISAPPOINTING Game for teske

Not only did Teske struggle to slow down Oturu, he didn’t contribute much offensively either. The senior was limited to 9 points on 3-of-8 shooting and collected just 4 rebounds. Simply put, that’s not good enough for a senior captain. Earlier this season I called Teske the most consistently reliable player on Michigan’s roster. He hasn’t lived up to that billing in recent outings. The Wolverines need more production and toughness out of him moving forward.

5. fixing the road woes

Michigan is now 0-4 in true road games this season. This was actually the Wolverines best shooting performance in a road game this season. Winning on the road has always been difficult in college basketball, and it is particularly difficult to do in the Big Ten this season, but the best teams find ways to get it done. Right now, Michigan is a good team, but hasn’t shown the ability to take the next step towards being a contender. The Wolverines have another shot to get a road win in their next action, as they travel to Iowa on Friday.

Halftime Analysis: No. 19 Michigan at Minnesota

Halftime analysis of No. 19 Michigan’s trip to Minnesota to battle the Golden Gophers as Big Ten play continues for the Wolverines.

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Coming off a double-overtime win over Purdue on Thursday, No. 19 Michigan (11-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) traveled to Minneapolis to battle Minnesota (8-7, 2-3).

The Golden Gophers have dropped two of their past three Big Ten games, with a win over Northwestern sandwiched between losses to Purdue and Michigan State.

Opening conference play with a .500 record, the Wolverines are seeking to keep pace with the teams atop the Big Ten standings.

Michigan got out to a fast start and took an early 11-point lead, before the Golden Gophers battled back. The Wolverines struggled down the stretch of the half and had to settle for just a 31-30 lead at the break.

NEGATIVES:

Juwan Howard has a strict policy on guarding the post. Michigan is going to play one-on-one defense down low, and refuses to help off of perimeter shooters. However, the Wolverines have struggled to defend the post well, and that continued in the first half today. Minnesota’s Daniel Oturu, one of the most improved players in the Big Ten this season, lit up Michigan for 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first 20 minutes. This comes after Iowa’s Luka Garza scored 44 and Purdue’s Trevion Williams scored 36 on the Wolverines. Howard and the Wolverines may need to make an adjustment to their strategy in the second half.
Michigan was sloppy with the ball, particularly in the later-goings of the first half. The Wolverines have just five turnovers, but other possessions have been hampered by sloppy play and poor ball movement.

POSITIVES:

The Wolverines got off to a fast start offensively, which was a sight for sore eyes particularly on the road. Michigan’s shooting woes have been well-documented, but the Wolverines opened this game shooting 8-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-3 from three-point range. The hot shooting tapered off as the half progressed however, as Michigan ended the half 12-of-29 from the floor (41 percent). Still, the Wolverines shot 6-of-14 from the three-point line, which was a welcome sight.
Although the defense against Oturu was listed earlier as a negative, the defensive strategy has produced the desired results on those surrounding the Minnesota star. Outside of Oturu’s production, the other Golden Gophers are a combined 4-of-16 from the floor and have been limited to 11 points. It will be interesting to see how the Wolverines tweak things defensively in the second half.