Tag: Jon Teske

5 takeaways: Michigan outlasts Purdue in double OT

No. 19 Michigan returned home on Thursday night for a Big Ten battle with Purdue, and outlasted the Boilermakers in double overtime, 84-78.

[jwplayer IlaUuWPE-XNcErKyb]

Michigan entered Thursday’s game against Purdue in desperate need for a victory. After opening the season 7-0 and rising as high as No. 4 in the country, the Wolverines have dropped four of their last seven games and have fallen to 19th in the nation.

The Boilermakers came into the contest on a bit of a slump as well, having gone 3-3 in their last six games, including a blowout loss to Illinois (63-37) in their last outing.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team building a lead by more than four points. The lead changed hands 11 times before Michigan took an 32-28 advantage into the locker room.

The second half was more of the same, as both teams traded blows on their way to double overtime. In the end, the Wolverines landed the final blow and secured an 84-78 victory.

Here are five takeaways for Michigan’s win:

1. Zavier Simpson returns to form

Zavier Simpson has had an up-and-down season thus far, but he played extraordinary well against the Boilermakers. After being primarily a distributor in regulation, with 9 assists prior to overtime, Simpson was able to get to the rim in the cause damage in the extra sessions.. That’s where the senior is at his best. He showed patience in regulation, but carried the Wolverines in overtime, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go along with those 9 assists.

2. Shooting Struggles Come home

Michigan’s struggles in shooting have been well-documented in recent weeks, but the Crisler Center had previously been a reprieve for those struggles. That wasn’t the case on Thursday night however, as the shooting woes followed the Wolverines home. Michigan finished regulation 25-of-55 from the floor (45 percent), before going 6-of-11 in the two overtime periods. It was another ugly outing from the three-point line (7-of-29) however. This is growing into a major concern for the Wolverines, and one they need to correct as Big Ten play continues.

3. Scoring by Committee

Those shooting struggles are not limited to one player or even a hand-full of players, it’s everyone right now. With that in mind, the Wolverines combated that tonight by spreading the ball around and getting multiple people involved on offense. Simpson’s 22 points led the way, but Jon Teske had 18, Franz Wagner had 15, and David DeJulius finished with 11 and Brandon Johns Jr. added 8. Teams get out of shooting slumps by moving the ball around and finding guys for good looks. Michigan is getting good looks, and you have to think they’ll start to fall at some point.

4. ELI BROOKS has gone M.I.A.

In the first seven games of the season, shooting guard Eli Brook was scoring 12.3 points per game and was an outside shooting threat for the Wolverines, hitting 50 percent of his three-point attempts. However, in Michigan’s last eight games Brooks has been missing in action. The junior has been held to 8.3 ppg and is shooting just 9-of-28 from deep (32 percent) with six of those makes coming against lowly Presbyterian and UMass-Lowell. The way the Wolverines are struggling from the floor, Michigan needs Brooks to regain some of his early season form quickly.

5. GRINDING OUT A VICTORY

Nothing is coming easy for the Wolverines right now, especially with starting forward Isaiah Livers currently out indefinitely with a groin injury. Michigan showed grit and resilience on Thursday night however to grind out a much-needed victory. The win improves the Wolverines’ record in conference play back to .500 at 2-2. It’s going to be difficult to win games the way Michigan is shooting the ball right now, but give them credit for finding a way to come out on top in this one. Livers’ status remains uncertain, but their is optimism that he’ll be able to return to the lineup soon, which should give them a boost offensively.

Halftime Analysis: No. 19 Michigan vs. Purdue

No. 19 Michigan returns to Big Ten action with a home tilt against Purdue at Crisler Arean. Analysis of the Wolverines’ first half.

[jwplayer IlaUuWPE-XNcErKyb]

After falling at Michigan State and dropping to 19th in the latest Associated Press poll, Michigan returned to Ann Arbor on Thursday for another Big Ten showdown, this time with the Purdue Boilermakers.

Purdue entered the contest 3-3 in its last six games, including a blowout loss to Illinois (63-37) in their last action.

The Wolverines are in desperate need to hold serve on their home court after opening conference play with a 1-2 record.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team building a lead by more than four points. The lead changed hands 11 times before Michigan took an 32-28 advantage into the locker room.

POSITIVES:

  • Franz Wagner was active in the first half vs. the Boilers after a quiet afternoon in East Lansing on Sunday. The freshman finsihed the half with 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting, and added 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
  • Jon Teske continues to be the most consistent player on Michigan’s roster. The senior center has been steady all season, and that continued in the first half Thursday as he totaled 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Still, Teske needs to be more active on the boards, as he was limited to just one in the first half.
  • In each of their four losses this season, Michigan’s opponents have played tight on shooters and forced point guard Zavier Simpson to be a scorer. That’s not Simpson’s game, and he struggled with his shooting percentage in those contests. On Thursday, however, the senior point guard has been much more patient with the basketball and has looked to set up his teammates. Simpson finished the first half with just 4 points, but he shot a perfect 2-for-2 from the floor and added 6 assists.
  • Although the offense has struggled, the Wolverines have done a good job forcing turnovers on defense. Purdue finished the half with 11 giveaways. When you’re struggling to score, those extra possession come in handy.

NEGATIVES:

  • Shooting troubles have been the story for Michigan when they go on the road, but those struggles followed them back to Ann Arbor tonight. The Wolverines were just 13-of-29 from the floor in that first half, and once again shot an ugly percentage from the three-point line (3-of-12). This is the top concern for this team right now, as they’ve slumped to a 4-3 record in their last seven games. The coaching staff needs to draw up ways to get guys open looks, and players need to knock those shots down. It’s really that simple.
  • Purdue’s Trevion Williams was a big time problem for Michigan in the first half. Williams finished the half with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added 6 rebounds. The Wolverine bigs will need to do a better job on him in the first half.

Purdue at Michigan college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan Wolverines sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Purdue Boilermakers (9-6, 2-2 Big Ten) and Michigan Wolverines (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten) tip it off at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor at 7 p.m. ET Thursday. We analyze the Purdue-Michigan odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

The Wolverines are ranked 19th in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll.

Purdue at Michigan: Three things you need to know

1. Like their rivals to the south in Ohio, the Wolverines are stumbling lately. They’re just 2-3 straight up and against the spread, including an ugly 87-69 smack in the mouth in East Lansing last time out on Jan. 5.

2. Purdue hasn’t exactly been lighting the world afire, either, as they are just 3-3 SU/2-4 ATS across the past six, and they managed just 37 total points in a 26-point loss at Illinois on Jan. 5.

3. The Wolverines rank 18th in the nation in field-goal percentage at 48.3, and they’re a respectable 37.5 percent from behind the 3-point arc, checking in 35th.

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

Purdue at Michigan: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Michigan 71, Purdue 62

Moneyline (ML)

Avoid the chalk on the Wolverines (-250) and play the spread instead in search of a great profit margin.

Against the Spread (ATS)

MICHIGAN (-5.5, -110) has burned me before, including its loss at Illinois earlier in the season when I was positive they’d roll the Illini. That was actually the start of their skid. They’re hosting a very marginal Purdue (+5.5, -110) side at home, and I fully expect Jon Teske, Zavier Simpson and company to come out on fire.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 128.5 (-110) seems super low considering Michigan throws down 78.3 points per game on average. It’s mainly because Purdue’s offense is awful, as the Boilermakers average just 68.2 PPG to rank 260th in the country. Defensively, they slow it down like Virginia, allowing 59.1 PPG to rank 12th in the nation. Still, I expect Michigan’s offense to make it happen and push it over the line.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11866]

Michigan’s shooting woes return at MSU

Michigan basketball fell to Michigan State on Sunday afternoon in no small part due to another poor shooting performance on the road.

[jwplayer T86lrDI3-XNcErKyb]

A familiar theme is emerging whenever Michigan basketball leaves the friendly confines of the Crisler Center.

Coming into their Top 15 matchup with rival Michigan State, the Wolverines had made just 6-of-37 attempts from behind the three-point arc in road games at Louisville and Illinois. Michigan also shot only 35 percent from the floor in those contests.

Those trends continued Sunday at the Breslin Center, as the Wolverines connected on just 5 of 23 attempts from deep, and finished the game shooting 36 percent overall (25-of-69).

“We got some good shots, especially in the first half,” head coach Juwan Howard said. “There were some shots that did not fall. Unfortunately for us, it’s been like our norm on the road where the threes don’t fall for us.”

In three true road games this season, the Wolverines are shooting 36.5 percent from the floor (67-of-189) and an abysmal 18.3 percent from three-point range (11-of-60).

It’s an issue Michigan will need to correct quickly if they are going to contend in the Big Ten this season. The Wolverines host Purdue in their next contest, but still have road trips to Minnesota and Iowa later this month.

“We’ve just got to be confident in the shots we take,” senior center Jon Teske said. “We’ve got to trust that those shots will go in. Coach [Phil] Martelli said, ‘We got a lot of shots in the first half. How many of those shots did you trust to go in, expect to go in? Or, are you just kind of shooting it?’ So, we’ve just got to have the mindset that this shot’s going to go in, regardless if it does or doesn’t.

“You’re away from home, the environment is different, the travel is different, but that’s no excuse. You’ve just got to come in, come prepared to knock those shots down.”

Sophomore Brandon Johns Jr., who started in place of injured small forward Isaiah Livers, agreed with the suggestion the Wolverines had open looks, and doubled down on the need to take advantage of those opportunities.

“Shot selection was good, I thought it was actually really good,” Johns Jr. said. “I thought we were swinging it, I thought we were trying to get the open man and everything. I think that was a big key for us, to hit the open man.

“We got a lot of shooting in before [the game], but I think we hesitated a lot with our threes and second-guessed ourselves, which caused us to miss them. So, we need to be confident when we shoot them. We’ve got to stay mentally strong, stay composed and the more we do that the more our shots will fall.”

Just three games into their Big Ten schedule, the Wolverines already find themselves 2.5 games out of first place in the conference, and with those road games at Minnesota and Iowa on the horizon, Michigan could find itself out of the race before it’s barely begun if the poor shooting away from Ann Arbor continues.

5 takeaways: Michigan never leads in loss at MSU

Five takeaways from the rivalry matchup between No. 12 Michigan and No. 14 Michigan State on Sunday afternoon at the Breslin Center.

[jwplayer oXpbfPrJ-XNcErKyb]

EAST LANSING, Mich. — A new chapter of one of the best rivalries in college basketball was written on Sunday afternoon as No. 12 Michigan traveled to No. 14 Michigan State for a Top 15 showdown in East Lansing.

In addition to jockeying for position in the national polls, it was an important game in terms of conference standings as well, with the Spartans currently leading the way in the Big Ten.

After a close battle through the opening ten minutes of play, Michigan State established itself with a strong close to the first half to take a 44-34 lead into the locker room.

The Spartans’ lead ballooned to as many as 16 points in the second half (67-51) with just under 12 minutes to play, but Michigan had a couple small runs to cut their deficit to single digits on a couple occasions. In the end, the Wolverines just didn’t have the firepower to keep pace with MSU, falling by a final score of 87-69.

1. live and die by the 3-pointer

Michigan had no chance in this game if they didn’t shoot well from the perimeter, and the Wolverines were porous in three-point percentage. Michigan was 5-of-23 from deep (22 percent), while the Spartans countered by shooting 7-of-15 from three-point range (47 percent). In their big wins to start the season, the Wolverines shot well from beyond the arc, but a common theme in their losses this season has been poor outside shooting.

2. no offensive answers

With the three-ball not falling for Michigan, MSU was able to clamp down on the interior scoring for the Wolverines as well. That resulted in Michigan in a poor field goal percentage overall as well, 36 percent from the floor. Jon Teske was effective, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, but he was limited due to foul trouble. Zavier Simpson scored 14 points, but shot just 6-of-18 from the floor. The ineptitude extended to the free throw line as well, as the Wolverines shot a below average 14-of-22 from the charity stripe.

3. michigan needs livers back

It’s impossible to say whether a healthy Isaiah Livers would have changed the outcome of this game, but it’s reasonable to think his presence would have given the Wolverines a boost. The junior is the second-leading scorer for Michigan, and has played in a lot of big games during his first two seasons in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have fallen to 1-2 in Big Ten play this season, and will need their veteran small forward to remain in the race for a conference title.

4. winston terrorizes wolverines again

Michigan State senior guard Cassius Winston continued to be a thorn in the Wolverines’ side, after leading the Spartans over Michigan in all three meetings last season. On Sunday, the All-American led MSU with a career-high 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting, and added 9 assists. The Wolverines won’t be able to shut down Winston when the Spartans travel to Ann Arbor on Feb. 8, but they’ll have to do a much better job in limiting his effectiveness in that contest.

5. Second half resolve fades late

Depite the poor shooting, the foul trouble and incredible performances by MSU’s Winston and Xavier Tillman (20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 blocks), the Wolverines’ deficit was just single digits with six minutes or so to play. When the deficit blossomed to 16 points midway through the second half, it appeared the Wolverines were about to get run out of the Breslin Center. Michigan showed some resolve to stay within arms reach, but the Spartans pulled away late for the 18-point victory.

Halftime Analysis: No. 12 Michigan at No. 14 Michigan State

Michigan heads into the second-half with a 10-point deficit. What do the Wolverines have to do better to beat the Spartans in East Lansing?

[jwplayer wNSKnMik-XNcErKyb]

Michigan traveled to East Lansing for a Sunday afternoon showdown with rival Michigan State.

The Wolverines enter the contest ranked 12th in the country, and bring a 1-1 record in the Big Ten with a win over Iowa and a loss to Illinois.

The Spartans, ranked 14th, boast a sparkling 3-0 record in conference play with wins over Rutgers, Northwestern and Illinois.

They say basketball is a game of runs, and that old cliche rang true in the first half on Sunday. Michigan State started fast, jumping to an early 15-8 lead, however the Wolverines battled back to within 23-21 midway through the frame.

The Spartans then counter-punched with a 7-0 run to take a 30-21 edge, and continued that momentum throughout the remainder of the half, taking a 44-34 lead into the locker room.

POSITIVES:

  • Michigan’s bigs carried the Wolverines in the first half. Jon Teske (11 points, 3 rebounds), Brandon Johns Jr. (5 points) and Austin Davis (7 points, 4 rebounds) combined for 15 of first 17 points. Given the way Michigan struggled in outside shooting, the post production is vital for the Wolverines to stay within striking distance.
  • Zavier Simpson box score line won’t wow you — 8 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, steal) — but the senior made several hustle plays for Michigan. Whether it be an offensive rebound or a quick steal off an MSU defensive board, Simpson stole a couple extra possessions for the Wolverines, and those possessions ended in points for the road club.

NEGATIVES:

  • The Wolverines struggled mightily shooting from three-point range, missing their first six attempts from beyond the arc before freshman Franz Wagner was finally able to knock one down with just under 8 minutes to play in the opening half. Later in the half, the lack of production from the perimeter began to catch up with Michigan, as they finished the half just 14-of-38 from the floor (37 percent). The Wolverines will have to shoot the ball much better in the second half to get back in the game.
  • It came as no surprise that senior Cassius Winston led the way for the Spartans in the first half. Still, it was a little too easy for the All-American in the those opening 20 minutes. He finished with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and added 4 assists as well.
  • As usual, Michigan State looked to get out and run as often as they could, and their pace led to 10 fast break points. The Wolverines, meanwhile, were held scoreless in fast break points. Michigan’s transition defense improved throughout the half, and they’ll have to remain diligent in that area in the second half.

2020 aggregate NBA mock draft 3.0: Michigan State players are climbing

After over a month of the college basketball season, we are starting to get a better picture of what the 2020 NBA Draft will look like.

After over a month of the college basketball season, we are starting to get a better picture of what the 2020 NBA draft will look like.

For example, Georgia Bulldogs freshman Anthony Edwards is beginning to separate himself as a near-consensus No. 1 overall pick. On the other side of the coin, though, several of the projected top selections (LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Cole Anthony and RJ Hampton) will miss extended time due to either injury or suspension.

In order to get a better read of the bigger picture, we collected opinions from the top experts and analysts that cover the draft. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic as well as USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.

One of the most interesting takeaways is that the Michigan State Spartans have three players (Cassius Winston, Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman) all trending up.

After making the Final Four in last year’s March Madness, the program was expected to take another leap forward for their 2019-20 campaign.

Despite three losses in their first 10 games, the Spartans still rank No. 15 overall this season. This can be attributed to the fact Michigan State currently has the third-best offense in college basketball, per KenPom.com.

They also have three of the most improved players since our last aggregate mock draft. The full list, and more on each of the MSU players moving up draft boards, is included below.

[protected-iframe id=”f33f3fcc96778b85aff7b04ba6ba4a39-85827622-84177787″ info=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/1112465/embed” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

Cassius Winston, Guard

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

AMD Rank: 29

Since our last AMD, this has moved up 17 spots in our rankings.

Despite already being 21 years old, the 6-foot-1 guard currently has a first-round grade from ESPN as well as Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports.

Winston has been one of the best distributors since he began at MSU. 67.1 percent of all field goals for the Spartans have been assisted, which is the sixth-most among all teams so far this season. His career assist rate (44.1 percent) ranks No. 1 overall among all college players who have played at least 50 games since 2009-10, via Sports-Reference.

During his freshman season, he had the second-best assist rate (46.7 percent) in the NCAA. Then as a sophomore, his assist rate (43.5 percent) trailed only Trae Young for the best in college basketball. Last season, his assist mark (44.8 percent) ranked third-best and behind only Ja Morant among all who played for teams that made the tournament.

But he has also shown strength as one of the more accurate shooters in the NCAA.

Winston was 75-for-151 (49.7 percent) from beyond the arc in 2017-18. That helped him join the exclusive 50-40-90 club for field-goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage. Even as a sophomore then, the guard was one of the few to have a membership with at least two three-point attempts per game.

There is some enough NBA readiness to show he can contribute right away for a winning team.

Aaron Henry, Wing

AMD Rank: 33

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Since our last AMD, this has moved up 26 spots in our rankings.

Henry was of the players who helped himself the most during the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Then a freshman, he put up 20 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists during a victory over LSU.

While he has not yet taken the leap some expected as a sophomore, draft experts still have confidence in him as a prospect. His highest ranking right now comes from Jonathan Wasserman, who has him at No. 28 overall (via Bleacher Report):

“The eye test on Henry looks more convincing than the numbers. He isn’t a high-level creator, which limits him in Michigan State’s offense. But the 6’6″ guard is hitting open shots, capitalizing on driving lanes and making impact defensive plays. This late, teams will overlook Henry’s production for his fit.”

Perhaps the best news for the wing is that there is room for improvement. However, there have also been moments that show what Henry is capable of accomplishing at the next level.

This season, for example, the sophomore has been one of the most effective shooters off the catch. He is averaging 1.78 points per possession on catch-and-shoot attempts in a set offense, per Synergy Sports, which ranks in the 98th percentile.

Henry is also shooting 72.7 percent at the rim, which is an especially solid rate for a wing. Overall, he looks like someone capable of being a 3-and-D player in an NBA rotation.

Xavier Tillman, Big

AMD Rank: 50

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Since our last AMD, this has moved up 13 spots in our rankings.

Michigan State has always been a team that plays better with Tillman on the court. Last season, for example, the big actually had the third-best box plus-minus in the NCAA — trailing only Zion Williamson and Brandon Clarke.

Jeremy Woo recently helped contextualize what professional teams may like about the 6-foot-8 junior (via SI.com):

“Tillman specializes in doing the dirty work and has been a largely unheralded yet invaluable piece of the Spartans’ success dating back to last season. He’s not particularly tall for a center but has a chance to be a quality rotational big in the pros with what he adds defensively and on the glass. Tillman has worked on extending his shooting range, and if he ends up being able to shoot the three, he’ll have a fairly strong window of opportunity as a role player. A lot of the things he does as a screener and defender don’t show up in the box score, and while he’ll never be more than a fourth or fifth offensive option, he might be able to thrive in that capacity.”

His best trait so far this season has been his ability to cut to the basket. He is shooting 15-for-17 (88.2 percent) on these attempts, per Synergy.

But he has also added value on the offensive glass and as a rim protector for Michigan State. His willingness and ability to make the most of time on the floor makes him a draftable professional prospect.

[lawrence-related id=1300955]

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 names two as Michigan team captains for 2019-20

It’s official: the Wolverines have two team captains for the season. Juwan Howard explained why they were the obvious choice.

[jwplayer llP8Q1fz-XNcErKyb]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —  There was no fanfare, no official announcement. And it didn’t even come before the season. That is, the naming of team captains for the 2019-20 Michigan basketball team.

At the outset of the season, the team didn’t have captains, but — though he can’t remember precisely when it happened — that changed, according to head coach Juwan Howard.

As he explains, he intended on having a team vote to name captains, but after putting some thought on it, Howard nixed that idea, noting that really, the choices were obvious.

“When I thought about team captains, I said, ‘You know, allow players to vote who they think is the best suited to become captain. Who earned it.’” Howard explained. “Then, one day, at night, I was thinking – I’m always thinking – I said, ‘I know who the captains are. It’s plain and simple. It’s staring all of us in the face. Jon Teske, Zavier Simpson.’ Not just because they’re seniors, it’s just that: X is the ultimate leader there is. I haven’t seen a better leader than Zavier Simpson. Holds his teammates accountable, he’s a guy who he doesn’t just talk the talk, the cliché ‘you walk the walk’ – that’s what he does. It’s that simple. One of the hardest working guys on the team. Smart player. I’ve said it before, he’s my Tom Brady. He makes my job a lot easier as a coach. I can lay my head down at night knowing I have a guy like X in the trenches.

“Jon Teske’s a guy who’s won many games like X. Proven. They both, in my opinion, will have a chance to play on the next level in the NBA if they want to. Jon, elite-level center, smart defender. Quiet assassin. I would say, leads by example. Because all leaders are not vocal, either. It doesn’t mean he’s not a leader. He just leads in a different way. And it’s good also to have balance. And I think with Jon and X, it’s a great balance of the two. You may be able to get a few words out of Jon, but if you talk to X for awhile, you’ll get a lot of words out of him.

“So, I told the guys: ‘Captain is chosen! I’m choosing Jon and X! It’s that simple. Does anyone have any input? Please feel free! Is anyone against it?’ Just like how this room is right now, it was quiet.”

As the two seniors on the team, and two of the obvious leaders, the choice is a perfect one for Howard and the basketball team. Naturally, there are other players who could have been candidates — juniors Isaiah Livers and Eli Brooks — but Michigan is certainly in good hands with Simpson and Teske leading the charge.