Michigan 76, SMU 54
One team found shooting a little easier than the other. [Joseph Dressler]
If this is a fever dream, please don't wake me up.
A little over 11 months after SMU played like men among boys in a 24-point win over Michigan, the Wolverines returned the favor to win the 2K Classic due to imposing size, dominant defense, and red-hot shooting from Derrick Walton.
I'll let that all sink in for a moment.
This was the best all-around performance by John Beilein's squad since the 2013-14 Big Ten title team. Michigan scored 1.32 points per possession while holding SMU to 0.88. The Wolverines turned the ball over four times and forced 13 Mustang turnovers. They hit 67% of their shots inside the arc and 43% of their three-pointers. They never trailed; from the 6:18 mark of the first half onward, the margin was never within double digits.
After going scoreless in Thursday night's win over Marquette, Walton had the best shooting performance of his career, hitting 7-of-12 threes to score a game-high 23 points and dishing out five assists with no turnovers. Fellow senior Zak Irvin was nearly as impressive, posting 16 points on 14 shot equivalents, grabbing six boards, and handing out five assists against a lone turnover.
Zak Irvin took home 2K Classic MVP honors. [Dressler]
The big story, however, was once again Michigan's frontcourt play. SMU power forward Semi Ojeleye entered the game averaging 23 points. With DJ Wilson seemingly everywhere on defense, Ojeleye managed only 11 on 4-for-13 shooting, and he was far from alone in his struggles; SMU shot 39% as a team. Wilson's six points, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks don't come close to encapsulating his impact tonight. With Wilson and either Moe Wagner, Mark Donnal, or behemoth freshman Jon Teske manning the interior, SMU hardly had a clean look all evening.
Wagner and Donnal once again had efficient games on offense to go along with their strong work on defense. Donnal had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and capped the sequence of the night for Michigan: after Wilson drew a foul on a highlight-worthy dunk, Donnal rebounded the ensuing free throw, popped to the perimeter, and was rewarded for his effort with a three-pointer. Wagner had a quieter night because of some early foul trouble, but still managed to hit one of two three-pointers and pull down a few impressive rebounds. Teske made a surprise appearance early and held his own, forcing an SMU miss with his rather astonishing length and hitting a pair of free throws after getting fouled on a pick-and-roll.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman found his groove with a couple strong takes to the basket, and after a slow start from the perimeter he eventually found his shot, finishing with 12 points on eight attempts. A quiet game from Duncan Robinson (2 points, 0-for-2 FG) was really the only negative of the game, and his role has diminished greatly with the emergence of Wilson at the four.
While it's dangerous to put too much stock in an early-season game, this marks two consecutive great performances by Michigan against teams that were supposed to pose significant challenges. That they've accomplished this on the strength of suffocating defense only adds to the excitement. There may not have been much buzz surrounding this team heading into the season, but that is already in the process of changing. It appears that, once again, John Beilein has successfully transformed his team for the better.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:31 AM ^
November 18th, 2016 at 10:32 PM ^
I've liked what I've seen out of the freshmen so far. All of them appear to be on the right track, which is a welcome adjustment from recent classes that seemed to have little impact and wash out.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:36 PM ^
November 18th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^
not a crazy statement.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 8:48 AM ^
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November 19th, 2016 at 12:10 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 12:47 AM ^
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November 19th, 2016 at 3:44 AM ^
A man amongst boys, that one...you're right about all the adjectives too; oh how I wish he would have stayed for one more year...
November 19th, 2016 at 6:57 AM ^
He didn't have enough money for a pizza, so he had no choice but to turn pro. It probably was jail house food being fed to him anyhow.
November 19th, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^
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November 19th, 2016 at 6:48 AM ^
November 18th, 2016 at 10:53 PM ^
Mo did not have one of his better games. Some defensive lapses.
Good to see Teske get his feet wet a bit more.
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November 18th, 2016 at 11:19 PM ^
Teske if friggen HUGE!!! Hopefully, he's got enough talent to keep him on the floor while gaining the experience he needs. And where the hell did Wilson come from? What a fun team to watch!
November 19th, 2016 at 12:28 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 3:48 AM ^
Dan, is that you? I wasn't; I admit it, I was completely faithless. Darth Vader would have been disturbed. Could someone make a little room on the bandwagon, I'm climbing aboard!
November 19th, 2016 at 5:48 AM ^
I'm just so happy that we appear to very good at football and basketball at the same time. We may end up being one of the few universities that are top 10 ish right now in both programs. I can think of Louisville but not many others.
November 19th, 2016 at 6:48 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 6:16 AM ^
No disrespekt to either the current players or coaches of SMU, but one difference between this year's SMU and last year's is that Larry Brown is no longer the head coach.
Whatever you think of the peripatetic nature of his career, it's clear he can flat out coach (only guy to ever win both an NCAA and NBA championship).
Surprised no one's mentioned that yet in this thread.
November 19th, 2016 at 8:32 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 6:28 AM ^
Beilein has consistently found ways to help/motivate young players with varying levels of talent transform into NBA players, or at least into solid B10 playes. Wilson is the latest, and Wagner appears ready to take it to the next level, although he is too erratic at the moment to say he's there. For Michigan to have three (Donnal!) very big men playing at a B10 level is amazing! It is reasonable to hope for a sweet 16 team at this point, as long as the injury bug doesn't bite Walton or Irvin again, both of whom played great yesterday too.
November 19th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 8:42 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 9:19 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
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November 19th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
If you want to stop by and watch it you can - BRING BEER and it better be good stuff - not weak ass piss water.
November 20th, 2016 at 3:25 PM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
That was very good. Bigger than the game opponent. All those bigs. Just a clean game from the maize and blue.
November 19th, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^
November 19th, 2016 at 12:58 PM ^
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