Now that’s more like it. As an empty Big House mourned its canceled weekend next door, a lightly populated Crisler Center was business as usual, churning out a comfortable victory over a MAC opponent that had no answer for a forest of arms.

Just about everybody got a hand in, or at least the opportunity. Franz Wagner led Michigan out to an early seven-point lead, frustrating Ball State’s drive-obsessed offense and converting on the other end. Before the first commercial break the German sophomore had seven points on three field goal attempts, an assist, two forced turnovers, and had drawn four fouls from an officiating crew with some admittedly fruit-flavored whistles.

Austin Davis again started over Hunter Dickinson and was still on the floor after the first timeout, but picked up one of those light calls out of the break. Michigan’s star freshman, in turn, picked up right where he left off against Oakland, shutting off all routes to the basket on defense, and living above theirs. On his first offensive possession Dickinson took an entry pass in the high post, drew three Cardinals, and shook all of them with a slick lefty move. As Ball State settled in for a night of dribble jumpers, Michigan jumped out to a 20-point lead.

[More and Box score after The Jump]

No power in the verse. [Campredon]

Ball State finally got their run when Dickinson came out again, outscoring Michigan 19-6 in the latter part of the frame, 16-6 when the freshman big man wasn’t on the court. The Cardinals went with a lineup of shooters, moved the ball quickly around the perimeter, and got Austin Davis to commit a few fouls on the drives that space created. Johns came in for Davis, but the game only turned hectic with him at the five.

Michigan went into the half with their lead dwindled to seven, and it could have been worse if Isaiah Livers pullup jumpers weren’t all going in—he would finish with 21 points, and 6/8 from midrange. Dickinson returned for the last minute and a half, but contributed to the slump by anticipating a cutter who wasn’t there, and fumbling an oop set up for him by Chaundee Brown on Michigan’s final possession. He did however block Ball State’s own late attempt before the horn.

More consequently, Wagner picked up two quick whistles as well, leading to some extended time for Zeb Jackson. The freshman looked freshman-y but enticing, as he used his athleticism to drive through a double early. Later Zeb caught Ishmael El-Amin napping for a drive-by, got fouled, and scored his first career point on the free throw.

Michigan experimented with various lineups and various positions for Johns. [Campredon]

Michigan came out of the half with their starting lineup, but now matched against Ball State’s non-shooting center, Davis could drop into the paint. He wasn't Dickinsonian, but he held up, contributing a block and a slick post score. Except for said Big Country bucket, Michigan began using penetration by Brooks and Smith to set up their shooters, including one gorgeous spiral by Brooks that drew two defenders to set up a Davis dunk. By the next break Michigan was back to a 12-point lead with the ball, and enough competitiveness had gone out of the game for Juwan Howard to mosey over for a chat with Khalid El-Amin's kid. I don’t know what was said because Bardo was on the commentary and I had muted it four minutes into his thoughts about hair.

Too many arms! [Campredon] 

Dickinson returned from that break with Brown in tow, and Brown began to steal the show. He forced a turnover out of the break, and was rewarded with a quick-kick three-pointer he nailed. He had another great defensive play thereafter, but the block/charge gods were not merciful. Ditto on his subsequent drive, and Chaundee was quickly up to three fouls. Howard, in a subtle commentary, kept Brown on the court.

Livers brought his old man game tonight. [Campredon]

With Dickinson, Brown, and Wagner and Livers all out there together, the forest of arms was too much. Ball State went on an extended dry spell, clanging long-distance threes or bad-idea twos in an effort to keep the ball out of Hunter Dickinson’s mitt radius.

As we hit Kenpom time I turned the sound back on in time to catch Bardo talking about Hunter Dickinson as a one-and done. He’s probably not—something, something NBA athleticism—but having your freshman center exiting the court with that kind of talk and a double-double in his third game is a nice way to end a rough Wednesday.

Michigan next faces a young UCF team on Sunday, and will probably be more fun than football would’ve.