Michigan 79 Iowa 57
An arena staffer took out his mop, cleaned up a puddle, and erased the last vestige of the most prolific offensive player in the country from the Crisler Center. That small, salty lakelet was all that remained of Luka Garza, a man who scored 44 points in this building last season. He was held to just 16 tonight, his first live encounter with Michigan’s freshman big man Hunter Dickinson, as Michigan rolled over the best Iowa team of Luka's lifetime.
Dickinson and Garza practiced against each other all summer, and came into this game 6th and 1st in the Kenpom Player of the Year standings, which rely heavily on offensive output and usage. Dickinson won. The battle was decided in the first two possessions, as Iowa isolated Garza on Dickinson, and got two hopeless airballs for their trouble. A few trips later Dickinson blocked Luka's spin-and-under try so authoritatively that Garza went flying into the baseline and Michigan got a run-out (that would have been a dunk but for Iowa guard Connor McCaffery comically hugging Dickinson’s waist to draw a floor foul just in time). The first test—whether Michigan’s kid big could single-up the best post player in the country—passed with peacock colors.
The second test was whether they could keep Dickinson on the court against the Big Ten’s top foul magnet, and that proved more difficult. An early foul put Dickinson on the bench for the next 8 minutes, and backup center Austin Davis picked up two quick whistles of his own, which led to a few minutes of Brandon Johns and Terrence Williams. Dickinson returned, but picked up his second foul late in the half when Mike Smith gave up a back-cut, limiting him to just 11 minutes in the frame. For all his efforts, Michigan led just 32-29 lead at the half.
A quick third foul, a fluke off a contested rebound that Garza managed to volleyball into the basket, brought up the big third question: could someone else please step up.
Enter Franzman [Campredon]
Franz Wagner did, emphatically. As Dickinson sat back down, Wagner went to work, swooping through hopelessly outclassed defenders and finishing on three straight possessions. He then canned a three when Connor McCaffery rolled an ankle on Austin Davis’s foot, capping a four-minute, nine-point outburst that staked Michigan to a 48-39 lead. Iowa also lost backup big Jack Nunge to a leg injury earlier. Nunge later returned on crutches.
Dickinson returned, but now it was the Franz show. As his swooping drives drew defenders, Franz converted to dishing dimes. His four assists easily could have been seven, but for a few missed layups and Eli clanging his thunderdunk attempt. The fourth assist was the prettiest, a driving bounce pass to Livers, who began said breakout with a steal, and ended it with a dunk that killed Iowa’s last good run. Wagner would finish with 21 points on 13 shot equivalents, going 2/3 from the arc. Livers scored 16--the same as Luka Garza--on let's say fewer possessions.
Danke. Bitte. [Campredon]
Neither Juwan nor Iowa’s Fran McCaffery had to do much whiteboarding, both spending a solid portion of their TV time jawing at the officials. McCaffery’s grand plan was to trap a lot, which led to one 10-second violation turnover, and four easy assists in Michigan’s box score. Fran also picked up a technical. Juwan was close to one or two himself. In fairness to them, there wasn’t much to coach with the Dickinson-Garza fight on. When Michigan tried a zone, they doubled Garza, and Garza dribbled it to an open Weiskamp for Iowa's only easy bucket of the night.
That and ten minutes against the backups couldn't salvage Garza's erasure. His final statline: 5/17 from two, 16 points on 23 possessions, 2 turnovers, three offensive boards, one defensive rebound, one assist, and one foul, that an early hook-and-hold.
Loosed from Garza’s gravity, Michigan’s wings and guards were free to drive Iowa’s more-than-complementary shooters away from their favorite perches. Isaiah Livers, Chaundee Brown, and Mike Smith were particularly relentless, forcing Joe Wieskamp, CJ Fredrick, and Jordan Bohannon respectively into drives and spot-up attempts over a sea of arms. Wagner was just as much a freak on this side of the court, notably recovering off a defensive breakdown to bat an attempted entry pass to Garza out of bounds earlier in the game.
About the only thing that didn’t go right for Michigan was offense from the bench after Davis. Terrence Williams got five first-half minutes at the four, but found little to show for it. Iowa immediately identified the freshman, who came in shooting 1/10 from three, as a guy you can leave alone. Williams got two very clean shots off doubles on the post, but missed them both. He also flubbed a switch on the other end that led to Luka Garza’s lone three in the frame.
Brandon Johns, who’s been playing most of his minutes at the four lately, was used to spell Dickinson and Davis at the five. Losing a few rounds to Garza when you’re normally not a center was understandable. Reacting a beat too late to several gorgeous opportunities set up by Eli Brooks was less so. Johns at least got his moment of redemption, getting a rattlesome jumper over Garza to go before the under-8 timeout. That friendly bounce stretched the lead to 62-46, and send Dick Vitale into a rendition of Hail to the Victors, a horrific sonic assault surpassed only when he following it with the Notre Dame victory march. Never have so many so welcomed a TV timeout.
Dickinson came back from his third bench banishment for the assist portion of Franz Hour, and tallied one his own, skip-passing out of a double to an open Chaundee Brown to turn his friends’ big lead into a laughable one. The final dagger—a 2020-21 Michigan Special—was a Livers-Smith-to-Livers reverse three with Hunter Dickinson drawing extra attention in the post. That pushed the lead to 73-54, got Livers his fourth made triple in five attempts, and Smith his fourth assist on the night to match Wagner.
Iowa—offensive juggernaut Iowa—also finished with just four assists.
Indiana’s next.
[Box score and more of Marc-Gregor’s work after THE JUMP]
Where’s the rim? Why can’t you see it? Where is it? Ope, not there! [Campredon]
The age of the peacock is over. The time of the stork has come. [Campredon]
Better luck next time. [Campredon]
B1G hug. [Campredon]
February 25th, 2021 at 11:08 PM ^
What a game. Dickinson shut down Garza. Wagner and Livers were amazing. Chaundee with the instant impact off the bench.
Also want to give a shout out to an insane pass that Dickinson made out of a double team at about the 3:30 minute mark in the second half to Brooks. It was like a one handed baseball right into Brooks shooting motion (even though he missed the shot)
February 25th, 2021 at 11:09 PM ^
Still turgid with delight.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:13 PM ^
Small caveat- It’s Jack Nunge, not Jake. Feel horrible for him. I know him decently at Iowa, he’s an awesome guy and has just been having a rough season with his father passing and now the injury. Hope he bounces back in a big way.
Tough game for the Hawkeyes. Not a lot we could do tonight. That being said, this Michigan team is so fucking fun to watch and I’m going to enjoy the rest of the year. Let’s get another deep run, been too long
February 25th, 2021 at 11:41 PM ^
Fixed that in the first copyedit sweep. Ace caught it too.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:43 PM ^
I hope he and McCaffery are alright. Sucks to lose guys, especially this time of year.
Here's to Nunge bouncing back -- all around.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:16 PM ^
Michigan is now just .49 points behind Baylor in Kenpom. #6 ranked offense and defense.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:18 PM ^
Fist live encounter... sounds dirty. And it was, it was.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:19 PM ^
Am now of belief that Dickinson is the most indispensable player, despite Davis stellar play off the bench. And i wonder if I'm the only one who notices how often we break away from deadlock when Brown is in the game.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
+20 in 16. Brown is so huge for this team.
February 26th, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Intensity personified.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:42 PM ^
I still think Mike is the most indispensable guy but there’s obviously a pretty damn good argument for Hunter
February 26th, 2021 at 10:36 AM ^
This has been a great team effort all year. Our only loss was when Brooks was out at Minnesota. Could one argue that he is the most essential?
February 26th, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
There are so many candidates. Franz is another. That's what this team so good!
February 26th, 2021 at 1:22 AM ^
I wonder what his hoop lens on/off splits are, minus the kenpom time lineups.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:21 PM ^
Is this the gauntlet part of the schedule yet?
February 26th, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^
It’s the first gauntlet. The second gauntlet will be the final two games. But first, let’s take care of Indiana.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:25 PM ^
A beauty of a thing. A thing of beauty.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:28 PM ^
I'll say it again - wallow in this. This team is special. Lap it up.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:29 PM ^
This is fun.
The team will, hopefully, be judged by its performance in the tournament. That’s what matters. We’ve seen how narrow the margins are there, both for us and against us, and so making the final weekend, or even winning, are difficult propositions with no assurances. But it is the anvil on which seasons are made.
But what this team is in the regular season is, obviously, the best we’ve seen since the Fab Five era. I suppose a late-season collapse could pull us back level with 2013, but that would be unexpected. This team is really, really good.
This is the third game we’ve played since the break where I have mentally been prepared for a loss. We’re due, guys are tired, you can’t win them all, the opponents are really good, etc. Win, win, win.
Into a tough stretch, now. A lot of games in not much time. I’m worried about the guys tiring out. There are a lot of games down the home stretch, and we have a good but inexperienced coach. Might require special attention to schedule to keep the team fresh and ready in that kind of grind; If only our second-year coach had extensive experience playing and coaching in a league where teams played every other day for months at a time.
February 26th, 2021 at 7:31 AM ^
Physically, games are easier than practice.
This team reminds of the great Wooden coached UCLA teams. Those teams were wonderfully balanced offensively but they really made hay on defense. The opposition could stay with them for a half but they would relentlessly keep ramping up the pressure-and destroy teams the second half. This is Michigan-that 8 man rotation is filthy.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:52 AM ^
The ESPN crews were clearly all-in on "this team is on the same level as Gonzaga/Baylor" and I wonder if beating the #4 team on the road and then four days later dismantling the #9 team gives *any* voters any cause to give the Wolverines some token first place votes.
If nothing else, this team is going to go into the tournament battle-tested. Watching Gonzaga sleepwalk through half a game against Santa Clara makes me wonder if they'll be able to flip the switch against actual competition when they have to.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:58 PM ^
It's always nice to finish high in the rankings but that mainly buys you a target on your back. What really matters is how far they go in the B1G tournament and then in the Big Dance. They win that and the most important ranking of the year will actually count.
Wish the last game was against Nebraska so with less pressure and more time likely for the reserves, thereby resting the starters, Davis, and Brown. But bring on MSU!! Hopefully, another day in the park....
February 25th, 2021 at 11:30 PM ^
Is Brandon Wade in the box score a mistake? I was under the impression he was not eligible until next season.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:47 PM ^
No, Wade did get in the game. He was eligible at the start of the winter semester. Enrolled at Michigan in January of 2020.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:33 PM ^
another methodical beatdown of a top team. these guys just don't get rattled.
i think the tournament is gonna be fun.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:36 PM ^
This team is beyond fun to watch, and has the business-like handling of tough games that you need to win championships. The defensive adjustments, the constant ball movement, everything just flows so easily. I thought they'd be good this year but not anywhere close to how they look now, and can't wait to see how they look in the tourney.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:32 AM ^
This team has incredible poise. They don't panic. They recognize that, even when their shots aren't falling, as long as they keep playing tight defense, they'll hang around. Then when their shots start to fall, they'll be good.
Brian's writeup yesterday was on the money. To beat Iowa, you defend Garza reasonably well without doubling in order to keep them from raining threes on your head. They did that.
Who'd think they could hold the #1 offense in the country to 57?
February 25th, 2021 at 11:46 PM ^
Livers seemed to have a quiet night but his box score is rock star.
Aaron Henry has not faced a 1-2 punch like Franz and Chaundee.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:25 AM ^
Nearly criminal officiating that gives Garza ONE foul. It makes the win even sweeter though.
February 26th, 2021 at 2:12 AM ^
The real criminals were in East Lansing. And that works well no matter which angle you look from.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:32 AM ^
Yeah, OSU was robbed for sure. I don't care, other than the fact that I loathe seeing Sparty build confidence, they are such an unlikable team.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:50 AM ^
Garza is constantly initiating contact on offense, mostly by leaning into defenders with his arms, elbows, and shoulders. It's unending. He almost never stands still on offense.
The first contact he makes is usually benign, but he keeps slowly, gradually pushing harder and harder. It's hard to say exactly where it becomes a foul.
Calling that hook-and-hold on him was sweet though. He looked amazed that it got called, even though it was obvious.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:27 PM ^
I just watched the extended highlights and good lord Garza can do whatever he wants. His one foul was almost immediately and then Fran threw a fit and they never called one again. He was constantly playing defense that would've gotten a foul called on Hunter or Austin. On the offensive end that dude is hooking and elbowing everywhere and never gets called. He's got his own special little rulebook just for him
February 26th, 2021 at 12:43 AM ^
The first half was good, but I greatly enjoyed the second half.
February 26th, 2021 at 2:18 AM ^
Those first two sentences are a lot darker with the context that Luka Garza has the same supernatural powers as Alex Mack and the arena staffer clearly murdered him with his mop
February 26th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
Seth, that opening paragraph... nice work.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
when your freshman center pretty much shuts down the 'national player of the year' front runner....
its a good day
its a good good day
February 26th, 2021 at 10:31 AM ^
That +27 for Franz on the +/- ...... I feel it. Incredible.
February 26th, 2021 at 11:29 AM ^
Franz had the kind of night we have all been waiting for. He has been very good all year, but he was special in this game. The studio guy said he has a PHD in floor awareness or words to that effect.
February 26th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
Shout out to Jordan Bohannon and his messed up hips for trying to drive to the basket multiple times while being guarded by Chaundee Brown. As expected he went absolutely nowhere, but it was quite enjoyable to watch.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
I even thought Davis did a respectable job against Garza when Hunter was on the bench.
One thing about Austin Davis: he's limited in terms of his athleticism and his raw natural talent, but he punches far above his weight. There has never been a single instance when he was on the floor and I felt like he could have made a play but didn't. Out of everyone on the team, Davis has done the best job of fulfilling his own potential (which is saying a lot, since I don't think there's anyone in the rotation who hasn't done a good job of that). Dude leaves absolutely nothing on the table. He's a joy to watch and he must be an absolute joy to coach.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
Good stuff. Wonderful opening stanza.
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