Michigan 98, Maryland Eastern Shore 49
Dear God. [Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog] (giphy'd)
For the second straight game, Michigan obliterated a completely overmatched foe. The Wolverines jumped out to a 19-2 lead against Maryland Eastern Shore and didn't let up from there. They led 49-22 at the half with as many three-pointers (8) as the Hawks had field goals. They finished with 28 assists on 32 baskets, led by a career-high ten dishes from Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who entered the game within 90 seconds of tipoff after being replaced in the starting lineup by Duncan Robinson. (Update: Beilein said a clerical error caused Robinson's unexpected start.)
Derrick Walton had a near-flawless performance, scoring 21 points on ten shot equivalents with six rebounds, five assists, a steal, and no turnovers. UMES had no answer for DJ Wilson and Moe Wagner, who combined to go 10-for-11 from the field. Xavier Simpson had four assists and three steals. Ibi Watson had two dunks, one off an assist from Sean Lonergan. Former student manager Fred Wright-Jones made a three to send the bench into hysterics.
Michigan has one more non-conference game on Thursday against Furman before Big Ten play begins on New Year's Day at Iowa. While the last two games have been fun, its arrival will be welcome.
December 17th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
but we played well. This is what we would expect from a top 10 team. I think this bodes well for us for the rest of our season.
December 17th, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
No starter played more than 29 minutes and the freshmen got a lot of playing time.
December 17th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
Fun game to watch that's for sure
December 17th, 2016 at 6:30 PM ^
Team played with energy and effort - no let up against a lesser opponent and the freshmen got some time. One more tune up.
December 17th, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
I really wish teams like Michigan and others of course would stop scheduling games against teams like Maryland Eastern Shore. I don't care at all about blowing them out and getting an easy win. the big season can't start soon enough.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:10 PM ^
Who are both teams supposed to play in December?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 17th, 2016 at 10:42 PM ^
Has played UCLA, UNC, Valpo and Hoftstra. Valpo is 76th in Kenpom and Hoftstra 152. UK has one more non-conference game against Louisville.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:12 PM ^
I don't care, just not teams like Maryland Eastern Shore.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:47 PM ^
We could play the in-state mid-majors; we just don't want to. We played EMU in December two years ago and lost. Haven't played any of the in-state mid-majors since,
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 1:14 AM ^
I can kind of understand that. Guys on the in-state mid-major teams may have an ax to grind against Michigan for not recruiting them, which could make those games more of an upset risk than you'd think. It might be better to play out-of-state teams. We just shouldn't be playing ones with 300+ RPIs.
December 18th, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
351 teams listed in the Kenpom rankings. There's no need for Michigan to be scheduling the absolute worst of those teams - Central Arkansas and UMES are ranked 326 and 334 in Kenpom. Michigan should be albe to fill out their non-conference schedule with teams that aren't going to be a massive drain on their SOS.
December 17th, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
Sometimes I feel like the only point of basketball is so that more and more obscure colleges can get their names flashed on the ticker at the bottom of the TV.
December 17th, 2016 at 7:23 PM ^
never schedule obscure babyseals for the sole purpose of filling the stadium, selling some concessions and putting a game on television while said babyseal takes a beating and a paycheck.
December 17th, 2016 at 7:32 PM ^
to the baby seals. I'd buy at least a shirt.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:30 PM ^
rutgers?
December 17th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^
It would have to be a club team
December 18th, 2016 at 8:58 AM ^
Nailed it.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^
CLUBBED it.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 12:44 AM ^
at least in football people show up and concessions are sold
December 18th, 2016 at 11:14 AM ^
The crowd actually was decent yesterday - though very late-arriving.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^
UM would never put Wilson on a poster unless it's an extreme close-up. They'd be too embarrassed of the filled-to-empty seat ratio pictured behind him otherwise.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^
Watson had 2 more dunks in this game than Irvin has had in his career it seems. That in itself is encouraging as finishing at the rim has been a big problem the last few years.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 17th, 2016 at 9:08 PM ^
Anyone else not terribly impressed with the results of Camp Sanderson? Robinson and Irvin both have at least half a foot on me and are Div1 athletes and can't dunk without the same running start that I needed when I was their age*.
*I was not a Div1 athlete. Div2, at best, and it was tennis not basketball.
December 18th, 2016 at 12:40 AM ^
that no one's suffered a devastating injury has to be considered progress
December 18th, 2016 at 1:44 AM ^
You can't turn everyone into Westbrook. Robinson was DIII remember. And Irvin is certainly more than physically capable of dunking.
December 18th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
I didn't say Irvin couldn't dunk. I said he needs the same running start that someone who is half a foot shorter and isn't a D1 athlete needs.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:23 PM ^
I got confused between Wright-Jones, Fred and
December 18th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^
How does a clerical error dictate who starts? Shouldn't the coach look at that piece of paper and realize someone is starting who isn't supposed to?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Comments