2020-21 maryland #1
hoops game recaps
hunter dickinson
hunter dickinson is not a typical freshman big man
franz wagner
mike smith
DROP THE BALL ON 'EM [ESPN Screenshot]

Michigan 84, Maryland 73 Comment Count

Ace December 31st, 2020 at 10:39 PM

I say this happily: I'm having difficulty putting my thoughts into words because I have an adrenaline headache.

Michigan burned up the Xfinity Center nets and my emotional energy with an exhilarating display of skill and talent to take down a solid Maryland squad on the road and move to 8-0 (3-0 Big Ten) on the season. The Wolverines will stay alone atop the conference until at least Sunday, when they face Northwestern at Crisler.

While the Terrapins kept pace through halftime, they did so by shooting a ridiculous 9-for-11 on three-pointers in the first half, leaving Michigan with a 46-44 lead even though the Wolverines shot 58% from the field and made 15 free throws to Maryland's three. Other than some open pick-and-pop hits by center Jairus Hamilton, the shooting didn't look particularly sustainable. Lo and behold, it wasn't: the Terps scored 29 second-half points and made 4 of 11 shots from beyond the arc, two of them after the game was well out of reach.

Hunter Dickinson proved much more reliable, leading all players with a career-high 26 points while missing only one of his 11 field goals, going 6-for-7 from the line, pulling down four offensive rebounds among his total of 11, and adding an assist, a block, and several altered shots. None of Maryland's centers could slow the freshman, so Mark Turgeon mostly played Hamilton, who at least got 15 points back on the other end. Dickinson, meanwhile, trash-talked the bench of his home-state team all game, even picking up a (rather soft) technical foul in the first half when he flexed in their direction.


wishing them a happy new year, surely

While Dickinson's performance had to lead the story, Franz Wagner was nearly as good, scoring 19 points on 14 shooting possessions, hitting jumpers in addition to getting his usual tough runners to fall, and adding four assists—including a gorgeous wraparound feed to Dickinson off a high screen for a dunk—with no turnovers, a block, and three steals. This follows a 20-point outing at Nebraska; it appears the layoff helped get him going.

Mike Smith also had a great game with 16 points on only ten shooting possessions, six rebounds, six assists, and only two turnovers. He showed a particularly strong rapport with Dickinson (surprise!), who was on the receiving end of a couple well-placed lobs from the grad transfer. Brandon Johns hit all three of his shots with an offensive rebound and a block in an energetic ten minutes split between center and power forward. Isaiah Livers and Chaundee Brown had relatively quiet nights on offense, though the latter made his presence felt on defense, as usual.

Michigan looked great the whole way. Maryland looked great when hitting contested threes, then got blown away when those stopped going in. Hunter Dickinson is a problem. Franz Wagner is, too. Deeper analysis can wait until 2021. Happy new year to you, fan of the first-place team in the toughest conference in the country.

[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]

Comments

jmblue

December 31st, 2020 at 10:45 PM ^

I love John Beilein and thoroughly enjoyed his time as our coach, but I’ve got to say, it’s pretty awesome to have a dominant big man again.  Dickinson’s post moves remind me of his coach’s when he was here.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102810

Phaedrus

January 1st, 2021 at 9:35 AM ^

This is definitely true. My only fear is when we face teams that go on 3 runs like Maryland in the first half.

I guess I want us to have our cake and eat it to, with a great three game and great paint game, but we are a college team and there are only so many practice hours. I can’t argue with Juwan’s results. It’s crazy to think that he’s doing this with our current group of players—talented, no doubt, but he has the #1 recruiting class coming in next year. What a hire. 

Joined: 09/02/2019

MGoPoints: 6532

AlbanyBlue

January 1st, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^

I agree, I want it all for this team! That said, we were still up by two at the half, even with their ridiculous shooting. Having that go-to guy in the paint is a lot more sustainable. The concern I have is for the games where Hunter will struggle due to double/triple teams or a skilled older big man. We have to be able to hit shots to help him out. That's why the resurgence of Wagner is so important for this team. 

Honestly though, with Dickinson on this trajectory, Wagner's improvement, and the development of this team's defense, the Final Four is looking possible!! It's hopefully going to be an exciting season!

Now, if we can just get Hunter to stay another year....

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 22040

hajiblue72

January 1st, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^

I was curious and just perused some old stats - there were years (2013 team one of them) where Beilein’s teams averaged 22 points on 3’s per game.  That is what we average now.   Beilein’s best offenses scored efficiently from 2 because of shooters and floor spacing.

Pace and not taking as many shots late in the clock are the big difference in my mind.

We are averaging 6 more possessions per game under Juwan.  I think this makes us feel better about the offense now - there aren’t the throw it around the perimeter moments with a late shot that created indigestion.  

That said this team’s efficiency is around the same number as some of Beilein’s best.  We’ll see how it progresses against better competition.  

Joined: 10/12/2010

MGoPoints: 427

jmblue

January 1st, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^

We attempted 19 threes in this game, not too different from what we’d shoot under Beilein.  It’s more our shots inside the arc that are different now.  Low-post scoring wasn’t much of a thing in his offense.  Even McGary and Moe Wagner were more faceup guys.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102810

bsand2053

December 31st, 2020 at 10:48 PM ^

Can we spare a second to talk Dakich?  I know he's a prick on twitter and he can be prone to hyperbole (and the name dropping was very odd tonight) but I love his commentary.  He pulls no punches when he thinks someone is loafing or that a team is falling short, tactically.

 

Also, these refs.  I thought gameplay was called fairly well but the techs were absurd.  

Joined: 04/14/2010

MGoPoints: 19337

Phaedrus

January 1st, 2021 at 9:42 AM ^

I like Dakich. He’s a bit over the top, but he’s very comfortable as a color commentator and he knows his stuff. There’s nothing worse than a color commentator who has to put a lot of effort into it, like an introvert at a party trying to engage in conversation. The doofus extrovert may say some ridiculous things, but can deftly prevent any awkwardness. I don’t mind that Dakich occasionally puts a lampshade on his head—he pulls it off. 

Joined: 09/02/2019

MGoPoints: 6532

njvictor

December 31st, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^

  • Dickinson and Franz were great
  • Smith had his best game as a Wolverine
  • Johns had some nice minutes off the bench. Hope he can continue that
  • Livers had an off night and it would be great if he could pick it up soon
  • Brooks was meh again
  • Great two way game. Not really much we could do about Maryland's shooting in the first half

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074

matty blue

January 1st, 2021 at 8:45 AM ^

interesting - i thought brooks played a steady, productive game.  i think he had at least three hockey assists, forced the issue offensively when it was there, and he was really getting after the perimeter (particularly in the second half)...it wasn’t a stats game for him, though.

and let’s not forget the dunk - the bench was lively all game long, but their reaction to that was fantastic.  this looks like a team full of hoops junkies, which is exactly what you’d expect from a group led by juwan howard

Joined: 08/01/2008

MGoPoints: 39201

njvictor

January 1st, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^

I just haven't been impressed by Brooks this year. Misses too many open shots, turns the ball over when he handles the ball too much, has been underwhelming defensively. I think this team would just be better off if we gave Chaundee more minutes and let him find his groove. At minimum he's a great defender and when he's on offensively, he can takeover the game

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074

Gulo Gulo Luscus

January 1st, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^

That's two games in a row that qualify as Smith's best in a Michigan jersey. I'm most impressed by his ability to give us timely buckets. After Maryland had a run to take the lead in the 2nd half he hit a mid range to stop the bleeding. Other than Dickinson in the post, he's been the most reliable scorer late in the shot clock.

Joined: 12/18/2009

MGoPoints: 3909

AnthonyThomas

December 31st, 2020 at 11:05 PM ^

A lot of Maryland's early threes were open shots, not "contested." Michigan needs to be more consistent in that regard. Their 2nd-half defensive effort was much better and it showed on the scoreboard.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 19383

njvictor

January 1st, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^

A lot of Maryland's early threes were open shots, not "contested."

I'd say 1/2 of them were contested or difficult 3s that we couldn't do much about. Juwan switched to a zone in the second half a bit and that definitely helped, but they were also missing shots they were making in the first half because there was no way they could statistically keep shooting that well

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074