Michigan 92, Ohio State 87
In the first-ever top-five matchup between the two storied programs, Michigan and Ohio State put on a shot-making show not only worthy of those lofty rankings but on par with what you'd see in a fun professional game. They played exhilarating, thrilling, terrifyingly good ball in one of the best college games you'll see all year.
Both teams made 11 three-pointers. They each shot over 50% from the field in both halves and went a combined 31/37 from the line. Michigan turned the ball over only seven times, OSU nine. The whistles were relatively minimal until the Buckeyes had to intentionally foul down the stretch.
Chaundee Brown scored 15 points, his high in Big Ten play [Campredon]
Eli Brooks capped off a back-and-forth first half with a curling layup to give Michigan a 45-43 halftime lead. While the jumpers didn't fall at quite as ridiculous a rate in the second stanza, the game remained high-level and excruciatingly taut. The teams traded the lead with neither getting the margin above four points until a rare Buckeye error gave the Wolverines an opening.
With under three minutes to play, OSU wing Justice Sueing threw a behind-the-back pass that bounced behind two screeners who weren't looking for the ball. Isaiah Livers saw the loose ball, split the two unsuspecting Buckeyes, and finished a breakaway layup through a Sueing foul to put Michigan up six. The Wolverines already had momentum after a thunderous dunk by Hunter Dickinson, who'd been rampant in the post all day. Now they had breathing room.
Despite a spectacular effort from Duane Washington Jr., who only seemingly didn't miss a shot all afternoon, Michigan shut the door with a Dickinson putback, a Brooks layup off a gorgeous backdoor cut, and 8/10 shooting at the line in the game's waning moments.
no help, no hope [Campredon]
After topping out at 12 points in his last six games, Dickinson dominated with 22 on 8/14 field goals and a perfect 6/6 mark at the line while adding nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal with only one turnover. OSU's smaller post players had no chance of stopping him one-on-one and the seven-footer's passing turned double-teams into open look after open look.
While Brooks had difficulty containing Washington, he scored 17 points on the other end with a 3/4 mark from downtown to help level it out. Mike Smith had another strong game running the offense with increasing aggressiveness, posting 11 tough points and dishing seven assists against a lone turnover—he also, for the umpteenth straight game, weathered a hard hit to the face. Isaiah Livers showed playmaking chops with four assists in addition to his 12 points, while Chaundee Brown gave the team a huge spark off the bench with 15 points, including three triples, and consecutive offensive rebounds leading to a late putback.
LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR [Campredon]
Two top-five teams got into a 37-minute long staring contest before the Buckeyes finally blinked. Michigan never did, moving to 11-1 in the conference and maintaining their two-game edge in the loss column on Illinois, a nice cushion to have entering Thursday's potential shootout against Iowa. The Wolverines are playing at a Final Four level, and today they closed out a difficult game like a championship team.
[Hit THE JUMP for more photos and the box score.]
All photos by Marc-Gregor Campredon.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
Great Sunday evening and I luv this team.
Go Blue.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:46 PM ^
Guten abend to you, baby! (And Franz)
February 21st, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
A beautiful game today - One none of us will soon forget. Go blue!
February 21st, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
Run it back in the Elite Eight please. Great W. Beat the best OSU has and a trash whistle.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:46 PM ^
Elite 8 is now selling this team short after this game! Go Blue!
February 21st, 2021 at 5:19 PM ^
He's saying let's play this game again in the elite 8. And win it again to go to the Final Four.
February 21st, 2021 at 8:03 PM ^
While I'll concede that's what "run it back" is meant to mean, how in the Hell would you know when we'd play them again without seeing a bracket?
What if it's not until the Final game?
And does it imply we should tank in the B10 tournament should we meet in the Finals there?
Personally I don't think they should even play the B10 tournament this year, but if there's 1 thing I know it's the B10 will do the opposite of what I think!
February 21st, 2021 at 8:14 PM ^
Because Juwan's team, when he was playing, beat them in the elite 8 in 1992 to advance to the final four? When osu was a 1 seed and Michigan was a 6.
February 21st, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^
Ah! Running back Fab 5!
Now I get it! Beautiful!
February 21st, 2021 at 5:30 PM ^
They're saying we should play the game again in the Elite 8
February 21st, 2021 at 9:42 PM ^
Clark Kellogg tweeted something to this effect that it had an elite 8 feel to it. I’m like final four maybe.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:06 PM ^
This game was championship level play. Both teams played at a very high level and left it all on the court-bodies flying everywhere.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
19 assists for Michigan to 11 for OSU. I felt like we outplayed them by more than the score indicated, but they’re good at making contested shots (and got a bit of home cooking to boot). An instant classic.
Chaundee Brown would not be denied today. That possession where he kept pounding the offensive glass - wow. That felt bigger than two points. Plays like that inspire the whole team.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
When teams like OSU roll in with bigger guards who can shoot and drive, it causes some problems because Smith is wee and Brooks isn't big for a 2. Can get driven into the lane but can't back off and let the guy shoot over you.
Every team has issues, that seems to really be the only defensive one this one has outside of the bench having problems (everyone's bench has problems). Brown helping out a ton on defense is great.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:54 PM ^
You mean like the time Eli was "backed off" by being driven into by Washington's shoulder & forearm?! And Eli was given a warning for saying something about it!
On the playground you may need to muscle back, but in an officiated game those guys need to do their jobs.
Also, for the refs - Livers was called for a charge while driving on a guy backpedaling with no established position. Smith was called for a block when completely stationary and driven into.
Bad calls or am I missing some nuances?
February 21st, 2021 at 5:08 PM ^
Yes, this should have been a double digit win for Michigan -- around 15 points. The calls you referenced were obvious mistakes, and several of the calls were 3 point mistakes. I don't think the mistakes could have been any more obvious. Credit to Juwan and Michigan that they kept their focus.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:15 PM ^
LIver's offensive was clearly a block.
Smith's foul was clearly an offensive.
Washington textbook initiated contact with the arm and extended it. Offensive.
Dickinson's offensive was all the way in the semi-circle.
Atrocious calls, but we won so who cares.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:29 PM ^
Is Young still allowed his position within the semi-circle though - or maybe that just means he shouldn't get a blocking call if he stays vertical within the circle?? Dickinson did get a shoulder into him. That was the only one I thought was even defensible even though it's never called.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:39 PM ^
Yeah, the circle is only relevant to a help defender. Young was the on-ball defender so it doesn't matter where he is in the circle.
It was a traaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash call. This is B10 basketball. I'm sorry if OSU didn't recruit anyone strong enough to deal with Hunter. Not our problem.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
And don't forget the review on the out-of-bounds call, when it was clear as day off OSU but the call stood.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:36 PM ^
We should care and contest the refs next time. Harbaugh got screwed with the hometown ref and gotta make sure it doesn't happen again
February 22nd, 2021 at 12:04 AM ^
You’re actually wrong on the Dickinson call. The restricted area is for secondary defenders only. Young was the primary defender in that situation so he can be inside the circle and still draw a charge.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:18 PM ^
The Livers call was right. He dropped the shoulder and pushed off with a forearm.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:24 PM ^
I'll watch it again. Absolutely did not see that in real time, and Raftery said he saw nothing as well ?♂️
February 21st, 2021 at 5:32 PM ^
No, Young initiated contact by stepping into Livers path and wasn't even close to set BEFORE Livers slightly extended his elbow. Livers contact was only in reaction to Young's illegal contact. This was a terrible call and it was obvious on the overhead replay.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:46 PM ^
You're right -- they play should have already been called dead by the time Zay slightly extended his forearm -- BS call.
February 21st, 2021 at 11:16 PM ^
Is that a thing to refer to him as "Zay?"
February 22nd, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^
Yeah, I've even seen the official Michigan Basketball twitter page refer to him as Zay on occasion.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:41 PM ^
This was my conclusion as well. When you're running full speed and a guy lunges into you, you may possibly throw up an arm to defend yourself. Just awful.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:42 PM ^
I thought Livers lowered his shoulder when he really didn’t have to, a Euro step would have been a better play. Also, what happened to spin moves on plays like that where the defender is obviously planted and you could easily spin around them for an easy shot?
February 21st, 2021 at 8:41 PM ^
Obviously planted? You need to watch that again. Young was running almost full speed right into Livers path.
February 21st, 2021 at 9:13 PM ^
Yes, "obviously planted"?? We can't be talking about the same play...
February 21st, 2021 at 5:20 PM ^
I'm not going to get down on the refs, that was a hotly contested game that if you called it 'right', they'd be guys fouling out on both sides. That said, there were definitely some iffy calls; I thought the one against Franz when he passed the ball in the paint shouldn't have been called. He was going across the court, passing behind himself, moving across a Buckeye defender who fell to the floor towards the basket. Franz wasn't even moving towards the basket!
February 21st, 2021 at 5:27 PM ^
Or the time Eli was standing straight up and Washington just jumped into/onto him from 10 feet out for an and1? The refereeing was indeed terrible this game.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:42 PM ^
Eh, Livers lowered his shoulder and even extended the forearm a bit. I’d rather see that a no call. But I was ok with the offensive foul call there.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:54 PM ^
Exactly. This was the one call that I pretty much agreed with. Yeah, you could get the benefit there, but I’d be mad if OSU had the ball and they called a block on us.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
No, I mean the 2 times Brooks was driven into the lane and then bit on a pump fake that got him off his feet enough for the OSU guard to draw a foul and finish over him. He's not going to block those shots and since he was already backpedaling he can't go straight up. The only thing that will come of it is a foul.
He's a great defender. Doesn't mean he's perfect. He's 6'1" and when he gets a 6'4" guy that can drive he struggles sometimes. He's not a wall.
February 21st, 2021 at 5:25 PM ^
Yes, Michigan did outplay them and are clearly a better team. The refs and tough shot making by OSU kept them in it.
We dog Iowa's defense a lot around here but OSU is nearly as bad (supported by the metrics too - Iowa is 89th and OSU 83rd in kenpom).
They have no rim protection and aren't great at staying in front of perimeter players so they help aggressively and pack the paint which leaves shooters wiiiiiiide open. Michigan pretty much got whatever they wanted on offense.
Michigan was getting layups and easy post buckets, but OSU had to hit tough jumpers. Michigan got wide open looks from three all game, but OSU had to hit step backs with hands in faces. This wasn't as close as the score indicated but OSU is really good at making those tough shots. They do have a very good offense.
They can beat anyone on any given day but their defense isn't championship caliber. They're probably only the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference (neck and neck with Iowa and behind Illinois).
February 21st, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
Wasn’t as close as the score indicated?!?!?!
This was as back and forth as a game can be pretty much, we never had control of this game. Took a lot of mental toughness to come out on top, kudos to the team & JH for keeping it together. If we had shot the 3 like the 1st half it would’ve been a comfortable win, but doing that again couldn’t be counted on. This was a great game by both teams and the better team came out on top.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
Correct, these teams weren't as evenly matched as the score would indicate. Not sure what about my post doesn't make that clear and I agree with everything you said. As my post indicated, I would argue OSU played even better relative to their potential than Michigan did which kept this game close (and they also disproportionately benefitted from the refereeing). They were drilling all kinds of tough shots, step back threes, high arcing jumpers over shot blockers, etc.
Very good game, excellently played. Huge accomplishment for Michigan to stay mentally tough and finish it off. 100 percent agree.
February 21st, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
Why is your comment different when I hit reply than it is just reading the thread? Weird...
maybe my reading comprehension was off, I just read your statement of the game not being as close as the score indicated, which to me means a lead shrunk in garbage time and the final outcome wasn’t really in question...I’d agree that overall I think UM is more talented as a team
February 21st, 2021 at 11:23 PM ^
I get your point, but I really think you're conflating two different concepts here. Michigan is a more complete and more talented team. I absolutely agree with you there. Most osu fans on 11W were saying that the lack of a true PG and true C really hurt them today.
However, to suggest that the game wasn't as close as the score indicated is false. Yes, osu had to take tougher shots b/c Michigan forced them into it, but they hit those shots. Objectively, this was a close game. Maybe it shouldn't have been as close as it was, but that's a different argument. If Michigan had been leading by double digits all game and osu had made a flurry of late shots to close the game within a couple of possessions, then yeah, you can say the game wasn't as close as the score suggests. But this was a back-and-forth affair for 37 minutes and osu still got within 2 possessions in the closing 90 sec
February 22nd, 2021 at 1:19 AM ^
I didn't say this wasn't a close game did I? Clearly, the score was close. But I'm saying the level of play, and the matchup was not as close as the score would suggest because 1) the refs took away 4-6 points from Michigan on terrible offensive foul calls and gave OSU at least 4 points with a lack of offensive calls on their end and 2) I would argue that OSU's shot making was more luck than skill in hitting such a high percentage of those tough shots. I argue Michigan played well to force the tough shots and they didn't play as well to have to settle for them and that Michigan played well to get pretty much any shot they wanted. The fact they hit a relatively high percentage of their tough shots is irrelevant in my mind because that was merely a positive result of chance.
In my mind it's a bit like if you severely slice your drive, hack out of the trees but overshoot the fairway, chunk it into the sand trap and then chip in for par. I argue that you didn't play the hole as well as someone that had a beauty drive into the fairway, hit the green with his approach, lipped out from 15 feet and then tapped in. The miracle trap shot makes up for the first three bad shots on the score card such that both players scored the same but it's unsustainable for you to keep up. Now, OSU certainly played better than that, they're a very good team but it's just an example of what I mean that they didn't play as well as the close score throughout would suggest.
If you want to consider making tough shots after needing to settle for them playing as well as Michigan, that's fair. But I'm speaking about the process more than the results.
Maybe they regularly hit fadeway jumpers and step back threes at NBA All-star percentages, in which case, I'm wrong that they got luckier than what I saw and I'd be wrong.
TL;DR: I'm just saying I agree with the statement by jmblue initiating this thread "I felt like we outplayed them by more than the score indicated, but they’re good at making contested shots (and got a bit of home cooking to boot)" except I don't know that they're regularly that good at making those shots, but they were today.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:56 PM ^
Howard’s pick up of Chaundee Brown is like Harbaughs pickup of Mike Danna a couple of years ago. Just a phenomenal get and difference maker.
February 22nd, 2021 at 10:01 AM ^
Also of note is the spread of points. OSU got almost all their points from 3 guys, where Michigan got their points spread across 6 guys. That means teams can't just put their best defender on one guy, or try to hide a bad defender on their team.
This type of game will also help Michigan in the tournament. Ace was exactly right that these were two teams waiting for one to blink. Michigan being in some tight games against great competition is bad for our hearts, but good for the tournament. Baylor and Gonzaga have not found themselves in high pressure, high stake games for a long time, and probably won't see that until the tournament. Michigan digging themselves out of some holes and not panicking is big. I've seen teams before panic when they get behind and abandon their game plan. Michigan will continue to run their offense and defense and know they are in every game.
Give credit to the Buckeyes, they felt like they were in this too, until those last two buckets. Very well coached team, and fun to watch.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
A thing of beauty.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
Can Howard coach football?
February 21st, 2021 at 4:34 PM ^
Good game.
The problem with these 12 central windows is that I can’t get in front of a tv until the second half.
But I’ll take it for games like the last 2 weeks. Reminds me of getting home in time to see Michigan coasting after annihilating Florida in the first half in the Regional Final in 2013. My warmth of feeling is undiminished.
Remarkable what this team has become.
BTW, anyone else notice how classily Beilein handles this? He studiously avoids associating himself personally with the team’s success in public, and declines to express what surely is an appropriate level of affection, satisfaction, and joy in their success.
Because it’s Howard’s team. It’s the right thing to do.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
If this team wins it all JB needs to get a ring.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:44 PM ^
This team is the perfect example of a successful coaching change
The senior leaders in Brooks, Livers, and Davis from the Beilein era mesh perfectly with the Juwan-added talent of Chaundee, Smith, and Dickinson. Franz is a perfect symbol of the transition: a guy who was ready to commit to Beilein, was hit with a coaching change, and still decided to pull the trigger. So proud of the team and the program. I remember growing up in the Amaker era watching us go to OT with South Carolina Upstate. Surreal to see how far we have come
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