Moving on up
With the completion of the
Athletics South Competition
and Performance Project,
often-overlooked Michigan
teams now have a home.
» SportsMonday Column,
Page 2B
A quick fix?
If Ole Miss’ Shea Patterson
looks to transfer to
Michigan, Jim Harbaugh
would have a chance to nab a
quarterback that could take
Michigan to the next level.
» Page 4B
Last
Wednesday,
the
Michigan
men’s
basketball team played
its worst game of the
season — a lopsided,
86-71 loss at No. 13
North Carolina.
But to open the Big
Ten slate Saturday,
the
Wolverines
looked far different.
Michigan
dispatched
Indiana,
69-55,
on
the
50th
anniversary of the
first
basketball
game at Crisler
Center.
“We
don’t
call it a spring
board, we call it
a trampoline,”
said
coach
John
Beilein.
“Let’s
take
this thing that
happened
in
Chapel
Hill
where
we
were
just
bad
and
grow
from
it. We really
bounced
back
very
well today.”
Led by 19
points from
freshman
guard
Jordan
Poole, the
Wolverines (1-0 Big Ten, 7-2
overall) led the entire way, as
Michigan built a double-digit
lead just five minutes in.
But early into the second half,
the Hoosiers (0-1, 4-4) clawed
themselves back within striking
distance. Forward Josh Newkirk
knocked down a three to cap
off a 9-0 Indiana run that cut
the Wolverines’ lead to just five
with 15 minutes to play.
But then, as they had done
throughout the afternoon, the
Wolverines found a run of their
own.
On the corresponding play,
fifth-year
senior
forward
Duncan Robinson — despite
a
rough
1-for-8
shooting
performance prior — lifted and
hit from the top of the key. Then,
after another basket and two
defensive stops, freshman point
guard Eli Brooks would follow
suit to cap off an 8-0 run.
“That was huge,” said junior
forward Moritz Wagner. “I was
on the bench and coach was
like, ‘We need one right now.’
(Indiana) messed up the play,
and Duncan was wide open, and
that was big. That was the play we
practiced and had (set up), so it all
worked out perfectly.”
And from there, the Jordan
Poole show would commence.
The former four-star recruit
showed off the talent he has
flashed in recent games, finishing
a
contested
reverse
layup
before sinking a deep three to
give Michigan a comfortable
advantage
Indiana
wouldn’t
jeopardize for the remainder of
the contest.
Poole
led
the
Wolverines
with
19
points
on
7-for-12
shooting — career-highs
for
him
despite
having recently settled into the
Wolverines’ rotation.
“That’s what Jordan does,” said
freshman point guard Eli Brooks.
“Jordan’s a play-maker. Given the
opportunities that he’s had, he
seizes the moment. We all knew
he could play this well, it was just
a matter of time.”
Despite the recency of the
North Carolina defeat, Michigan
couldn’t have started Saturday’s
game much stronger, opening
an 18-4 advantage after eight
minutes of play.
The
Wolverines
sunk
four
early 3-pointers off strong ball
movement and a willingness to
make the extra pass. Poole —
the first Wolverine to come off
the bench — was again fearless
shooting the basketball and found
nylon on four of his first seven
attempts, including a trio of
triples.
Indiana’s offense, meanwhile,
was
abysmal.
The
Hoosiers
were held without a field goal
through the first eight minutes
and committed five turnovers in a
sloppy start.
“Coming out of the locker room,
our defense was really focused
on the scouting report,” Beilein
said, “(Assistant coach) DeAndre
Haynes did a great job with that
scouting report. Our kids lived
that scoring report.”
But Michigan’s fast shooting
start would soon slow, as a four-
minute
scoring
drought
and
12 points from forward Juwan
Morgan — who led all scorers
with 24 points — would allow
Indiana to remain within striking
distance, trailing 34-21 at the half.
Eventually, though, Poole had
his day — leading the Wolverines
past the Hoosiers in convincing
fashion.
And for Beilein, who faces
another quick turnaround with a
visit to Ohio State on Monday, it
was reminder of what has been
the case throughout his tenure
with the Wolverines.
“I hope (you’ve seen) over
that last 10 years that Michigan
bounces back,” Beilein said.
“We’re going to bounce back
because you’re not going to win
every game.”
MARK CALCAGNO
Daily Sports Writer
The freshman guard made a
name for himself on Saturday
MONDAY
The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | December 4, 2017
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EMMA RICHTER/DAILY
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We all knew he
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matter of time
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