The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/230001
MICHIGAN BASKETBALL wasn't enough against the Blue Devils on their home court. The Wolverines dropped to 3-10 at Cameron Indoor Stadium, including three straight losses there. Michigan has lost five in a row to Duke and is now 5-8 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, including 1-5 on the road. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A 100-POINT PROBLEM Michigan's 107-53 evisceration of Houston Baptist Dec. 7 not only marked the largest margin of victory (54) by a group of Wolverines coached by John Beilein, it reset all sorts of numbers for the Crisler Center crew. The Wolverines connected on 16 three-point shots in the win, tying an all-time program record. They established that mark against Eastern Michigan in 2008 and matched it two years later versus Bryant. The 61.5 percent Michigan shot on threes represented not only a season high, but also a pretty sizable 24-hour turnaround. "Friday [against] zone or man in practice, we went 3 for 20 from three," Beilein said. "The whole idea was keep shooting if you get open, you'll start knocking them down." They definitely started. They also started fast against the overmatched visitors, enjoying a ridiculous first half that could have sent the crowd home early, except for its anticipation of further fireworks. The Wolverines established team highs for the season in a host of firsthalf categories, including points (60), field goals made (23), field goal percentage (68.0 percent), steals (seven) and assists (18), with season lows in turnovers (one) and fouls (three). Michigan's six fouls in the game marked an overall season low. "I've never seen an 18-to-1 assistto-turnover ratio at halftime, in a game or whatever," Beilein said. "It was really good. In order to get that you have to have penetration, go north-south a little bit, and you've got to screen well. We were able to do that. In transition you've also got to come up with eyes on the rim looking to score, but also have really good vision." The Wolverines pulled their scoring shoes on early, setting season highs with 36 field goals and 64.3-percent shooting. Sophomore guard Nik Stauskas tied his career high with six three-pointers, on his way to a team-high 25 points. Sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III added a season-high 17 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the field. Meanwhile, the set-ups proved abundant. Sophomore forward Mitch McGary and sophomore guard Spike Albrecht managed six assists apiece, McGary tying his career high and Albrecht establishing a new career mark. The Wolverines tied a team high for the season with 26 assists. U-M topped the 100-point mark for the first time this year, and the first time since it beat Slippery Rock at Crisler Center on Nov. 9, 2012. Meanwhile, freshman walk-on Andrew Dakich recorded his first Michigan points. ❏