The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/447116
MICHIGAN BASKETBALL on 3 of 5 themselves. Michigan also went a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line in nailing down a crucial home victory. Worst Loss — 71-52 against Ohio State in Columbus: Michigan absorbed a dispiriting, frustrating setback against an archrival in an arena still hung over from a football national championship. The Buckeyes ran away w i t h t h e J a n . 1 3 showdown, building up a lead as big as 28 points and coasting to a win. Some U-M players expressed frustration regarding intensity and effort afterward, fur ther compound- ing the angst over the struggles on the court. Michigan shot a miserable 33.9 percent from the field, including 23.1 percent (6 of 26) on the three-point- ers they needed to stay in the game. The Buckeyes themselves couldn't hit the broad side of Value City Arena from three (5 of 18, 27.8 percent), but a variety of run-outs and dunks allowed them to connect on nearly half their shots overall. Freshman D'Angelo Rus- sell led the way for OSU with 21 points, six assists and four steals. Breakout Performer — Caris Le- Vert: This one has a bit of a "by de- fault" feel to it, because LeVert has struggled at times along with the rest of the Wolverines. But the junior guard was leading the team with a scoring average of 14.8 points per game and has shown up in Michigan's victories the best among a crew that has been alternately injured, strug- gling, or learning on the job. LeVert managed 19 points and five assists in Michigan's Big Ten-opening win over Illinois, and fol- lowed with 18 points and four rebounds in a road win at Penn State. He scored 15 in the home victory over Minnesota, and led the Wolverines with 60 assists through 17 games. W h e n n o t h i n g i s working at times for M i c h i g a n , L e V e r t takes over. He's Michi- gan's best, and per- haps only, option in that department right now. Fre s h m a n I m p a c t — Au b re y D aw k i n s : H a d i t n o t b e e n fo r Dawkins' 20-point performance in the Big Ten opener, Michigan would not have pulled out an overtime win at home. Illinois head coach John Groce sounded stunned that someone so far down on the defensive game plan- ning had shot his team into submis- sion. Dawkins is still learning on a lot of fronts, and experiencing growth in areas of defense, passing, etc., but he has the ability on any given night to give the Wolverines a strong boost. — John Borton Through Jan. 13, junior guard Caris LeVert led the team in both scoring (14.8 points per game) and assists (60). PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL