The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
MICHIGAN BASKETBALL Overall Record: 13-13 Big Ten Record: 6-8 Best Win — 58-44 over Nebraska Jan. 27: The Wolverines took down the Cornhuskers in emphatic fashion at Crisler Center. Michigan put a de- fensive stranglehold on the Huskers, who shot 30.6 percent for the game and a mere 21.1 percent (4 of 19) from three-point range. Cornhuskers' super scorer Terran Petteway didn't score at all in the first half, and wound up with seven points on 1-of-11 shooting. Mean- while, Michigan got 14 points from sophomore forward Zak Irvin, 13 from freshman forward Aubrey Dawkins (including a 3-of-3 shooting effort on three-pointers) and 12 from senior forward Max Bielfeldt. Junior guard Spike Albrecht dished out seven assists, and the Wolverines led by as many as 18 points in the game. In a gulf of tough, close losses, this one proved an island of respite. Worst Loss — 72-54 versus Iowa Feb. 5: Michigan's home thumping at the hands of the Hawkeyes qualifies here. The knockout occurred amid a stretch of far more heartening U-M showings, even in losses, with the Wolverines taking Wisconsin to over- time at Crisler Center and sending the Michigan State game to overtime at Breslin Center. In this one, Michigan just couldn't find its way, especially after Iowa switched to a zone defense late in the first half. The Wolverines couldn't fig- ure it out, and went just 7 of 24 (29.2 percent) on three-point shots. Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery of- fered up some kind words in the wake of his team's dominant performance, noting the health issues the Wolver- ine have battled. "His teams are always going to win, they're always going to be prepared, they're always going to be tough to beat," McCaffrey said of U-M head coach John Beilein. "He's not a guy who is going to stand up here and cry about who he doesn't have. "He's going to say, 'Okay, this is what we've got. We're going to play and we're going to win.'" Breakout Performer — Muham- m a d - A l i A b d u r - R a h k m a n : T h e freshman guard has stepped in and played heavy minutes in the absence of injured sophomore point Derrick Walton Jr. Abdur-Rahkman certainly hasn't shrunk from the task, scor- ing 18 points and grabbing three rebounds in his first-ever trip to the Breslin Center in an overtime loss to Michigan State. He's demonstrated fearlessness throughout. Whether opening eyes in East Lansing, or missing a last-second three-point attempt that would have sent the Wolverines and Hoosiers to overtime at Indiana's Assembly Hall, Abdur-Rahkman has kept on an even keel, marking himself as someone to watch in the days ahead. Fre s h m a n I m p a c t — Au b re y Dawkins: The freshman forward con- BASKETBALL REWIND: JAN. 15-FEB. 17