Takeaways: Michigan Basketball Snaps Skid, Picks Up Big Ten Win After Defeating Iowa
Michigan snapped a three-game losing streak after beating Iowa on Sunday evening, 90-80. The Wolverines moved to 5-5 on the season and they now sit at 1-1 in Big Ten action.
The Wolverines found themselves up two after the first half, and Michigan put itself up 20 at a point in the second period. Iowa head coach Fran McCaffrey put the Hawkeyes into a predicament after he received a double technical and was ejected from the game. While the Hawkeyes tried to get back into the game, the Wolverines were up too much and had too many answers.
Here are some takeaways from Michigan's stout performance against Iowa.
Second Half Dominance
Michigan outscored Iowa 55-47 in the second half. The Wolverines got their two stars -- Dug McDaniel and Oivier Nkamhoua -- going and both were a steady force for Michigan. After the first half was a back-and-forth affair between the Wolverines and Hawkeyes, the second half was all Michigans.
As I mentioned above, Fran McCaffrey was ejected in the second half after a Hawkeye player was charged with an offensive foul against Will Tschetter down low -- McCaffrey lost it. Once the Iowa coach went out of the game, Iowa had one last attempt to get back into the game -- the Hawkeyes had the game deficit within 11, but Michigan had another big second-half run to put the game away.
Iowa once again caught the lead to 12 with under 50 seconds to go in the game, but it was way too late for the Hawkeyes.
Welcome Back, Tarris Reed
The sophomore center has struggled as of late for Michigan. In fact, against Indiana, he played fewer minutes than Will Tschetter off the bench. Phil Martelli told reporters after the loss against the Hoosiers, Reed needed to slow down and let the game come to him. He said Reed wasn't a player to hang his head and give up -- we saw that on Sunday.
Reed led all Michigan players with 19 points against the Hawkeyes. He was efficient from the field going 7-for-10 and -- maybe the best part of it all -- he hit 5-of-7 free throws. The big man recorded six rebounds and three blocks on the evening.
This might have been the game Michigan needed of Reed to get him going for conference battle.
Defense, Defense, Defense
The biggest issues haunting Michigan during its losing streak have been turnovers and defense. Opposing teams have been getting off to hot starts and either Michigan can't catch up, or the Wolverines lost it in the second half.
Not only did Iowa have just a five-point lead early in the first half, but Michigan stifled the Iowa offense in the second period. Michigan held the Hawkeyes to 44% from the field and a very poor 25% from 3.
The Wolverines forced 10 turnovers and Michigan had 18 points off of the Iowa turnovers. Michigan made Iowa pay for just about every turnover it had on Sunday.
Bench Help
Dug McDaniel and Olivier Nkamhoua have been pretty elite for Michigan in the early part of the year, but the duo needs some scoring help. That's what the Wolverines got on Sunday.
Six Michigan players have in double figures against Iowa and the Wolverines' bench played a big part in it.
Michigan only played seven players -- until late in the game where the Wolverines unloaded the bench -- and both Will Tschetter and Tray Jackson were excellent.
Tschetter, who has been playing better and better, had 10 points and six rebounds off the bench. Jackosn, the Seton Hall transfer, had eight points and hit 6-of-6 foul shots.
