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Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from brutal loss at Iowa

By Chris Peterson

IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 01: Guard Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines chases a loose ball in the first half against guard Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 1, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 01: Guard Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines chases a loose ball in the first half against guard Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 1, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Michigan basketball has often struggled to win games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and after a horrendous offensive showing, it was a house of horrors again.

Throughout the 2018-19 season, the Michigan basketball team has been incredibly consistent. But on a Friday night in Iowa City, the Wolverines ran into a buzzsaw.

After a slow start by both teams that saw the score tied at 11-11 about midway through the first half, foul trouble, cold shooting, and the aggressive Iowa Hawkeyes overpowered Michigan in a 74-59 loss.

An early foul on Jon Teske sent him to the bench and with the 7-foot-2 center sitting, Iowa dominated the boards getting seven in the first half compared to one for the Wolverines. Iowa also scored 20 points in the paint in the first half on its way to 42 first-half points.

With Teske being limited in the first half before eventually fouling out, Michigan basketball’s defense faltered. Luka Garza dominated inside for Iowa, making 8-of-12 shots for 18 points and eight rebounds. Tyler Cook wasn’t as on point, but he added seven points and eight more rebounds.

Teske’s absence hurt, but Ignas Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole and Isaiah Livers all had issues with foul trouble too. Iggy scored 12 points in the first half as he kept the Wolverines in it but fouls and missed opportunities forced him to settle for 16 points. Poole, who was 3-of-9 from 3-point range also added 16.

Trailing by 12 at halftime, Michigan basketball got back within striking distance a couple of times. First, Zaiver Simpson got the Wolverines within 10 at 43-33, before a 7-2 Hawkeye run pushed the lead back to 15. Later in the half, Charles Matthews and Livers each hit from deep, then a bucket from Teske got UM within five, 54-49 with over nine minutes left.

However, Iowa responded with a 13-2 run and that was it. The 15-point loss was just the second of the season for Michigan, with both coming on the road. For more on the defeat that dropped the Wolverines to 20-2 overall and 10-2 in the Big Ten, here are three takeaways.

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