Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from key win over Maryland

Simpson dominates closing stretch

There is no doubt that in the second half against Maryland, Michigan was in trouble. At one point, the lead got down to three points. After going ahead by 15 points early on, a loss at home to Maryland would have been soul-crushing. It also would have been costly in the Big Ten title race.

Poole scored a key bucket and Iggy knocked down a big three, but that three was assisted beautifully by Simpson, who hit Iggy perfectly in stride to set up and knock down an important shot. It was a little play but it was also the perfect example of what makes Simpson so good.

He seems to do a million little things right. He also does things like make this ridiculous hook shot, which was basically the dagger.

After Maryland got within six points, Michigan went on a 9-4 run to push the advantage back to double digits and seven of those nine points were either scored by Simpson or he assisted on the basket and that doesn’t even include the work he did on the defensive end.

For the game, he had just one turnover and in the second half, he didn’t have any. His 3-pointer that put Michigan up eight at 47-39 was also a turning point. Of course, he has had plenty of moments like this before, but we were reminded Saturday just how much Simpson means and why he might just be the best point guard in the Big Ten.