Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from blowout win over Iowa

Michigan looked at home in the Big Ten tournament

Sometimes a loss or two can be a good thing and it looks like the Wolverines definitely got a spark or at least some motivation from late-season losses to Michigan State.

In both games, the Wolverines had the lead in the second half and each time, Michigan basketball let the win get away. It was uncharacteristic and Friday night, UM looked like the team that won back-to-back Big Ten championships.

The 21-point win over Iowa had all the ingredients for success. Michigan knocked down 10 3-pointers, while Iowa was just 1-of-16 from downtown. You might say it was a bad shooting night but there is a reason Michigan is ranked third in defensive efficiency by Kenpom and tonight, with Charles Matthews back, the Wolverines played at a high level, holding Iowa to 36 percent shooting.

Great defense is going to be the key for Michigan because the offense is prone to cold streaks. However, when Livers and Brooks are coming off the bench hitting shots, along with Simpson and Teske, Michigan is tough to beat.

What will make the Wolverines nearly impossible to deal with is if Matthews gets going, at the same time as Iggy and Poole who combined for 26 points.