Michigan Basketball: What winning Battle 4 Atlantis means for Wolverines

Juwan Howard’s Michigan basketball found its rhythm in a Battle 4 Atlantis title run that not many expected through a crowded field in the Bahamas.

During the three-day Battle 4 Atlantis, Michigan basketball conquered three capable programs that should be a factor come March.

Friday, the Wolverines finished it off by working through a taller Gonzaga squad, ranked No. 8. The Zags were ahead early, but Michigan took over, thanks to a 21-4 run in the second half and never squandered the lead going forward. The maize and blue will now go from unranked to a legitimate top-10 school.

Michigan basketball didn’t just win, it thoroughly beat up the competition all three days. it led by 20-some points over UNC and Gonzaga and the closest outcome was Iowa State at seven points. UNC was getting blown out in the second half but fought back to make it respectable. The Zags couldn’t slow down the Wolverines either. It was a complete performance for Howard’s guys that like a national title contender right now.

Jon Teske was the clear-cut MVP of the tourney after a dominating showing. He routinely showed up with dunks, a couple of 3-pointers, defensive blocks and rebounds. Howard has his men humming through the hardest part of the schedule. That’s a feat that some never believed would happen under a first-time coach.

The shooting has been lights out ever since they stepped foot in the Bahamas. 52% from beyond the arc, only to be outdone by the Zags at 60%. They also held down the turnovers with only 11. The Wolverines display in the Bahamas was a reminder of the Big Ten tournament championship runs in 2017 and 2018. They got hot at the right time and everything went their way because of it.

The road doesn’t get easier though with a flight to likely No. 1 Louisville on Tuesday. After that, they open the Big Ten before hosting Oregon in Ann Arbor. With the way they are performing at it is going to be difficult to beat Michigan. Going on the road in that Cardinal environment on Tuesday should prove whether or not the Wolverines will be the ones to beat in all of college basketball.

For those wondering if Juwan Howard could coach, he has quickly put a stop to anyone that doubts him. He is the type of guy who you would want your kids to play for. He is humble, a winner, and a genuinely nice person. The transition from Beilein to Howard is now officially a complete success.

Now the maize and blue will wait to see where it will get ranked after the three-day run coming into the Thanksgiving tourney. It arguably has the best resume in the country and it’s not even December. This run will have them prepared for the best basketball conference in America and what might be an April run when all is said and done.