Michigan Basketball: New additions excel as Wolverines roll

Michigan basketball got tremendous production from its newest additions and that was a good sign in an impressive opening win over Bowling Green.

You never quite know how new additions will fit on any team. But after one game, it looks like Michigan basketball struck gold with transfers Chaundee Brown and Mike Smith.

Of course we should temper our expectations, this was just Bowling Green, but as we have said, the Falcons are probably the best team in the MAC. This isn’t some 300th-ranked nobody.

Smith got the start for the Wolverines at point guard and it’s safe to assume he will stay there after his opening performance. He scored 16 points, dished out eight assists and attempted just six shots from the field. He also earned eight free throw attempts.

We’ll have to see how Smith defends in the Big Ten, but his ability to create out of ball screens was top notch. He shot the ball, displayed great vision and looked like the true floor general for this team.

That allowed Eli Brooks to start the game at the two and even though he didn’t start fast, he played very well too, which should make you feel good about Michigan’s 1-2 punch in the backcourt.

What makes you feel even better about that is Brown, who came off the bench and scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers. He played just 19 minutes and scored 19 points on just eight shot attempts, meaning Smith and Brown combined for 35 points on just 14 field-goal attempts.

At one point, Michigan was shooting just 25 percent from 3-point range and it was simply a matter of shots not falling. The Wolverines got a bunch of good looks from three early, they just weren’t hitting outside of Isaiah Livers.

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1331735647711707136

Livers also finished with 17 points and was 3-of-8 from 3-point range. Yet, Franz Wagner, who was getting so much preseason hype, failed to hit a single shot from deep and finished with just nine points but did grab six rebounds.

The other new addition that really stood out was freshman big man Hunter Dickinson, who scored 11 points, grabbed eight boards and notched two blocks in his debut. Dickinson flashed with his ability to pass out of the post and logged 18 minutes, picking up three fouls off the bench.

In terms of minutes, Livers (35), Smith (32) and Brooks (32) played the most followed by Wagner with 27 after he missed some of the first half due to injury.

Austin Davis (13) also started but the fourth-leading player in minutes was Brown (20). Dickinson (18) and Johns (14) also reached double figures, which wasn’t a surprise as the top-8 rotation is pretty defined.

The defense allowed 41 percent on 3-point attempts and that will need to improve, but all in all, it was a solid outing and Michigan basketball fans have to be really pleased with their new additions as Brown, Smith and Dickinson all look as good as advertised.

Some expected this game to be close and the Wolverines best player wasn’t even firing on all cylinders and they won with ease.