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Michigan Basketball: Grading the Wolverines win vs Penn State

By Chris Peterson

Dec 13, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard (third from left) talks to his team during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard (third from left) talks to his team during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

Guards

Eli Brooks: A-

It’s safe to say that Michigan basketball would not have won this game without Dickinson, but you could probably say the exact same thing about Eli Brooks. He was the Wolverines second-leading scorer with 12 points and made two clutch 3-pointers.

He was also incredible defensively and had the second-best plus/minus on the team outside of Hunter. Brooks isn’t the best creator and when he’s forced to go one-on-one, it doesn’t always work out, but he’s big-time and this team is very lucky to have a guy like him it can count on.

Mike Smith: B

Penn State forced Michigan into a lot of turnovers and while Brooks committed two, Mike Smith led the Wolverines with three. It’s understandable since he’s the primary ball-handler, but that effort could have been a little better.

However, Smith made 2-of-3 shots from beyond the arc and made as many 3-pointers as he did in the first five games. He also had a couple of nice finishes around the basket and some dimes to Dickinson out of ball screens.

Like Dickinson, defense probably won’t ever be his strong suit, but he didn’t stick out as a liability and there’s no doubt going forward that this offense runs best when Smith is playing point guard.

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