Michigan Basketball: Franz Wagner has breakout game in win vs Nebraska

Michigan basketball got a win on the road on Christmas Day against Nebraska and Franz Wagner also had his best game of the season.

There were a lot of positive things to take away from Michigan basketball’s win over Nebraska on Christmas night, but one of the best signs for the Wolverines long-term hopes was the play of Franz Wagner.

Wagner hasn’t been bad this season, but he certainly hasn’t looked like the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year candidate some of us thought he would be.

One of the biggest issues was just a lack of shot attempts. Wagner came into the game against Nebraska averaging just over nine points and 6.7 shots per game, which is far too low for a player of his caliber.

But in the 80-69 win for Michigan basketball in Lincoln, Wagner was aggressive and attempted 16 shots, making nine of them for a season-high 20 points. He was 2-of-7 from 3-point range but he was hunting his shot more and that’s what he needs to do.

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Isaiah Livers also scored 17 points and that’s the most Livers and Wagner have combined for this season. Part of that had to do with the way Nebraska defended Michigan basketball phenom Hunter Dickinson.

Nebraska came hard at Dickinson with double teams and he didn’t attempt a shot into well into the first half of play. For the night, he only took seven but he made five and scored 13 points while also tearing down 14 rebounds. He did have five turnovers but blocked two shots.

Both of Michigan’s transfers stepped up too. Chaundee Brown scored nine points in the first half and really provided a spark off the bench to help Michigan take a two-point lead into halftime.

In the second half, Smith came up big and scored two big buckets, a runner and a 3-pointer when Nebraska was trying to make a run. A Dickinson 3-point play soon after put the icing on the cake.

Smith finished with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists and was 2-of-3 from downtown. He also made both of his free throws and despite three turnovers, had a really solid game.

All in all, it was a great effort in the first road game of the season and the Michigan basketball team has to be feeling good at 7-0.