GBMWolverine
Fansided

Michigan Basketball: The legend of Hunter Dickinson continues to grow

By Jared Dettmer

Dec 31, 2020; College Park, MD, USA; Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) goes to the basket next to Maryland guard Aaron Wiggins, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in College Park, Md. Michigan won 84-73. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wass/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2020; College Park, MD, USA; Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) goes to the basket next to Maryland guard Aaron Wiggins, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in College Park, Md. Michigan won 84-73. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wass/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

Michigan Basketball is off to a scorching start to its 2020 season. After another dominant performance against his hometown Maryland Terrapins, Hunter Dickinson is a huge reason why.

How has he performed so far?

Hunter Dickinson came to Juwan Howard’s Michigan basketball team as the 42nd ranked player nationally, and the 9th rated center in the 2020 recruiting class.

Eight games into his career, Dickinson is averaging 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game in just over 25 minutes per game as well. Additionally, Dickinson has been as efficient as anyone could have hoped as he is shooting 72.6 percent from the field and 73 percent from the charity stripe.

It is not hyperbole to suggest that Michigan basketball would have multiple losses on its ledger if not for the 7′ 1″ Dickinson’s efforts. The Oakland and Penn State games in particular stand out as games that Dickinson tilted in the Wolverines’ favor.

Against Oakland, Dickinson was still coming off the bench as senior Austin Davis was the starter before his foot injury sidelined him indefinitely. Dickinson hadn’t scored until 10:56 was left in the second half and Michigan was down 51-47 to a Horizon League opponent in Crisler Center.

From that point on, a stretch of nearly 16 minutes of game time, he poured in 19 points as Michigan basketball outscored Oakland 34-20 in that span.

Without Dickinson’s quick decision making in the post, his ability to pass and create for others (4 assists on the night), and his efficiency, the Wolverines likely drop this game as a 31 point favorite.

December 13th against Penn State was Hunter Dickinson’s first taste of Big Ten action — and he delivered in a big way.

He managed to turn in a career performance in the scoring department with 20 points, although he broke this threshold two games later against Maryland with 26 points.

The freshman also showed how dominant he can be in other facets of the game as well by recording a game high 7 rebounds and swatting away 3 of the Nittany Lions’ shot attempts.

The Wolverines squeaked past Penn State by merely four points WITH Dickinson. Imagine the outcome without the game’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker on Michigan’s side.

Home/Michigan Basketball