Michigan Basketball: 3 keys for Wolverines to beat Iowa
By Adam Childs
1. Force Garza to win it by himself
Luka Garza is good, really good. If you haven’t heard of him you must be living under a rock. He is currently averaging a league-best 24.7 points per game and is the favorite in the national player of the year race. The only way he doesn’t win Big Ten player of the year is if they give it to Ayo Donsunmu of Illinois (who deserves it also) but Garza still should win it.
With Garza being so good, you would think Michigan would game plan to make sure he doesn’t beat you. While you don’t want to let him score, the Wolverines need to make him try and beat you by himself.
Garza can do a lot by himself but he can’t win the whole game without help. So instead of doubling down and leaving his teammates open, who can shoot it from deep, they need to stay home and force Garza to do it all himself.
During his time as head coach Juwan Howard has stayed away from doubling down on the big guys and this game shouldn’t be any different. Garza is really good from anywhere on the court but he isn’t as quick as E.J Liddell from Ohio State was so the big guys for Michigan actually match up a little better against him.
Not that is going to be easy for Hunter Dickinson and Austin Davis, but they should be up to the challenge. Even if they give up points to Garza, two points are better than letting the Hawkeyes get hot from deep.
Garza is going to get his points and will probably show why he is one of the best players in the country, but he still needs help. If the Wolverines can stop the help and force Garza to do it by himself they will be in good shape to win the game.