Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from agonizing Ohio State loss
By Nick Popio
When all hope went for not Michigan basketball climbed back to within one only to wind up just shy of returning to the championship game.
The pace flowed much more subdued in part two of this top ten confrontation. Both clubs combined for 88 points in the first contest of the opening 20 minutes, but only got to a total of 53 this time around. Michigan basketball couldn’t stretch their lead because the Buckeyes stuck in it with their 46 percent shooting from three in the initial period.
Other factors that stood out early on were Brandon Johns making some hay from the foul line while stepping in for the injured Isaiah Livers to try and fill his shoes in the starting lineup. Franz Wagner turned some heads again with his work on the defensive side of the court. While Hunter Dickinson got dinged up for a moment, but swiftly returned to action as if he never left.
In half number two, the Buckeyes began draining some vital shots to guide them to a 13 point lead. Duane Washington and EJ Liddell were the primary beneficiaries of those circumstances as they have been all along in Ohio State’s attack. Throw in the superb labor that they put in on the defensive end and Ohio State was in firm control.
Really impressive comeback by Michigan, nearly wiping out 13-point deficit in final 4 mins. Juwan's decision to play for the final shot with 21 seconds left backfired. Needed to set up a play for Dickinson. Great game, Buckeyes win 68-67.
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) March 13, 2021
In the twilight of the affair Wagner fouled out and that was pretty much it for Michigan’s chances of returning to the title game.
Losing Wagner is a recipe for a defeat that doesn’t get any easier with Livers already out. With that said Washington and his teammates got the last laugh and march on to Sunday to play for all the marbles in what turned out to be another nail-biter.