Michigan Basketball: Breaking down the beatdown of Florida State

The Michigan basketball team did a number on Florida State’s offense by never letting them in the contest thanks to its stingy defense.

From the moment the ball was thrown into the air Michigan basketball had its way with the Seminoles on both ends of the court.

In the opening stages of the game, the Wolverines were able to force the Noles into some turnover mistakes and no second chance opportunities by out-hustling them on the boards after their shot attempts. On the other side of the hardwood, Michigan basketball took advantage with a 10-0 run that it maintained well into the half.

Five minutes following the break Florida State had life that got them within two possessions with their first triples of the night. However, that was as close as they would come.

Michigan responded with a 7-0 spurt to go back up by double digits and was never challenged again. Florida State’s players got in foul trouble and they couldn’t find any rhythm to slow down the maize and blue.

This March Madness collision was indeed a different one than the last time these two goliaths met in 2018’s elite eight. FSU couldn’t keep within reach because of the problems that Michigan was consistently giving them.

Juwan Howard’s gameplan kept the Noles guessing on just how Michigan’s relentless attack would hit them with next.

It was a spirited defensive effort that locked down the Noles on the night. FSU didn’t hit a 3-pointer until early in the second half.

The Noles finished with an unsightly 25 percent from deep for their hardships. Michigan’s defense set up their offense to do pretty much whatever they wanted to with FSU as they coasted to an easy margin of victory.

Even Jace Howard had a brief moment that the first family of Michigan basketball will not soon forget.

Chaundee Brown and Brandon Johns made their marks by combining for 26 points in addition to what Hunter Dickinson and Franz Wagner displayed.

Besides Dickinson and Wagner, other guys know that they have to step up their respective roles with a starter not coming back to the lineup. That’s exactly why Michigan is still dancing and not home on their couches like the rest of the Big Ten right now.

Michigan advances to Tuesday night and a head-to-head showdown with a streaking UCLA bunch. The Bruins outlasted Alabama in overtime.

The two teams haven’t faced each other in the tournament since the round of 32 in 1998 which UCLA won by three. Just five years earlier in 1993, Jimmy King tipped in a second chance shot to win at the buzzer over the Bruins in round two of the big dance.

In fact, every time these two historic programs have dueled in March madness it has been within a dozen.