Gut reactions as Hunter Dickinson, Michigan Basketball dominate Indiana

Michigan basketball needed a signature win for its NCAA tournament resume and it got a really solid win on the road over Indiana Sunday. 

After watching Michigan basketball beat down Maryland, you wondered if the Wolverines could carry that over and string together another impressive win.

Even if the win wasn’t impressive, Michigan just needed a win. The Wolverines started the day on the outside looking in, as far as NCAA tournament projections go, but after a quadrant-1 win on the road, in their best performance of the season, that could change.

Regardless of Sunday’s win, the Wolverines are still on the bubble. But Hunter Dickinson said this week that Michigan basketball was going to go on a run and he meant it.

And his play — on both ends of the floor against Indiana was key to making it happen.

Sort of like the Maryland game, Dickinson was more of a facilitator early on in the game and just like the Maryland game, Caleb Houstan hit shots. The five-star freshman knocked down five 3-pointers and as a team, the Wolverines made 11 and shot 67 percent.

Dickinson made three of those and he made a number of jumpers including an absolutely ridiculous step-back jumper in the first half, on his way to 25 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

Hunter got in some foul trouble but 10 points from Terrance Williams and 3-pointer from Brandon Johns late in the half helped Michigan lead by eight.

In the second half, every time Indiana tried to make a run, Dickinson, and Houstan, who finished with 19 points, answered. Hunter flat-out dominated the Hoosiers and Trayce Jackson-Davis, just as I said he would.

DeVante Jones, Moussa Diabate, Eli Brooks, and guys off the bench all stepped up. It wasn’t a perfect performance but it’s pretty darn close and it’s definitely one that will build some much-needed confidence for a team that doesn’t lack talent.

Here’s are the gut reactions.

Gut reactions from Michigan’s basketball win over Indiana

• Hunter Dickinson has been a different player since his return. He owned the floor on both ends. His offense will get the headlines but his defense was just as important to Michigan basketball winning the game. He owned Jackson-Davis. Owned him.
• Caleb Houstan is finally playing like we all thought he would. He’s made multiple 3-pointers in consecutive games and was hunting his shot. He was a centimeter away from six treys and if this keeps up, it dramatically changes the offense.
• DeVante Jones deserves a lot of credit. He continues to get better and better. Every time I write him off, he proves me wrong. He only scored seven points but had seven assists.
• Moussa Diabate was stellar defensively. I thought it was one of his best efforts all around.
• Brandon Johns looked like himself for the first time all season. When he buried that triple late in the first half, you knew Michigan was going to win.
• Michigan’s offense is humming and its tournament hopes are alive and well.