Michigan Basketball: 3 things we learned in win vs Ohio State

Michigan basketball triumphed over Ohio State 75-69 in a game which all but certainly punches their ticket into March. The Wolverines currently sit at 17-13 with their next stop being the Big Ten Tournament.

I’m going to go ahead and say that March was made for the Wolverines. When all hope seems lost every few years and Michigan basketball looks like it is going to miss out on March, the Wolverines win some big games late, dominate the Big Ten Tournament and proceed to make a serious impact in the tournament come March. Is that what we’re seeing here with the Wolverines?

It’s hard to tell, Coach Martelli has done a phenomenal job with the team. But let’s take it one game at a time for now. Let’s dive into some of the key things that we learned from this game.

1. Michigan basketball can win without Hunter Dickinson

While it’s outlandish to think Michigan does not need Hunter Dickinson they proved that they have the ability to win on their own. Surely, the addition of Hunter Dickinson is important but we saw them get it done without him which has to be a huge confidence booster.

Hopefully, Dickinson remains healthy for the rest of the season because the Wolverines are really starting to heat up. Their ability to handle Lidell in the paint was unmatched and Michigan probably comes away with a double-digit victory with Dickinson in the game.

2. Caleb Houstan has a consistency problem

Caleb Houstan has a lot of potential but he’s not the 1-and-done lottery pick guy we thought he was going to be. Unfortunately, the season’s been a rollercoaster with his inconsistencies, and as we finally start to find some consistency he has a game like this.

He shot 0/10 from the field which at any level is just unacceptable. Bad nights do happen, and I am not critiquing his ability but rather the coaching. Whether it’s confidence or shooting mechanics the coaches need to try their best to find some decent consistency with Caleb.

3. Juwan Howard has been set up in the perfect situation

Phil Martelli came in and made an impact that was more than just visible on the court, it was visible on the record books. I’m not sure the Wolverines could get some of the critical wins they did with Juwan under the helm, but now I think Juwan is set up perfectly.

Michigan’s projected to be a 6-7 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. That means they’re going to play a double-digit seed such as Penn State, Maryland, Nebraska, or Minnesota and then have to either face a #2 or #3 like Illinois or Purdue. There is a lot of potential, but will that potential be used for some March magic or will it be wasted.