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Gut reactions to a key win for Michigan Basketball over Northwestern

By Chris Peterson

Jan 15, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) dribbles in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) dribbles in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball got back on the winning track by surviving a strong effort from Northwestern thanks to making just enough plays at the end. 

It wasn’t a perfect win for Michigan basketball but it was a win, that’s all that really mattered for the Wolverines who couldn’t afford to fall to 3-3 in the Big Ten conference.

Michigan stormed out of the gates and after building an 18-6 lead, it seemed like the Wolverines were going to run away from Northwestern, only to find themselves trailing at the half after Northwestern went on a 27-10 run.

Jett Howard hit a couple of 3-pointers early in the second half. Dug McDaniel hit a trey too and the Wolverines were able to build a lead and salt it away for an 85-78 win.

Hunter Dickinson had a double-double and Northwestern made sure to focus on him not getting shot attempts. Yet, he made the right decisions and Michigan’s ball movement was a key storyline as U-M assisted on 18 of 29 field goal attempts.

Kobe Bufkin, Howard, and McDaniel combined for 53 points. The defense was a little sticky at times and you wondered in the last couple of minutes if Northwestern was going to pull off a comeback but Michigan won and is 4-2 in the Big Ten, as well as 10-7 overall.

Gut reactions to Michigan basketball win over Northwestern

  • Hunter Dickinson didn’t put up numbers but played as he needed to play.
  • Dug McDaniel was a microcosm of this entire game — great at times, disastrous at others but good enough.
  • Dug is going through growing pains, but it will be worth it in the long run.
  • Kobe Bufkin deserves an A+ for how he played and started with an early 3-ball. He was 9-of-11 overall and 2-for-3 from the field. A mature showing.
  • I have no idea why Will Tschetter didn’t play in the first half.
  • Tarris Reed (6 points, 8 rebounds, 3-of-3 from the field) and Tschetter have both been better than Terrance Williams lately.
  • Rotations still don’t always make sense.
  • Jett Howard continues to shoot the ball spectacularly from deep.
  • This team can be really good and also really bad at times. Consistency is still the issue and it feels like if this was a road game, Northwestern wins.
  • Michigan needs to go probably at least 9-5 down the stretch to get into the tournament and it won’t happen with 27-10 stretches by the opposing team.
  • Yet, Michigan is one game out of first. A lot to play for still.
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