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Gut reactions from Michigan basketball win over Minnesota

By Chris Peterson

Jan 22, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) dribbles on Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Ta'lon Cooper (55) in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) dribbles on Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Ta'lon Cooper (55) in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball didn’t play its best game of the season but the Wolverines survived against Minnesota and here are the gut reactions. 

A win is a win, especially when you have been struggling and while Michigan basketball‘s effort on Sunday against Minnesota won’t win any beauty contests, it was important all the same.

Hunter Dickinson did most of the heavy lifting, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He didn’t miss a single free throw and it’s safe to say Michigan wouldn’t have won the game without their man in the middle.

It didn’t help that Jett Howard left the game with an ankle injury and didn’t return. He was struggling before that and missed all five of his shot attempts but this offense looks dramatically different without him on the floor.

Minnesota scored the first eight points and the score was 23-23 at halftime in a game Michigan basketball was favored to win by 13 points. Instead, the game wasn’t really salted away until some late free throws.

Michigan still has a lot to figure out but it is 11-8 and tied for second in the Big Ten at 5-3 with Rutgers. Purdue is 8-1, so there is a long way to the top, but Michigan kept its season afloat on Sunday, even if it was the definition of winning ugly.

Gut reactions to Michigan basketball win over Minnesota

  • Michigan did a much better job of getting the ball to Hunter Dickinson and he delivered. He was especially clutch at the line.
  • The offense was ugly without Jett but did just enough.
  • Dug McDaniel hit Michigan’s only 3-pointers. He bounced back in a big way but some of his makes aren’t sustainable.
  • Joey Baker’s missed layup sequence summed up the entire season.
  • Tarris Reed has to improve as a free throw shooter.
  • Will Tschetter needs more minutes.
  • T-Will is really struggling to shoot. Just seems to have lost his confidence.
  • This team doesn’t have enough shooting without Jett Howard.
  • Michigan avoided a bad loss but needs quality wins.
  • The Wolverines are treading water in terms of an NCAA berth, they need to start making progress this week.
  • Michigan has been bad as a heavy favorite this season.
  • That said, if Hunter gets 20 Michigan seems to always have a chance.

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