Michigan basketball rallied for a key win over Michigan State on Saturday night and here are three things we learned in the Wolverines’ win.
For a good chunk of the game on Saturday night, it felt like Michigan State was in control and that the Wolverines were on the brink of a crushing defeat.
Yet, for one of the few times this season, Michigan basketball was able to execute at key points down the stretch. Kobe Bufkin hit a monster 3-pointer.
Freshman point guard Dug McDaniel, who didn’t have a turnover, had a great pass to Hunter Dickinson for another triple that essentially put the game away.
Tarris Reed was a monster on both ends and once that guy learns how to make free throws, he’s going to be a force. The future is bright though and for more than a couple of Michigan basketball players.
However, there is still a lot of basketball to play in the 2022-23 season, and here are three things we learned about Michigan basketball in its win over Michigan State.
Dug McDaniel is going to be great
It’s been a tough first year on the job for Dug McDaniel. He was always going to play this season but he wasn’t expected to be playing 39 minutes against Michigan State in February.
There have been great moments and some not-so-great moments. That’s life with a freshman point guard. In the long run, though, it’s going to be a good thing for the Michigan basketball program.
Next season, McDaniel is going to be the unquestioned starter and I’d expect to see more performances like Saturday night when he had 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal, and zero turnovers.
Against a Tom Izzo team, in that environment, it was an impressive performance. The light is starting to come on and the string of transfer starting point guards stops with Dug.
Tarris Reed needs more minutes
It’s hard to play someone that shoots below 40 percent from the free throw line but Tarris Reed played 24 minutes against Michigan State and delivered in a big way.
Reed scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He also blocked three shots and was credited with two steals. His defense of Joey Hauser was important. He lost track of him on one 3-pointer late and he also missed some key free throws.
But his blocked shots late and his work on the boards were critical. Terrance Williams is going to come back and he obviously will have his role on this team, especially if he’s knocking down shots, but Reed needs more minutes.
And like McDaniel, you can definitely see him as a fixture in the future starting lineup, especially if Hunter Dickinson moves on after this season.
Michigan’s bubble hasn’t burst
Michigan still has a lot of work to do and with the inconsistency that has plagued this team from game to game, it’s hard to believe it will string together enough wins down the stretch to make the big dance, especially with three of four games on the road.
Road trips await to Rutgers, Illinois, and Indiana. Wisconsin comes to Michigan. That’s a must-win game and the Wolveirnes need at least two of the three on the road.
Right now, Joe Lunardi has Michigan basketball as the ninth team out. That’s actually closer than I thought Michigan would be.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) February 19, 2023
I believed Michigan needed to win out and finish 13-7 in the Big Ten to make the tournament. The recent update from Lunardi makes me think Michigan could play its way in with three of four wins down the stretch, plus a win or two in the Big Ten tournament.
The Wolverines were a 10 seed a year ago as a 14-loss team. If the Wolverines won five of their next six (two in the Big Ten tourney), I have a hard time believing they get left out.
The margin for error is small but to be honest, Lunardi’s new projection makes me believe there is more hope than previously expected.