Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from a concluding loss to Rutgers
By Nick Popio
2. The Wolverines had 4 field goals in the entire second half
22 points are all the Wolverines could muster in the second stanza thanks to putrid offensive possessions and the Scarlet Knights defense. In all, they went 4-21 with most of their points coming from the free-throw line. They got Rutgers in foul trouble early and got to the line often because of it.
Michigan shot around 50% in the first but ended up at 35% for the afternoon. They attempted 46 shots, which was 15 less than Rutgers had. The four shots were made by Hunter Dickinson (twice), Joey Baker, and Kobe Bufkin respectively. Dickinson buried a three to cut it to three with 15 minutes left and they didn’t score another field goal until one minute left in the game.
Rutgers shot 51.4% from the field in the second half while holding Michigan to 19% on the other end.
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) March 9, 2023
Cam Spencer and Derek Simpson combined for 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the final 20 minutes. https://t.co/LjSYUsHXQU
They went 14 minutes without scoring a basket from the field and made 8 free throws during that span. That is embarrassing and completely uncalled for. It was a 180 from the last meeting between these two schools where Rutgers couldn’t score and Michigan’s defense seized the tone in the win at Piscataway.