GBMWolverine
Fansided

Gut reactions to Michigan basketball win over Stanford

By Chris Peterson

Nov 23, 2023; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan Wolverines guard Dug McDaniel (0) celebrates with Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Imperial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2023; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Michigan Wolverines guard Dug McDaniel (0) celebrates with Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Imperial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Michigan basketball really needed a win on Thursday night and got one against Stanford. Here are the gut reactions. 

After the game finally started against Stanford, the Michigan basketball team looked like it had eaten too much turkey.

The Wolverines fell behind 23-9 to Stanford and it looked like they could be headed for their third straight loss. Yet, Terrance Williams caught fire scoring 11 points in the final minutes of the first half, giving the Wolverines a 45-44 lead.

Stanford jumped ahead of the Wolverines early in the second half, thanks to an 8-0 run before Michigan basketball put together a 20-2 run.

Olivier Nkamhoua put together a nice stretch inside. Michigan also forced some turnovers and turned those into easy points. Williams hit another triple to push the lead to nine.

The lead eventually got as high as 13 before Stanford chipped away and eventually tied the game again before Dug McDaniel and Nkamhoua scored the next six points to put the game away.

Michigan will now play Texas Tech on Friday and notched a top-70 Kenpom win. U-M also avoids a three-game winning streak and adds a second win over a high-major opponent.

A win over Texas Tech would get Michigan off a 5-2 start. It would also give the Wolverines another quality win (No. 57 Kenpom). On Thursday, every starter scored in double figures led by McDaniel with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

Nkamhoua added 16 points, while Williams finished with 17 including four 3-pointers. Nimari Burnett added 10 and hit two triples. Tarris Reed also finished with 10 points and five boards.

It wasn’t perfect, but the 83-78 win was much-needed for the Wolverines, and here are the gut reactions.

Gut reactions to Michigan basketball win over Stanford

  • Dug still needs to improve his defense, but Michigan doesn’t win this game without his shotmaking.
  • Olivier Nkamhoua played exactly how he needed to. He attacked the basket and didn’t settle for so many 3-pointers.
  • Terrance Williams delivered one of his best performances. He had a huge hand in the win, especially with the way he closed the first half. Totally got U-M back in it.
  • The slow starts have to stop.
  • Turnovers are still an issue and probably will be all season.
  • This was a good win, especially given the circumstances.
  • Down 14, facing a third-straight loss, it was gut-check time and Michigan basketball showed a lot of mental toughness.
  • That’s a good sign moving forward.
  • Go Blue!
Home/Michigan Basketball