Gut reactions to impressive road win for Michigan basketball

Michigan basketball desperately needed a win on Sunday and came away with a double-digit road win over Iowa.

You never know what you’re going to get from this Michigan basketball team. But in a big spot, as a road underdog, the Wolverines put together one of their best performances of the year.

Leading by two at the half, it seemed like Michigan basketball was headed toward another close game which has been a death knell for the Wolverines this season.

But instead of another close game, Olivier Nkamhoua and U-M had other ideas. After not scoring in the first half, Nkamhoua wound up with a double-double scoring 12 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and handing out two assists.

There was a key 11-0 run for the Wolverines early in the second half. Nimari Burnett hit two quick 3-pointers, followed by a Nkamhoua trey. Then, Dug McDaniel hit Nkamhoua for the alley-oop, and all of a sudden, the Wolverines were leading by nine.

Another trey by Nkamhoua and a make by Terrance Williams, who hit a couple of times from deep in the first half, pushed the lead to 18. The final was 90-80 but Michigan basketball was in control and notched its second double-digit win over a top-60 team on the road.

Here are the gut reactions.

Gut reactions from Michigan basketball win over Iowa

• Tarris Reed was dominant. Getting 19 points and six boards is a winning formula. He also made four straight free throws at one point. Big-time performance.
• The Wolverines shot 55 percent on 2-point attempts. Iowa has struggled to defend the rim and that proved to be true on Sunday.
• Will Tschetter just produces. Love watching that dude play.
• Tray Jackson was important off the bench. It was good to see his shot falling at least at the free throw line.
• T-Will helped set the tone with his early 3s.
• Dug McDaniel struggled from the field but dished out seven assists and scored 11 points (all in the second half). It wasn’t his best performance, but it was a mature performance.
• Lots of Michigan basketball fans left this team for dead.
• But if U-M can beat Florida, it could be 8-5 heading into the final 18 games of Big Ten play, with a decent shot at making the tournament. It has two likely Quadrant-1 wins after all.
• Just a gutsy win all around.
• Go Blue!