For the fourth time this season and the third straight game, Michigan basketball scored at least 100 points in the 101-61 win over Rutgers on Saturday to open Big Ten play.
Rutgers isn't a great team. The Scarlet Knights might be the worst in the Big Ten. But anytime you beat any Big Ten team by 40, it's impressive.
The Wolverines have made it look so easy. That's another thing that's impressive. Michigan started the game missing its first seven 3-point attempts. Yet, it didn't matter. They still grabbed control of the game. Then, when they hit 11 of the next 17 from deep, it went from lopsided to a laugher.
Only three Michigan basketball players were on the floor for 20 minutes or more. Morez Johnson scored 22 points in 24 minutes. He was 9 for 11 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3-point range. He also had four rebounds, three steals, and block.
11 different players scored. Six different Wolverines were in double figures and they assisted on 26 of 39 field goals. It was an all-around dominant effort and here are three things we learned.
This team doesn't get complacent
It might be too early for this definitive a statement. However, after a week off, and every college basketball expert saying your stuff doesn't stink on national TV, it would be easy to overlook Rutgers and not bring the "A" game.
That didn't happen. It took a minute for some shots to fall, but the defensive intensity was there from the jump. Michigan dominated in transition, too, outscoring Rutgers 41-4.
Whether it was in the paint, the 3-point line, or transition, Michigan dominated every facet of this game to the point that it was over by halftime.
It was the kind of performance you'd expect from a No. 1 team. Michigan had more dunks and layups than Rutgers had made baskets. That's mind-boggling and a credit to Dusty May, who essentially said the team is two-deep at every position, so players can't afford to relax.
Love it.
The defense continues to wow
Michigan continues to hold teams to their worst offensive performance of the season, and according to Dylan Burkhardt of UM Hoops, the Wolverines did that for the sixth straight game against Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights scored 0.83 points per possession. Michigan's 2-point defense dominated. The Wolverines forced turnovers (22 percent of Rutgers possessions) and held Rutgers to 27 percent from 3-point range.
The Wolverines have the best defense in college basketball (No.1 via Kenpom). That's the reason they have a great chance to win the national championship, and Saturday was another reminder of that.
Michigan basketball is insanely deep
May mentioned it with his comment that Michigan has two guys at every position, but the depth is insane. Winters Grady, a true freshman, came off the bench to bury two triples. L.J. Cason, Trey McKenney, and Grady, three underclassmen, who don't start, combined for 30 points.
The only players who didn't score in the game were Will Tschetter and Howard Eisley Jr. Tschetter had some good looks, too. They just didn't fall.
McKenney, Roddy Gayle, and Tschetter are good enough to start for plenty of Big Ten teams. Not all, but definitely some. Winters Grady could be playing a lot more, too.
It feels like a luxury, but those players will come in handy over a grueling 20-game Big Ten schedule. There are still non-conference games against Villanova and Duke, too. Whatever happens, this team will be battle tested, but one thing to stuck out again on Saturday was the talent coming off the bench.