He made five of his first six shots - all from at least 17 feet including a pair of contested three pointers - and scored 12 points in the first eight minutes. ![]() Bonaventure, Thomas and the Tigers started the game shooting well. In a stark contrast to its opening-round game against St. Franz Wagner made his final four shots of the contest for Michigan and finished with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Seven-foot-one starting center Hunter Dickinson was a handful in the paint, collecting 12 points and 11 rebounds. The duo combined for eight three pointers. Michigan was led by guards Eli Brooks and Chaundee Brown, who each scored 21 points despite averaging 9.2 and 7.4 points per game, respectively. LSU managed only 39.1 percent from the field (27 of 69) but led for more 23 minutes while outplaying Michigan for a majority of the evening. Like Thomas, Smart’s scoring total (27) was two shy of a career high, while he grabbed nine rebounds and gave six assists with only one turnover. Smart, a junior guard from Baton Rouge, was also 10-of-23 shooting and made all five of his free throws. He became the sixth LSU player to score 30 points in an NCAA Tournament game. He made all seven of his free throws and played all 40 minutes. Thomas, an All-SEC freshman guard, had 19 of his 30 points in the first half and finished 10-of-23 shooting. Michigan (22-4), which led 43-42 at halftime, made 53.8 percent of its field goals, gained its largest lead midway through the second half and pulled away to advance to the Sweet 16. 8-seeded LSU (19-10), playing in the second round for the second-straight tournament, led by as many as nine in the first half (30-21) and six (51-45) early in the second half before succumbing to the Wolverines. LSU’s Cameron Thomas and Javonte Smart combined for 57 points in the NCAA Second Round, but it wasn’t enough to hold off top-seeded Michigan, 86-78, on Monday night in Lucas Oil Stadium. He won a championship last year, he won the offseason this year, now it’s time to see what he can do next.INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Howard has done a great job embracing competition and building a roster that can compete for championships. This year will be the first that truly feels like Michigan basketball is entering a new era. In year two there were more new faces (hello Hunter Dickinson), but enough key returnees that it didn’t feel very different. Year one of Howard’s tenure was effectively a John Beilein team with a new coach running the show. But even if Hunter Dickinson is the exact same player he was last season, he’s a true candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year, and talented enough to lead this team to a Final Four. There is another level to unlock for the big man, which could include an outside shot, more playmaking opportunities out of the post, and a more heavily utilized right hand. ![]() Dickinson exploded onto the college basketball scene early last season, and finished the year as an All-American, averaging 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. I haven’t even mentioned Michigan’s National Player of the Year candidate yet – Hunter Dickinson. Headlined by projected 2022 lottery pick Caleb Houstan, and McDonald’s All Americans Moussa Diabate, and Kobe Bufkin, this group has the firepower to contribute immediately. Prior to Emoni Bates’ late Memphis commitment, this Wolverine class was the consensus #1 ranked group in the country. Eli has started 69 career games and Brandon Johns stepped into the starting lineup in last year’s NCAA Tournament en route to an Elite Eight appearance.Īrguably the most important additions heading into this season will be Michigan’s (fabulous?) freshman class. John Beilein stalwarts Eli Brooks and Brandon Johns each return for their 5th and 4th season respectfully as Wolverines. In comes Coastal Carolina transfer Devante Jones, one of the most versatile backcourt players in college basketball. But Howard has managed to win the offseason for the second consecutive year, navigating the transfer portal, the recruiting trail, and his own returning roster all masterfully. Most programs would expect a down year when tasked to replace a group like this. That’s a group that combined to play a collective 3,000+ minutes last season for the Wolverines, over 54% of the total team’s minutes played. Michigan Basketball head coach Juwan Howard Joshua Bickel-USA TODAY SportsĪs Juwan Howard heads into year three at the helm of Michigan Basketball, pre-season expectations remain high despite losing significant contributors from last year’s Big Ten regular-season champions.įranz Wagner was selected in the lottery, Isaiah Livers is off to the NBA, and key transfers Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown are chasing down their own professional basketball dreams.
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