Michigan had five scorers in double digits including Nik Stauskas with a team high 25 points. It was an offensive explosion from the Wolverines following a game against Duke that couldn't have been any more different. In this one Michigan shot 16 of 26 from 3pt, had assists on 26 of its 36 baskets, and turned the ball over just seven times.
Still, with everything else going right, it was hard to take your eyes off the big guy in the middle. Mitch McGary has been a lot of things to this team in his short career, but in this game he flashed bits of all of those. He finished the game with nine rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a block while committing just two turnovers and two fouls. On almost every one of his eight defensive rebounds he grabbed the ball and immediately led the break, finding his teammates for open looks on the perimeter and doing his part to set up a great outside shooting day for the Wolverines. He even added 12 points on seven shots and was 2 of 3 from the line.
When Jordan Morgan or Jon Horford came in the difference was palpable. The team feeds off McGary's energy, and as he continues to work back into game shape, Michigan looks better and better.
Michigan had a single game record 16 made three pointers, and no one shot them better on the day than Stauskas who hit 6 of 9 and 5 of 5 from the line. He looked night and day better than he did earlier in the week against Duke.
Really the only player to disappoint on offense was Caris LeVert, who only managed four points — the only starter in single digits — on four shots. He hit both his free throws and contributed a couple steals, but overall it was a quiet day.
Both Michigan freshmen ended the game with 14 points. Derrick Walton hit all three of his three point shots and Irvin hit 3 of 5. Glenn Robinson III also had a quietly efficient day with 17 points on 9 shots, four assists and four rebounds.
This was always a game Michigan was going to win, but after a rough couple outings, the Wolverines needed something to get excited about. One hundred seven points at home and a school record for three pointers made in a game is a good way to feel good. Doing it all thanks to the play of Mitch McGary creating opportunities for everyone is a good sign going forward.