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The Michigan Wolverines had just one game this week: a win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. While it took them a bit to dust off the cobwebs of not playing for almost two weeks, Juwan Howard and company still left Lincoln with their second win of the Big Ten schedule and maintained their undefeated start. Here are some of the highlights of their performance.
No. 5: Franz Wagner makes it rain
.@umichbball is turning it up now.
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) December 26, 2020
This time it's Franz from deep: pic.twitter.com/rq7I6fydoO
Michigan needed a spark to help pull them out of a rough start to the game. Wagner provided just that early in the second half. He scored 7 of his 20 points in the first 5:30 of the second half to help jumpstart the team. The sophomore led the team in scoring and shot over 50% from the field in the win. He also nearly finished with a double-double bringing down 9 boards to boot.
No. 4: Eli Brooks with a beautiful extra pass
Nice extra pass here from @EliJBrooks to a wide-open Mike Smith for three. Saved the play, and got three points out of it. pic.twitter.com/Yuz3oaO2Cu
— Daniel Plocher (@DanPlocher) December 27, 2020
Michigan started off a little sluggish, and this play probably should have been a turnover. Isaiah Livers dangerously passed the ball across the court to Brooks who was trying to help by cutting into the lane. Brooks catches it, and redirects it to a wide open Mike Smith for three. It was one of four assists for the guard on the night.
No. 3 Hunter Dickinson and-one
Too much down low. @H_Dickinson24 muscles this bucket home to put the game out of reach and push No. 19 @umichbball to 7-0: pic.twitter.com/Z1NyQNLIpD
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 26, 2020
Dickinson has been a force in the post all season, and no one has figure out how to slow down the freshman phenom. Nebraska cut the lead to only 6 points late in the second half, and then the Michigan big man called game in the final moments. This putback, his 15th rebound of the game, helped him earn his second double-double of the year.
No. 2: Isaiah Livers throws down an alley-oop
Back and forth action in Lincoln!@Isaiah__02 puts the ⭐ on the for @umichbball. pic.twitter.com/Qbk1FzyGgZ
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 25, 2020
Brooks gets in the way with a nice steal and starts the fastbreak. Isaiah Livers runs the floor better than most in the Big Ten and he gets rewarded with a lob from Books. Livers scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and tallied 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the win.
No. 1: Dickinson rejects a massive dunk
Dickinson met him at the rim.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 25, 2020
The denial is a #B1GStandout for @umichbball.
@AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/OYFFSOfOKv
Nebraska junior Trey McGowens went up for a highlight reel dunk after blowing by Livers, but he was denied at the rim by the Wolverines 7’1” standout. Dickenson has been one of if not the most impressive freshman in the country through the first few weeks. This play will be added to a long list of reasons why he could be NBA ready after just one year in Ann Arbor.