Recap, takeaways from Michigan’s win over Presbyterian College

The Michigan Wolverines defeated visiting Presbyterian College on Saturday by a score of 86-44 to move to 9-3 on the season heading into an eight-day layoff between games. It was a dominant effort against a cupcake team as a late non-conference tuneup, but Michigan walked out with a bit of a concern.

Forward Isaiah Livers left the game in the first half with a muscle strain that appeared to be a lower-body injury. He returned to the bench after being evaluated in the locker room, but was ruled out for the rest of the game. Guard Eli Brooks was also briefly tended to by trainers, but was able to return. Forward Brandon Johns (illness) also did not suit up for this one.

As far as the guys on the court go, Brooks led the way in scoring with 16 points, while Jon Teske had 15 points and seven rebounds. David DeJulius also had another solid showing off the bench with 12 points.

For most of the game, Presbyterian shot well under 25 perfect from the floor and never had a consistent plan of attack offensively. Michigan did not play poorly, but could have sleepwalked through this game and still won comfortably. The Wolverines would go into the locker room at the half with a 38-15 lead over the Blue Hose.

Takeaways

• Livers’ injury does not seem to be all that serious, at least in that he may be good to go eight days from now if need be. If not, a muscle strain should seemingly be ready to return from Jan. 5 in East Lansing.
• Juwan Howard played just about every single lineup combination you could possibly imagine in this game and the best indicator that can be given on how this one went was that 10 players saw the floor in the first half and the 11th, walk-on CJ Baird, entered the game with well over 15 minutes to go in the game.
• Livers and Johns being out in this game created some more opportunities for guys like Adrien Nunez and Cole Bajema, who both saw first half action in this game. Both played fairly well and comfortable out there.
• In a game where just about everything else went right, Zavier Simpson and some of the turnovers were still a bit of a thing. Not enough to be concerned about in the vacuum of one game, but the nitpickers will find it frustrating.
• Everyone that was available played. One of those days.

Next up for Michigan is one final home non-conference home game against UMass Lowell on Dec. 29 before opening up 2020’s run of conference games at Michigan State on Jan. 5.