Michigan Men’s basketball team did not like losing to the biggest rival Michigan State, seeing the home court streak end and know that this is the last game for the year at the Crisler Center. So they took out the anger against the Nebraska Cornhuskers last night 82-53 on national TV. This game was over in the first 15 minutes as Wolverines had a 20 point margin over the Huskers and Nebraska never recovered or came close.
Michigan nights are very cold sometimes, however, the Wolverines could do no wrong as they ended up with a shooting % of 53 and a 54 % of three-point shots. Ignas Brazdeikis was 4-5 on his three-point attempts however Jon Teske came away with the nights scoring crown with 22 points and rang up 3 3 point baskets. As hot as the Wolverines were Nebraska was frigid shooting 34% for the night and three starters all had zeros at the end of the first half.
Things in the second half remained the same as the first with a couple of changes by both teams. Michigan playing with Charles Matthews (who was honored before the game) sitting with the ankle injury remained red hot to expand the lead from the first half. For Nebraska, things got much worse in that the three starters James Palmer, Isaiah Roby, and Thomas Allen were benched for the first 8 minutes as coach Tim Miles wanted to get the bench players to show the starters how to hustle during a game.
Bench player Nana Akenten led the Huskers in scoring with 11 and then he was injured and had to leave the game and Thomas Allen suffered a significant injury so that left two empty seats for the beaten Nebraska team. With the score lopsided you saw both teams empty the bench with freshman Colin Castleton made noise with his 11 points and having the starters on the bench cheering them on.
If the Wolverines can play like this for the next two regular season games they may have a shot to share the Big Ten Championship. Michigan will travel to Maryland on Tuesday evening and then play the Spartans in the rematch in East Lansing. Michigan’s record after this win moves them to 25-4 with a conference record of 14-4.