A big step forward for Michigan basketball with its 102-67 win at Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — One step back, two steps forward for Michigan basketball. 

Juwan Howard’s young team was picked to win the Big Ten this year, but that didn’t absolve them of growing pains. That comes with the territory when freshmen are on the floor, no matter how talented, and Howard himself expected it. 

RELATED

• Michigan basketball instant recap: Wolverines thrash Nebraska, 102-67

• Wolverine TV: Juwan Howard, Michigan players react to blowout win at Nebraska

But this team was always going to need plenty from some of the upperclassmen, too. On Tuesday night, Brandon Johns got his shot and made the most of it. 

The senior scored seven of Michigan’s first 11 points, finished with 20 and played with confidence on both ends in a 102-67 drubbing of a poor Nebraska team in Lincoln. The Wolverines had their way with the Cornhuskers early, and Fred Hoiberg’s team didn’t respond. 

“I have never been a part of one like this where we just quit competing,” Hoiberg admitted. “It is so discouraging. Missed shots really affected our energy all over the floor. 

“After playing a game last week and a couple days ago at Indiana where the shots were not falling in, we competed and guarded and rebounded and followed the game plan. Today, we were completely out of it.”

But Michigan helped make them that way. The Wolverines attacked the paint, creating room for the shooters. They made 15 three-pointers despite Eli Brooks going only 2-for-8 and missing his first five, a great sign. 

An offense that had been stagnant in blowout losses to Arizona and North Carolina early in the year has found its groove the last two games, thanks to some unselfish play. The ball never stuck no matter which lineup was on the floor, and the looks couldn’t have been much better. 

“I was extremely happy to see the way how the ball was just moving,” Howard said. “It was just popping. And then it was great to see our guys sharing the game. There were times where we passed up an open shot for a better shot when a guy was open either in the corner or on the slot. We did a really good job of driving the basketball, not just settling for jumpers.

“We’re not just focusing on threes; we’re [also] focusing on just playing the right way, and it’s good just to see. That 25 assists — that’s big. I’m not going to ignore that. It needs to be said. It needs to be commended for our young guys and also our entire team … just playing for one another.”

Michigan ball movement takes another jump

As Michigan sophomore guard Zeb Jackson (five points, five rebounds) put it, there was complete trust in one another. They were more connected and played well (and hard) together. 

Johns has been a target of an overzealous fan base at times after struggling earlier in the year. Sophomore Terrance Williams, too, hasn’t been consistent. That those two were the catalysts Wednesday – not only leading the team with 20 points each (Williams scored 22) but making the right plays ­— wasn’t lost on their coach. 

“Brandon came in and played some big minutes for us. His production was as great as you can ask for a young man who’s been competing hard,” Howard praised. “At times, when things haven’t gone his way, he’s always stuck in there. It’s really good to see … not just when the ball’s going in the basket but just to have an overall good balance of play on both ends of the ball and that was as solid as it can be.

“What Terrance did — he came in and gave us a big lift when Brandon went out of the game. He made shots from the outside, but he also made plays, and the plays he made were not just on the offensive end. It’s also just being able to defend and also battle on the boards.”

Williams finished with five rebounds and made all three of his triples. 

Hunter Dickinson shows up big again

Sophomore center Hunter Dickinson played with much better effort for a second straight game, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds. When the Cornhuskers didn’t double, he made them pay with his unstoppable lefty hook. When they overplayed that, he finished with his right hand, a new weapon this year. 

And when they did double, Dickinson did a better job being patient, not panicking and finding the shooters out of the post. 

One of them, Michigan freshman Caleb Houstan, was a beneficiary. He’s recaptured his swagger after looking a step slow on both ends early in the season. He made four of his seven triples and notched 16 points, six boards and three assists. 

He’s now shooting 38.3 percent from long range after a slow start, more of what was expected of the sharpshooter.

“His confidence has never left,” Howard insisted. “It’s early in the season, and I’ve told you this before: you’ll have games where your shot doesn’t fall. We have a lot of season to play, and I want him to keep shooting the basketball. 

“But it’s not just the shooting. It’s also other parts of the game that he affects that is important for us, and that’s the defensive side of the ball. I’m asking a young man who’s just fresh out of high school to come in and defend. He’s probably never done some of the things that we’re asking, but he’s embracing everything that’s been asked.”

And improving, as is the rest of this group. 

Tougher challenges are ahead, starting Saturday vs. Minnesota, but Tuesday was another step in the right direction.