ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) With its lead shrinking and the opposing crowd buzzing, Iowa’s Mike Gesell stole the ball from Zak Irvin and went the other way for a layup. MI even out-rebounded Iowa, 43-35, and had 12 offensive rebounds to the Hawkeyes’ four. “We came out aggressive, and that was our game plan – to be the aggressor”.
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“This is part of the process, we’re going to really be good, whether it’s this year, next year or the year after, this is part of the process of getting better”, Beilein said.
They then went 10 straight possessions without scoring, struggling to cope with a MI zone defense, and the Wolverines (20-11, 10-8 Big Ten) sliced the lead to five with a run of 10 straight points.
MI closed the gap to 24-23 with 6:51 left before Uthoff hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 27-23. “They got out in transition, they did what they did and we answered as many times as possible”. The jury’s still out on how the tournaments will play out for Iowa basketball over the next few weeks, but… we’ll take this win as a much-needed sign of optimism. “Any postseason we can get, we’re going to embrace”.
The Wolverines will be without senior Caris LeVert who has been ruled out for the season after dealing with a nagging leg injury originally suffered on December 30.
The same issues that have haunted MI for stretches of Big Ten play reared their ugly head in the first half tonight.
“What team wouldn’t be hurt?”
“We have another opportunity”, Beilein said. “Win the next couple games”.
Also playing against the Hawkeyes tonight is that the favorite is a ideal 5-0 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams while the home squad is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
MI lost its first game played in March and now the Wolverines are low on options and answers.
The Hawkeyes shot 45.2 percent, making 28-of-62 field goals and eight 3-pointers.
MI was ranked No. 67 in the RPI after the game, according to rpiforecast.com.
“We have to make some repairs and we have to play better and we have to prove to people that we’re good enough to play in the NCAA tournament”, said MI coach John Beilein. “I don’t think there’s any question about that”. He said Uthoff’s sharp shooting made everyone look good.
There was hope in the first half as MI limped out of a 10-point hole to get within a point or two late in the half. “I just kept loading him up”.
The Michigan basketball team will wrap up the 2015-16 regular season today when they host No. 16 Iowa at Crisler Center. Adam Woodbury scored nine points with 11 rebounds.
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Michigan: Freshman Fred Wright-Jones, who has been a manager and practice player the entire season, was allowed to suit up for the game….
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