Michigan Men\'s Basketball off to Good Start

The University of Michigan Wolverines playing in a newly refurbished Crisler Arena defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 76 - 66 this past Saturday.   The 14th ranked Michigan Wolverines were taking on the Big 12 Iowa State Cyclones in an early season match-up.   Michigan jumped out to a 34 - 25 halftime lead with some balanced scoring from freshman Trey Burke 11 points and sophomore Tim Hardaway Jr. with 9 points.   The Wolverines then went on a 21 - 5 tear to start the 2nd half to lead Iowa State by 22 points. 

Head Coach John Beilein is still learning the right combinations of players to get the most of out his team.  After jumping out to a 22 point lead the Wolverines then slowed down on defense to let the Cyclones cut the lead back to 8 points near the end of the game.   Beilein got some solid play from the big men Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford. 

The Wolverines who have already started the season by playing some great competition with the likes of Duke, UCLA, Memphis and Virginia will see the results latter in the season.  Michigan can now put at least three men on the floor who are 6' 10" or taller which will give them some low post strength. 

Michigan is starting a younger line-up this season and will only be losing two seniors who are providing the leadership in Zack Novak and Stu Douglass.  The Wolverines will have their work cut out for them playing in the Big Ten Conference and having the #1 ranked team in the country just down the road in Columbus, Ohio.   The Ohio State Buckeyes will be the test for the Wolverines when they travel to Columbus on January 29th and then get them at home on Feburary 18 at Crisler Arena. 

I believe that the Wolverines will need to finish in the top 3 teams at the end of the Big Ten season and have a strong Big Ten Tournament run in order to get a good NCAA seed for the Tournament that will start in earnest on March 15 - 18, 2012 with second round games.  I see many positive things happening in Ann Arbor this basketball season.   

Michigan has also landed 3 prize recruits for next year in Mitch McGary at 6'10" who is playing an extra year of basketball at a prep school.  Also coming abroad is Glenn Robinson III son of the Purdue star from a few years ago.   The third is start point guard Nik Stauskas from Southborough, MA.