The Michigan Wolverines basketball team, under new Head Coach Dusty May, started the season with a win in dominant fashion, beating the Cleveland State Vikings by 38 points on Monday night. And they did it minus starter Rubin Jones, who sat out due to an injury. It’s probably way too early to say this, but yes the Wolverines look like a team that could have a long run into March. Sure it was Cleveland State who plays in the Horizon League. However the Vikings finished with over twenty wins last season and even won against Oakland University, a team that beat Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
It’s definitely a new look Michigan team under May, who saw his team shoot lights out, making 39 out of 57 shots on the night (68.4%) including 10 of 18 from behind the three point arc (55.6%). With just one returning player in the starting lineup from last season (Nimari Burnett), the Wolverines were in control from the start. Going up 8-2 on the Vikings, they never trailed in the game.
Coach May ’s transition offense pushed the ball up the court after each defensive stop and had the Wolverines find 28 fast break points in the game (compared to the Vikings 4). With the faster paced offense, Michigan scored 54 points by half time. Of course shooting the ball well also helped the Maize and Blue put up that many points in the first twenty minutes of the game. Led by transfer Danny Wolf with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the first half, Michigan had doubled Cleveland State in points at the break.
A second half performance that was just as impressive as the first, the Wolverines continued to get fast break points and stops on defense. Michigan had eight block shots on the night, three each from their two seven-footers Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf.
Cleveland State couldn’t find an answer to slow down a Michigan team that so many of its players were playing well. In the end, the Wolverines finished with six players scoring in double figures led by Danny Wolf with 19 points. Wolf also had his first double-double of his Wolverines career as he grabbed 13 rebounds, leading all players in that category as well. Cleveland State had four players who scored seven points each in the game.
The Wolverines first game of the year gave fans something to be excited about. It also provided the coaching staff some insight into areas to work on, like turnovers in which the Wolverines had 16 for the game. As they continue to improve and get used to playing together, stats such as turnovers should go down. The other area that this team will need to work on is their free throw shooting. Maybe it was first game jitters, but for the game Michigan shot 13-22 (59%) from the line, something they will need to improve upon to give them the edge in close games.
Michigan’s next game comes on the road and against a power five conference opponent, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Wolverines (1-0) will play the Demon Deacons (1-0) on Sunday in Greensboro, NC. Cleveland State (0-1) will return home and host Baldwin Wallace (0-0) on Wednesday.
Final Score: Michigan 101 – Cleveland State 53
Story and Photos By Aaron J. Thornton
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