Joe Rexrode breaks down the film to see how Michigan scored 44 points in the paint. The answer: a lot of dunks and layups in the halfcourt:
So you’ve got 12 baskets, 11 dunks or layups [in the first half]. Just two off MSU turnovers in transition. Three more in transition off MSU misses. And six dunks/layups in the halfcourt, against an MSU defense that did a great job off contesting three-point shots (U-M was 0-for-12) but obviously had some leaks. U-M also got free throws when Mitch McGary drove past Nix and got to the rim….
But when you add it all up, it’s amazing how far off Izzo was with his initial assessment (which didn’t seem all that far off at the time, by the way). Michigan had 25 baskets and 21 were dunks or layups. Three were jump shots and one was a short hook shot. Seven of the 21 shots at the rim came in transition, and just three of those came directly off MSU turnovers. U-M had none in the second half until Burke won it at Appling’s expense. So the Wolverines got 14 dunks/layups out of their halfcourt offense
The full play-by-play breakdown is worth a read as well. (Photo: Dustin Johnston)
