Michigan got exactly the response it needed Wednesday night.
A loss to UConn last Friday could have lingered, but the Wolverines answered with an 84-70 win over Marquette, and the turnaround started before halftime. After getting out to an early hole, Michigan ripped off a 20-5 run to close the first half, seized an eight-point lead, and kept building from there.
The biggest edge came where games often get decided: inside.
Michigan controlled the paint for most of the night, and the numbers told the story. The Wolverines finished with a 45-33 rebounding advantage, including nine offensive boards, while Marquette was held to 13-for-38 shooting on two-pointers. Michigan also outscored the Golden Eagles 36-22 in the paint.
Moustapha Thiam was a force on the glass with 12 rebounds, and JP Estrella once again made his presence felt on the offensive end of the floor with four offensive rebounds. The pair also combined for five blocks, helping turn the lane into a tough place for Marquette to operate.
“At some point people are going to do everything they can to try to keep JP Estrella from getting rebounds,” Mike Boynton Jr. said. “They may send two, which again, it’s going to be incumbent upon our guards to get in there and help.
Elliot had seven, Trey had five, and Roddy and Quinn both had four (rebounds). And if you get that now, you’re going to have a chance to really, really make a difference on the glass.”
Michigan’s interior defense also took away Marquette’s rhythm around the basket, and the Golden Eagles never found much comfort scoring in the lane. The Wolverines were especially locked in on Nigel James Jr., who was held scoreless and finished with more turnovers than assists.
“Once he beat the on-ball defender, we just switched it,” Cadeau said. “The big just stepped up, and the guy guarding the ball screen just switched onto the big. We got a lot better on that.”
It was the best defensive game Michigan’s new-look frontcourt has put together so far.
There were other encouraging signs, too. Cadeau looked sharp, while Trey McKenney continued to struggle. The rotation also appeared to tighten as the game wore on, another sign that Michigan is starting to settle into a clearer identity after the early-season bumps.
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