By Devin Voss | @DevinVoss23

Sports Capital Journalism Program

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – When Juwan Howard returned to the University of Michigan as its head basketball coach last season, he made it a point of emphasis to establish six pillars of success — discipline, family, all-in, sacrifice, trust, and accountability. The No. 1 seed Wolverines showcased a little bit of each pillar in their 82-66 victory Saturday over No. 16 seed Texas Southern, notching their 62nd all-time tournament win.

Michigan (21-4) will meet LSU in the second round.

Discipline was one key factor in Michigan’s win as the team played efficiently on both ends of the floor. On offense, the Wolverines shot at a terrific clip, making 48% of their shots, 35% from 3-point range. More impressive was their effort on the defensive end, holding Texas Southern to 36% (23-for-64) from the field, and a horrendous 8% (1-for-12) from beyond the arc.

At halftime, the Tigers shot only 28%, 0-for-5 from three. Recognizing the Tigers were not a great 3-point shooting team (28% through the regular season), the Wolverines clogged the paint, forcing Texas Southern to either make tough shots inside or take threes.

“You have to really be hitting on all cylinders when you’re in these games,” Texas Southern head coach Jim Jones said. “You’ve got to shoot about 48, 50 percent, take care of the ball, which we did tonight, but we just didn’t make the shots we needed to.”

The other key factors were family and sacrifice, which coincided with one another. Throughout the entirety of the game, the Wolverines took, and made, smart shots, which can be credited to their unselfish nature.

With 1:50 left in the first half, guard Mike Smith took the ball past half court and passed it to a lightly covered Eli Brooks, who delivered a pump fake and dished it to a wide-open Franz Wagner in the corner. Wagner could have taken the three, but he opted to deliver a cross court pass to the more open Smith, who took the shot. The Wolverines’ passive nature, always finding the open man, fueled, and electrified, their offense.

“Offensively, we did a really good job of sharing the basketball,” Howard said. “If you look at the numbers, each and every guy got an opportunity to shoot a shot when the shot is open, make a play for others.”

Michigan was all-in from tip as they started the first half with a 7-0 run and never let the Tigers see a glimpse of the lead, controlling the game for the full 40 minutes. At halftime the team totaled eight assists and eight of nine players in the rotation had at least one point towards the 42-24 lead. None of them had more than 10. By the end of the game, balance was exhibited throughout the stat sheet with four players in double figures in scoring and three with five or more assists, totaling 19 as a team.

“I like how we came out aggressive,” Smith said. “We played defense. We played really hard.”

Trust and accountability were established by Howard, who decided to run a nine-deep lineup with players like Terrance Williams II and Zeb Jackson seeing some of the most action they have seen all season. Without senior leader Isaiah Livers out indefinitely with a foot injury, other players needed to step up in his absence. Graduate transfer Mike Smith was one player who stepped up, scoring 18 points, dishing five assists, and grabbing four boards.

“Coach during practice is instilling confidence in everybody that we’re fine [without Livers],” Smith said. “Without him, it’s been tough, but we’ve been adjusting, and I think we’ve done a tremendous job so far.”

Howard also put a lot of faith in Big Ten Offensive Freshman of the Year Hunter Dickinson. The young big man, something reminiscent of Howard during his time at Michigan, was given a plethora of looks in the post, going 6-of-7 for 16 points, two rebounds and three blocks. Dickenson also helped direct both the offense and defense, getting players in position and occasionally calling plays.

“The key today is just being ready to understand that there are going to be times when teams double, making the right decision with the basketball, with the high IQ that he [Dickinson] has,” Howard said.

With each pillar — discipline, family, all-in, sacrifice, trust, and accountability — came success for the Wolverines, and Howard, who nabbed his first win in an NCAA Tournament. It is these very pillars which catapulted Michigan to the No.1 seed. Chances are it is these pillars that will continue to push them through the tournament.

“Obviously the job’s not done,” Smith said. “We have to lock in and get ready for the next game.”