Michigan Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Wolverines to beat Purdue at home
By Adam Childs
3. Get Wagner more involved
Franz Wagner got a late start to the season because of a broken wrist suffered in preseason practice. Since his return, he has shown flashes of being the player the Wolverines hoped they were getting. Unfortunately, it has been sandwiched by games in which he seems to be non-existent.
Against Iowa and Oregon, he scored 18 and 21 points respectively and showed he could not down the outside shot. He has also shown he can take his defender off the dribble and create his own shot. He is the type of player the Wolverines really need to get involved if they want to win. Especially with Livers out, Wagner is the type of mismatch that Michigan must take advantage of.
Zavier Simpson needs to find a way to get him going in the offense. Find him open on the outside on dribble drives or get him slashing to the rim and get him the ball.
We have outlined how Michigan has struggled to score the ball, and Wagner is a guy who can heat up and help carry the team. Teske has been great inside, but with Brooks and DeJulius in cold spells from outside they need to find the guy able to get his own shot from anywhere on the court and that is Wagner. Get him involved and in the game and he can be the go-to scorer against the Boilermakers.
Michigan has struggled to really find a groove since the Bahamas and it has shown in their offense. Fortunately, they are playing a team that is having problems scoring the ball also. This is a perfect recipe for the Wolverines to find themselves on both sides of the ball.
Next. 5 biggest questions for rest of 2019-20 season. dark
If they can hit their shots early and pressure the Boilermaker shooters from the very beginning it will be a good sign for the Wolverines. Michigan does just that and picks up a big win at home against Purdue.