Game 4: Middle Tennessee at Michigan Recap

Dusty May is focused on the process — right now and always — and it’s clear that he’s still figuring out how to best deploy his new-look roster. He’s treating November like a chemistry lab, not someone focused on maximizing scoring margins or hunting perfection.

The Wolverines started their third different lineup in their first four games — a group that had played two possessions together before this game, per CBB Analytics. In the first half, they played nine different players for at least nine minutes.

The Wolverines did their job, covered the KenPom spread, and knocked off Middle Tennessee, 86-61, on Wednesday night, but the performance lacked some polish and cohesion and was as disjointed as you’d expect from a team juggling so many lineups.

Michigan never found a rhythm offensively in the first half, then turned around and won the second half by 19 points. U-M excelled defensively throughout, but made five or fewer threes (5-of-25) for the third game in a row.

The Wolverines are admittedly still searching for their identity, best five players, and rotation. If an identity is emerging, it’s not the most glamorous one.

This team is built to win in the paint (50-12 tonight), defend inside the arc (62-34 2-point shooting advantage), pound the ball inside the arc, and get to the free-throw line (26-12 FTA gap).

It’s a team designed to overwhelm with depth and size, and a roster that has the depth and size to accomplish that on most nights. It’s a recipe that’s far more reliable than easy on the eyes, unless the Wolverines can unlock just a bit more shooting, playmaking, and offensive spark.