Michigan vs Texas Southern Pick: East Region Round One, March 20th

Michigan vs Texas Southern Pick – Saturday, March 20th – East Region Round One: SWAC Champion Texas Southern defeated Mount St Mary’s on Thursday in the 16th seed play-in game by a score of 60-52. They took over in the 2nd half outscoring the Mountaineers 40-22. After hitting just 27.6% from three this year, they went 6 for 14 from distance. 6’9 Junior John Walker the 3rd went for 19 points 9 rebounds. He averaged 12 points 5.4 rebounds on the season. Leading scorer Michael Weathers had an off night going just 3 for 11 from the field for 8 points, six rebounds four assists. On the season he averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds 3.6 assists. The other Tiger that averaged double digits, 6’9 Junior Karl Nicholas went for 6 points 7 rebounds. He averaged 11.3 points 7.0 rebounds on the season. Texas Southern played very clean basketball in their victory over the Mount. After turning the ball over an average of 16 times they only had 5 turnovers in the play in win. They average 74.8 points per game, on the season, hit 45% from behind the arc and 69.9% from the foul line.

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Michigan did not look strong down the stretch. They closed the season with their 3rd loss in 5 games, 68-67, to Ohio State in the Big 10 SemiFinals. Michigan shot 35.1% from the field, its second-worst single-game shooting this season. They shot 48.3% on the season. Hunter Dickinson, the 7’1 255-pound Wolverine leading scorer and the Big Ten freshman of the year, left less than two minutes into the game with an injured right elbow and returned with some extra padding. He finished with 21 points, eight boards. On the season, he averaged 14.2 points per game with 6.9 boards. Michigan suffered a significant blow when they lost senior forward Isaiah Livers to a stress fracture in his foot. His status for the balance of the tournament is questionable, and he has been ruled out for the opening weekend. Wake Forest graduate transfer Chaundee Brown will likely replace him. Brown can slash and get to the bucket. He averages 7.7 points and hits 46.5% from the field and 39.5% from the line. It will be very difficult to replace Isaiah Livers. He averaged 13.1 points 6.0r and hit 43.4% from three. On the year, Michigan scored 76.3 points per game and hit 38.7% from three. They were also strong from the line cashing at 77.7%.