Michigan MBB Downs Virginia Tech in Fort Myers Tip-Off Opener

Michigan men’s basketball (5-1) went on a trip to Florida for the Fort Myers Tip-Off this week. In a matchup with Virginia Tech on Monday night, the Wolverines came out on top 75-63. Neither team could pull away in the first half, but Michigan was able to clean things up on both ends of the floor in the second to get the job done.

Michigan MBB Downs Virginia Tech

Michigan’s achilles heel (turnovers) came back during the first half as it gave the ball away 11 times. The Wolverines brought the number down to six in the second half. Michigan head coach Dusty May said his team’s defense took some pressure off the other end of the floor.

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“We’re learning a lot about ourselves through these experiences,” May said. “Until you’ve been in these battles with guys, you don’t really know how they’re going to respond to certain things. I do think we tightened up defensively in the last 15 minutes. 

“We were able to change our coverages up a few times, and then our guys communicated and adapted well on the fly and came up with some really big 50-50 loose basketballs in the last 5 or 10 minutes that gave us a little bit of a margin of breathing room on the offensive end when we weren’t really clicking.”

Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. had a game-high and season-high 20 points on Monday. Gayle Jr. is tied with fellow guard Tre Donaldson for the team lead in points per game (13). May said Gayle Jr. is finding his groove.

“Roddy is streaming together some consistency, (and) he’s been awesome in practice,” May said. “He’s a great leader. When he speaks his teammates listen because he’s about the team, and he deserves this success. He works hard. He’s doing it in a lot of different ways.”

Michigan forward Will Tschetter was second on the team with 10 points, and it all came off the bench. Tschetter provided a spark when the Wolverines were having trouble getting a bucket, but May said he does more than what a box score shows.

“Our bench was awesome,” May said. “… Will started it. He had a couple shot fakes around the rim (and) made a big three. His communication – he’s a guy that can connect his group because he’s always talking, he’s loud (and) clear. Those things are very valuable when we’re trying to change coverages and play different lineups, to have someone out there that can really be the voice behind our defense. We defended well tonight, and we’re guarding the three well.”

The maize and blue are set to play No. 22 Xavier next on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on FS1.

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