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"They're so much further ahead of everyone right now, it's not even funny," one opposing Big Ten coach said, referencing their experience. "What they were doing at the end of the year has carried over." …
"They have an alpha male at the point in Simpson," a Big Ten assistant said. "He holds those guys to what I would call a gold standard. He doesn't allow them to slip. When they don't do something correctly, he makes sure they know about it."
"Zavier just plays his ass off," another opposing coach said. "He may be smaller, but he's dialed in every possession, and they put a lot of length around him. He's a junkyard dog."

This is worth noting.  It may or may not be true, but the star so far this season is Ignas Brazdeikis.  Every time in tough games they have gone to him and he has rattled off about 10 points to create a lead.  His shots around the basket almost always go in.  He has an incredible touch, and he is very good at the 3-pointer too.  He plays defense.  Obviously, his moxie is something else for a freshman.

Northwestern played as well as they could and they made some incredible shots.  The arena was in a frenzy and it was a tough away game for Michigan.

Z is good, but he almost lost this game for the Wolverines.  During an important period near the end he missed several 3-pointers.  He was 0-5 from 3 for the game.  At the end--there is the free throw problem too--he was not in.  At that point in the very tight game it was not about putting anyone on notice or making Northwestern respect the shot, the only thing that counts is a hot shooter who can make them.  Simpson made very poor decisions.

It was not the first time this year he has thrown up bricks.  Sorry to say, it appears his outside shooting has not improved.

In this clutch road win Jordan Poole showed a lot.  Charles Matthews always brings an all-around game and a tough attitude.  Jon Teske looked almost athletic and he is really coming into his own.  Eli Brooks too made some baskets and his ball-handling has been excellent.  Isaiah Livers also is a versatile and important player.

On the downside, Austin Davis is still more or less a flop and 2 unproductive minutes a game for the rest of the season promises to be a problem.  So far, Brandon Johns is not a contributor, and while David DeJulius looks like a player down the road it is going to be tough to fill in for Simpson and be effective for a few minutes a game.  Adrien Nunez, the anticipated cool shooter from outside, has been anything but.  Colin Castleton--you can see why he chose Michigan--is rail-thin and isn't needed if Davis can pull his weight at all.

Iggy is very much the savior in terms of this year.  They would have been good without him, but they are very good now with him.

No opponent yet has shown an ability to stop Brazdeikis.  If and when that happens, all these other players, including Z--who can certainly drive or dish it--will need to be at their best.

In the next game, South Carolina can be good but this does not appear to be their year (4-4) and Michigan is at home.  After that there is a lull in the schedule.

This team won 14 in a row at the end of last season and in tournaments and they are really good again this year.  They deserve attention.  It is too bad about the egg laid by the football team.  The bball team is good.