Juwan Howard explains play that led to game-tying 3-pointer from Hunter Dickinson

After Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson delivered a 3-point shot to save the Wolverines’ season on Sunday against Wisconsin, coach Juwan Howard was in just as much awe as everyone else. The triple came as time expired and forced overtime, where Michigan came out on top 87-79.

The play kept the Wolverine’s hopes of making the NCAA Tournament alive, and they are currently among the “next four out” according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. In his postgame press conference, Howard explained what he was thinking when drawing up the play.

“I drew up a play where Joey (Baker) was going to be the first option coming off of the screen and then Hunter would be the second option,” Howard said. “Terrance Williams Jr., hell of a pass. I’ll just say that. To be able to, when a guy is draping all over him, to deliver it on time and on target.

“It was an amazing shot that he made, but we need those. We’re owed that. We’ve been through a lot of pain down the stretch early on this season with some of the games we lost. …It was nice that our guys dug down deep and stayed the course and were able to get this really hard-fought victory today.”

Dickinson finished the game with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in addition to four assists. The Wolverines have now won three straight games when they desperately needed it, to at least push them in the conversation of the NCAA Tournament bubble. They currently sit at 17-12 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten Conference.

Michigan has two more games remaining this regular season against likely tournament teams in Illinois and Indiana. If they can win one or both of those, it will certainly make things interesting come Selection Sunday.

Juwan Howard will once again be counting on Hunter Dickinson when the Wolverines face the Fighting Illini at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday.