Eli Brooks stresses sense of urgency as season hits critical point

Michigan basketball got back in the win column on Tuesday night with a slim 85-79 win over Nebraska, the worst team in the Big Ten.

The first 20 minutes of game action looked a lot like the last 20 at Michigan State. The effort was sloppy and the defensive intensity was not where it needed to be. For the second home game in a row, the young Wolverines charged back and got out of Crisler with a victory.

Senior guard Eli Brooks tips his cap to the second-half effort but knows the margin of error is low for Michigan sitting at 11-8 on the season.

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“We’re being more comfortable in that position,” Brooks said after the game. “We are growing in that area and not panicking. We talk about having a sense of urgency but not panicking, it goes with our season and this game. Have a sense of urgency and execute down the stretch and find a way to stop runs.”

“It has to change,” he would continue. “There has to be a sense of urgency. We cannot afford too many more losses if we want to achieve our goals. Making sure people realize what is at stake and challenging people.”

Nebraska, KenPom’s least efficient offense in the Big Ten, led by as much as 10 points in the first half. Brooks explained why that was the case.

“We let them play free tonight,” he said. “I don’t think we made them feel us on defense. They got the looks that they wanted and they were comfortable out there.”

Brooks the hero

When the going gets tough, Michigan needs a leader to step up and right the ship. Brooks, the team’s captain, stepped into that role on Tuesday night with 14 of his 20 points coming in the second half.

“I knew my shots were going to come,” Brooks said on staying patient. “If we play the right way, the ball finds energy. I was not really worried about that. The ball was going to find me at some point. Don’t force it and that’s when good things happen.”

From the 9:53 mark to 2:27 left in the game, Michigan trailed Nebraska and appeared to be on the ropes. Down 75-74, Brooks drained a three-pointer to give Michigan a two-point lead.

The team never looked back.

“It was a crucial shot for that to go in,” he said. “It felt good to see that go through.”

Michigan navigates without Hunter Dickinson

Michigan spent the last 15 minutes of the first half without sophomore center Hunter Dickinson, who picked up two early fouls. That opened the door for Nebraska to make its run and stake itself to a lead heading into the half.

Despite that, Dickinson stayed active on the sideline and was challenged by head coach Juwan Howard at the half. What followed was an explosion of 20 of his 26 points coming in the second half.

“You want to be out there, but you pick up two quick fouls,” Brooks said. “He was talking in the huddle to Moussa and Brandon trying to get them involved. Hunter did a good job staying involved. Coach challenged him at halftime.”

Because of Dickinson’s size and the role he plays down low, he is susceptible to picking up a few quick early fouls. Michigan has to find a way to play better without him, and Brooks knows that.

“If we do a better job of not being so stagnant,” he said. “Our offense when Hunter is out there is a lot of post-ups. Just getting into second situation ball screens with Moussa. Getting more movent [will help].”

Next up for the Wolverines is a trip to Purdue, which tips off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.