Michigan happy, not surprised about MSU result: 'We felt like we were the better team'
Michigan Wolverines basketball was blasted in the second half of the Jan. 29 meeting with MSU in East Lansing, and fell by 16 points, 83-67. But once the Maize and Blue got the Spartans on their own home floor, it ended in a 17-point beatdown, 87-70, Tuesday night at Crisler Center.
The victory keeps Michigan’s NCAA Tournament hopes alive, with the Wolverines needing at least one more win to punch their ticket to the Big Dance. In that respect, and the fact that MSU is an in-state rival, it was a massive win.
“It’s a big one because it’s against Michigan State and we had lost to them prior,” freshman wing Caleb Houstan, who posted 16 points, said. “And then, another win in this little stretch we’re on — we need all the wins we can get. Definitely big.”
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Michigan has pulled off big victories when it’s needed it most this season, constantly doing enough to stay on the bubble. With just three games remaining entering Tuesday’s contest, many believed the Wolverines would be ‘desperate’ to notch a win, but Houstan insisted the dominant performance was more than that for his squad that has now won eight out of its last 13 contests.
“I wouldn’t really say it’s desperation; we’re confident in ourselves, and we felt like we were the better team going in,” Houstan said.
“We made some adjustments based on the first game we had, so we were confident going into the game, knowing our scout and stuff like that. I think everyone played really well, and that’s the result we got.”
With more work left to do, Houstan said it’s key that Michigan stays the course and sticks to what has proven to work down the stretch. The Maize and Blue will take on Iowa Thursday for senior night, before traveling to Ohio State for a Sunday afternoon showdown.
“Just sticking to our principles, listening to the staff, really lock in to the principles and the stuff we’ve been doing since we got here this summer,” Houstan said. “If we stick to that, we’ll be fine. And playing with confidence, as well.”
Caleb Houstan Stays Hot: ‘I’m Just Feeling Good’
Houstan had scored 21 points in each of his prior two games heading into the matchup with Michigan State, and poured in 16 points in the win. He made both of his three-point attempts and finished 4-of-7 from the field.
The former five-star recruit is coming around at the most important time of the year. While he often deflects individual credit and says he’s just happy to get the win, he admitted it’s nice to see that his aggressiveness is paying off on the stat sheet and the win column.
“I just think, being aggressive,” Houstan said when asked why he’s had success offensively over the last week. “I’m just feeling good, in terms of my game overall.
“I’ve been trying to be more aggressive throughout all of the games, but sometimes it’s just the way things go.”
