Simpson directs No. 10 Michigan to 74-53 win over Iowa
AP
Mar 16, 2019
CHICAGO (AP) Zavier Simpson was pretty much perfect, and everything fell into place for No. 10 Michigan Wolverines.
Just another day at the Big Ten Tournament for the Wolverines.
Simpson sparked Michigan's balanced attack with 10 points and 11 assists, and the Wolverines rolled past Iowa Hawkeyes 74-53 on Friday night.
Seeking its third consecutive Big Ten tourney title, third-seeded Michigan advanced to the semifinals for the fourth straight year. It will go for its third win against Minnesota this season when it takes on the surprising Gophers on Saturday afternoon.
''There's nothing intentional here. We're just trying to get better every day,'' coach John Beilein said. ''I think if you go into tournaments and you're usually a team that doesn't beat itself during the season, maybe you have some success then.''
It certainly helps to have a point guard like Simpson, who went 4 for 4 from the field and 2 for 2 at the line with just one turnover. The 6-foot junior also played tough defense on Jordan Bohannon, who was averaging 11.7 points before he went scoreless in almost 27 minutes against the Wolverines (27-5).
''We had a great look in our eye. We played good,'' Simpson said. ''The key today was moving the ball. Guys can shoot, guys can score, guys can drive and penetrate. If we do that, we feel like we'll be in good position.''
Michigan made 10 3-pointers and placed five players in double figures, bouncing back nicely from Saturday's disappointing loss to rival Michigan State. Ignas Brazdeikis had 15 points, and Jon Teske had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Luke Garza and Tyler Cook each scored 14 points, but Iowa was ice cold from deep one night after it made 12 3-pointers in an 83-62 victory over Illinois. The Hawkeyes went 1 for 16 from beyond the arc against the Wolverines and shot 36 percent (21 for 59) overall.
''You've got to give some credit to our opponent for that, but typically we're not going to be a team that goes 1 for 16,'' coach Fran McCaffery said. ''It changes the momentum shifts in the game.''
Iowa (22-11) held Michigan to 32 percent shooting in a 74-59 win on Feb. 1 in their only meeting of the season. But the Wolverines just love this time of year.
Charles Matthews returned from a right ankle injury, and Michigan celebrated with an impressive offensive display. With Simpson calmly directing the show, the Wolverines put away the Hawkeyes with a 15-2 run in the second half.
Brazdeikis and Eli Brooks opened the decisive sequence with 3-pointers. Simpson fed Teske for a jam and then banked a little floater to make it 59-35 with 13:44 remaining.
''We weren't active on defense,'' Garza said. ''They were getting wide-open shots. We just can't do that.''
Matthews had five points on 1-for-9 shooting in his first game back after he got hurt against the Spartans on Feb. 24. The Chicago native got a huge ovation when he was introduced with the starting lineup.
''Without him, we're not the same team,'' Brazdeikis said. ''I'm just super excited he's back. It changes everything for us offensively and defensively.''
WINNING
It was Michigan's ninth consecutive win in the Big Ten Tournament, snapping a tie with Ohio State for the longest such streak.
BIG PICTURE
Iowa: Bohannon missed each of his two shots from the field, and Joe Wieskamp had just three points on 1-for-5 shooting. The Hawkeyes will need more from the two guards to make any sort of run in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan: It was the type of efficient performance that makes Michigan a tough out every March. Led by Simpson, the Wolverines finished with 24 assists and seven turnovers. Isaiah Livers scored 13 points and Jordan Poole finished with 11.
UP NEXT
Iowa waits to see where it's going in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan edged Minnesota 59-57 on Jan. 22 and topped the Gophers 69-60 on Feb. 21.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap
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1st Half
IOWA
Hawkeyes
27
MICH
Wolverines
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Iowa
19:45
+2
Tyler Cook made driving layup
2-0
19:29
Shooting foul on Jordan Bohannon
19:29
+1
Jon Teske made 1st of 2 free throws
2-1
19:29
+1
Jon Teske made 2nd of 2 free throws
2-2
19:15
+2
Luka Garza made hook shot, assist by Joe Wieskamp
4-2
18:52
+2
Jon Teske made dunk, assist by Zavier Simpson
4-4
18:39
+2
Luka Garza made jump shot, assist by Isaiah Moss
6-4
18:06
Charles Matthews missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:04
Defensive rebound by Luka Garza
17:55
Tyler Cook missed driving layup
17:53
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
17:42
+3
Ignas Brazdeikis made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
6-7
17:27
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Bohannon, stolen by Jordan Poole
17:22
+2
Jordan Poole made driving layup
6-9
17:07
Kicked ball violation on Michigan
16:59
Luka Garza missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:57
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
16:38
Shooting foul on Joe Wieskamp
16:38
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 1st of 2 free throws
16:38
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 2nd of 2 free throws
16:38
Defensive rebound by Joe Wieskamp
16:09
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Bohannon
15:50
+3
Jordan Poole made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
6-12
15:32
+2
Luka Garza made hook shot
8-12
15:10
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:08
Defensive rebound by Luka Garza
14:56
Lost ball turnover on Luka Garza, stolen by Ignas Brazdeikis
14:48
+2
Jon Teske made layup, assist by Zavier Simpson
8-14
14:36
+2
Tyler Cook made reverse layup
10-14
14:22
+3
Zavier Simpson made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jon Teske
10-17
14:03
+2
Isaiah Moss made jump shot, assist by Jordan Bohannon
12-17
13:45
Charles Matthews missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:43
Offensive rebound by Charles Matthews
13:38
Charles Matthews missed floating jump shot
13:36
Defensive rebound by Tyler Cook
13:32
Personal foul on Charles Matthews
13:28
Tyler Cook missed hook shot
13:26
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
13:20
Isaiah Livers missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:18
Defensive rebound by Nicholas Baer
13:08
Joe Wieskamp missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:06
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Livers
13:00
Ignas Brazdeikis missed driving layup, blocked by Nicholas Baer
12:58
Defensive rebound by Nicholas Baer
12:39
Connor McCaffery missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:37
Offensive rebound by Joe Wieskamp
12:29
+2
Connor McCaffery made driving layup, assist by Nicholas Baer
14-17
12:29
Shooting foul on Zavier Simpson
12:29
+1
Connor McCaffery made free throw
15-17
12:06
Eli Brooks missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:04
Defensive rebound by Nicholas Baer
11:48
Personal foul on Jordan Poole
11:44
Ryan Kriener missed jump shot, blocked by Jon Teske
11:42
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
11:18
Eli Brooks missed jump shot
11:16
Defensive rebound by Joe Wieskamp
11:04
Joe Wieskamp missed driving layup
11:02
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
10:44
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Poole, stolen by Nicholas Baer
10:37
Nicholas Baer missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:35
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
10:30
Shooting foul on Connor McCaffery
10:30
Charles Matthews missed 1st of 2 free throws
10:30
+1
Charles Matthews made 2nd of 2 free throws
15-18
10:13
Ryan Kriener missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:11
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Livers
9:57
Charles Matthews missed jump shot
9:55
Defensive rebound by Maishe Dailey
9:37
+2
Ryan Kriener made hook shot
17-18
9:13
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:11
Defensive rebound by Connor McCaffery
8:46
Connor McCaffery missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:44
Offensive rebound by Jordan Bohannon
8:30
Jordan Bohannon missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:28
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
8:15
+3
Eli Brooks made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
17-21
8:00
Jumpball received by Michigan
8:00
Lost ball turnover on Luka Garza, stolen by Eli Brooks
7:34
+2
Isaiah Livers made jump shot, assist by Ignas Brazdeikis
17-23
7:17
+2
Tyler Cook made driving layup
19-23
6:50
+2
Zavier Simpson made hook shot, assist by Eli Brooks
19-25
6:30
+2
Luka Garza made turnaround jump shot, assist by Joe Wieskamp
21-25
6:09
Eli Brooks missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:07
Defensive rebound by Jordan Bohannon
5:58
Isaiah Moss missed jump shot
5:56
Offensive rebound by Joe Wieskamp
5:48
Jordan Bohannon missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:46
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
5:37
Ignas Brazdeikis missed layup
5:35
Defensive rebound by Tyler Cook
5:30
Tyler Cook missed running Jump Shot
5:28
Offensive rebound by Luka Garza
5:23
Luka Garza missed layup, blocked by Jon Teske
5:24
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
5:12
+2
Jon Teske made dunk, assist by Eli Brooks
21-27
4:56
+2
Tyler Cook made driving layup
23-27
4:33
+2
Isaiah Livers made turnaround jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
23-29
4:10
Lost ball turnover on Isaiah Moss, stolen by Eli Brooks
3:55
+2
Isaiah Livers made jump shot, assist by Charles Matthews
23-31
3:41
Isaiah Moss missed jump shot
3:39
Defensive rebound by Charles Matthews
3:23
+3
Charles Matthews made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
23-34
3:11
Bad pass turnover on Connor McCaffery, stolen by Jordan Poole
2:51
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:49
Defensive rebound by Joe Wieskamp
2:41
Luka Garza missed hook shot
2:39
Offensive rebound by Luka Garza
2:36
+2
Luka Garza made dunk
25-34
2:16
+3
Isaiah Livers made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zavier Simpson
25-37
1:48
+2
Luka Garza made driving layup
27-37
1:19
Charles Matthews missed jump shot
1:17
Defensive rebound by Tyler Cook
1:08
Tyler Cook missed driving layup
1:06
Defensive rebound by Charles Matthews
41.0
+3
Zavier Simpson made 3-pt. jump shot
27-40
8.0
Lost ball turnover on Luka Garza, stolen by Charles Matthews
1.0
Charles Matthews missed 3-pt. jump shot
0.0
Offensive rebound by Michigan
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
IOWA
Hawkeyes
26
MICH
Wolverines
34
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:32
Shooting foul on Charles Matthews
19:32
+1
Luka Garza made 1st of 2 free throws
28-40
19:32
+1
Luka Garza made 2nd of 2 free throws
29-40
19:21
Bad pass turnover on Ignas Brazdeikis, stolen by Joe Wieskamp
19:20
Shooting foul on Ignas Brazdeikis
19:20
+1
Joe Wieskamp made 1st of 2 free throws
30-40
19:20
Joe Wieskamp missed 2nd of 2 free throws
19:20
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
18:55
+3
Jordan Poole made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ignas Brazdeikis
30-43
18:54
Shooting foul on Tyler Cook
18:54
+1
Jordan Poole made free throw
30-44
18:35
Shooting foul on Jordan Poole
18:35
+1
Isaiah Moss made 1st of 2 free throws
31-44
18:35
Isaiah Moss missed 2nd of 2 free throws
18:35
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
18:12
Charles Matthews missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:10
Defensive rebound by Jordan Bohannon
18:02
Joe Wieskamp missed driving layup
18:00
Personal foul on Charles Matthews
17:51
Shooting foul on Jordan Poole
17:51
+1
Isaiah Moss made 1st of 2 free throws
32-44
17:51
+1
Isaiah Moss made 2nd of 2 free throws
33-44
17:27
+3
Ignas Brazdeikis made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jon Teske
33-47
16:56
Lost ball turnover on Tyler Cook, stolen by Zavier Simpson
16:42
Lost ball turnover on Zavier Simpson
16:24
Isaiah Moss missed driving layup
16:22
Offensive rebound by Nicholas Baer
16:21
Nicholas Baer missed layup
16:19
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
16:12
Jon Teske missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:10
Offensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
16:01
+3
Eli Brooks made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jon Teske
33-50
15:51
Luka Garza missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:49
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Livers
15:40
Jon Teske missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:38
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Moss
15:30
+2
Isaiah Moss made driving layup, assist by Jordan Bohannon
35-50
15:13
+2
Ignas Brazdeikis made layup, assist by Zavier Simpson
35-52
15:13
Shooting foul on Nicholas Baer
15:13
+1
Ignas Brazdeikis made free throw
35-53
15:00
Shooting foul on Jon Teske
15:00
Luka Garza missed 1st of 2 free throws
15:00
Luka Garza missed 2nd of 2 free throws
15:00
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
14:35
+2
Jon Teske made jump shot, assist by Isaiah Livers
35-55
14:19
Tyler Cook missed driving layup
14:17
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
14:05
+2
Jon Teske made dunk, assist by Zavier Simpson
35-57
13:54
Joe Wieskamp missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:52
Defensive rebound by Eli Brooks
13:45
+2
Zavier Simpson made hook shot, assist by Eli Brooks
35-59
13:24
Tyler Cook missed layup, blocked by Isaiah Livers
13:22
Defensive rebound by Jon Teske
13:05
Eli Brooks missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:03
Defensive rebound by Ryan Kriener
12:54
Tyler Cook missed layup
12:52
Offensive rebound by Ryan Kriener
12:52
+2
Ryan Kriener made dunk
37-59
12:32
+2
Isaiah Livers made layup, assist by Zavier Simpson
37-61
12:13
Offensive foul on Ryan Kriener
12:13
Turnover on Ryan Kriener
11:58
Ignas Brazdeikis missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:56
Offensive rebound by Jon Teske
11:56
Jon Teske missed dunk
11:54
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Moss
11:51
Shooting foul on Eli Brooks
11:51
+1
Isaiah Moss made 1st of 2 free throws
38-61
11:51
Isaiah Moss missed 2nd of 2 free throws
11:51
Defensive rebound by Colin Castleton
11:30
Isaiah Livers missed jump shot
11:09
Ryan Kriener missed reverse layup, blocked by Colin Castleton
11:07
Offensive rebound by Iowa
11:07
Personal foul on Isaiah Livers
11:07
Isaiah Moss missed free throw
11:07
Offensive rebound by Tyler Cook
10:58
+2
Tyler Cook made reverse layup
40-61
10:24
Shooting foul on Ryan Kriener
10:24
Charles Matthews missed 1st of 2 free throws
10:24
+1
Charles Matthews made 2nd of 2 free throws
40-62
10:09
Isaiah Moss missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:07
Defensive rebound by Zavier Simpson
9:57
Offensive foul on Jon Teske
9:57
Turnover on Jon Teske
9:45
Tyler Cook missed driving layup
9:43
Offensive rebound by Tyler Cook
9:40
+2
Tyler Cook made dunk
42-62
9:13
Charles Matthews missed driving layup, blocked by Tyler Cook
9:11
Defensive rebound by Maishe Dailey
9:04
Lost ball turnover on Tyler Cook, stolen by Zavier Simpson
8:59
Ignas Brazdeikis missed jump shot, blocked by Joe Wieskamp
8:57
Defensive rebound by Iowa
8:34
Personal foul on Jon Teske
8:34
Tyler Cook missed 1st of 2 free throws
8:34
Tyler Cook missed 2nd of 2 free throws
8:34
Defensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
8:11
Jordan Poole missed driving layup
8:09
Offensive rebound by Ignas Brazdeikis
8:08
+2
Ignas Brazdeikis made layup
42-64
8:08
Shooting foul on Jordan Bohannon
8:08
+1
Ignas Brazdeikis made free throw
42-65
7:58
+2
Joe Wieskamp made driving layup, assist by Connor McCaffery
44-65
7:24
Jordan Poole missed driving layup, blocked by Nicholas Baer
7:23
Offensive rebound by Michigan
7:21
Isaiah Livers missed alley-oop shot
7:19
Offensive rebound by Isaiah Livers
7:19
+2
Isaiah Livers made dunk
44-67
7:02
Lost ball turnover on Connor McCaffery, stolen by Isaiah Livers
6:56
+2
Jordan Poole made driving dunk, assist by Charles Matthews
44-69
6:37
Tyler Cook missed hook shot
6:35
Defensive rebound by Eli Brooks
6:23
Jordan Poole missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:21
Defensive rebound by Tyler Cook
6:12
Nicholas Baer missed driving layup
6:10
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
5:42
Ignas Brazdeikis missed driving layup
5:40
Defensive rebound by Nicholas Baer
5:31
+2
Tyler Cook made hook shot, assist by Connor McCaffery
46-69
5:18
Bad pass turnover on Eli Brooks, stolen by Tyler Cook
5:09
Connor McCaffery missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:07
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Livers
4:41
Lost ball turnover on Isaiah Livers, stolen by Nicholas Baer
4:36
Connor McCaffery missed layup
4:34
Defensive rebound by Eli Brooks
4:25
+2
Ignas Brazdeikis made driving layup, assist by Jordan Poole
46-71
4:25
Shooting foul on Isaiah Moss
4:25
+1
Ignas Brazdeikis made free throw
46-72
4:14
+2
Ryan Kriener made driving layup, assist by Jordan Bohannon
48-72
3:39
Shot clock violation turnover on Michigan
3:24
Luka Garza missed jump shot
3:22
Defensive rebound by Jordan Poole
2:58
Isaiah Livers missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:56
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Moss
2:48
Isaiah Moss missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:46
Defensive rebound by Brandon Johns Jr.
2:21
Brandon Johns Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:19
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Moss
2:00
Ryan Kriener missed hook shot
1:58
Defensive rebound by Charles Matthews
1:40
David DeJulius missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:38
Defensive rebound by Nicolas Hobbs
1:28
Austin Ash missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:26
Defensive rebound by Adrien Nunez
1:14
C.J. Baird missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:12
Defensive rebound by Austin Ash
1:04
+3
Nicolas Hobbs made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Austin Ash