Two games in a row now, Michigan sophomore center Jon Teske has played the best game of his career.
Against Central Michigan on Monday night, the 7-foot-1 big man scored four points. Against Southern Mississippi Thursday night, he scored a career high 10 points and grabbed a career high 11 rebounds to record his first ever double-double. Michigan improved to 3-0 on the season with its 61-47 victory at the Crisler Center.
Not only did he set those career highs — he did so in just 15 minutes of action, which, as you might guess, was also a career high.
“I felt good,” Teske said. “Every day in practice I’m getting better and coach sees that. He knows that I’m capable of doing that.”
He scored his first six points in less than three minutes, and played an important role during Michigan’s 20-1 run during the second half.
“He’s really pursuing rebounds,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “He was a guy that would box out and keep boxing out and take himself out of the play. We had a hit and go get attitude with him. We also think he’s a great passer. When he gets the rebound we want him to face the other way so he can start the break, he’s still learning. He’s letting the game come to him.”
Teske said he feels more confident that ever and didn’t even realize that he had a double-double until the guys on the bench pointed it out to him.
“Guys see it every day in practice,” Teske said. “I’m growing from this, learning from this and just trying to help the team win in any way I can.”
He feels that the coaching staff is trusting him more and more. He appears to have fully grasped the backup center role over redshirt freshman forward Austin Davis.
“He doesn’t need a whole lot of moves,” Beilein said. “Just catch it and keep it up, put it in if he’s over there, pivot and get it to the other side.”
Simmons Propels Offense After Slow Start
At first it appeared Michigan was finally off to the fast start it was searching for, up 10 in the early stages of the first half. However, that quickly changed, and Michigan actually trailed at the break by one.
“Our offense was awful today,” Beilein said. “I think a lot of that has to do with not having played a game of man offense since our scrimmage. It was stagnant and not good. The ball was sticking all over the place. We have to trust it more and we’ll be much better at it.”
It was a lineup that included two reserves — Teske and fifth-year senior point guard Jaaron Simmons that boosted the Wolverines offense in the second half during their 20-1 run that saw Southern Miss go over nine minutes without scoring a field goal.
Simmons was the point guard during that stretch and finished with 19 minutes to sophomore guard Zaiver Simpson’s 22.
“I think he picked up his level of play and was being vocal at the time,” senior guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman said. “That just comes from experience and him playing four years of college basketball already. It’s great to have that kind of experience out there.”
Michigan allowed just 14 second-half points.
“What I like about Jaaron right now is he understands that we’re not going to play guys unless they really guard the ball and buy into all of it, unless they have an incredible skillset on the offensive end,” Beilein said. “He has to go out and guard and guard and guard, and he really bought into that today.”
He knows that Simmons wants minutes and likes that he’s showing he’ll do whatever it takes to get them. Despite scoring just two points, he seemed more comfortable than ever running the offense.
“We just played and trusted what we were doing and a whole lot of good things were happening there [during the run],” Beilein said. “When our big man is rolling to the basket, he can get rebounds. That’s what Jon was able to do.”
More Notes and Quotes:
· Abdur-Rahkman spoke on the importance of the team’s upcoming trip to Maui. He said he wants to see how the team responds to the travel, adversity and road environment.
“It’ll definitely be very important,” Abdur-Rahkman said. “We got new guys so it’s always good to get away from campus and have that bonding experience.”
· He also liked what he saw from Teske.
“It was big,” Abdur-Rahkman said. “We see him work every day at practice getting better. I’m glad to see him get out there and be successful.”
· Four players scored in double-figures: Abdur-Rahkman led the team with 14 points, junior forward Moritz “Moe” Wagner and fifth-year senior forward Duncan Robinson each scored 12, while Teske added 10.
· Simpson was held scoreless, while redshirt sophomore forward Charles Matthews scored only six points.
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