Saturday's game against Minnesota showed the value of a few things in college basketball.

Of course, first things first, the value of hitting shots.

Michigan had come off back-to-back impressive shooting performances in the win at home over San Diego State a weekend ago,

and then the midweek blowout of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Michigan combined to shoot 50% in those two games, both impressive

runaway victories. Well, on Saturday against Minnesota, those three pointers in particular

did not fall. Michigan missed 15 of its 18 three-pointers. The Wolverines had some opportunities.

Hunter Dickinson was able to pass to the outside and give the Wolverines some chances,

and most of them just simply didn't fall.

The second thing that was shown in that game on Saturday was just the value of not turning

the basketball over.

Michigan has improved in that area throughout the last few games.

On Saturday, they only coughed it up eight times, but it was twice as many as Minnesota.

The gophers recorded their third consecutive game of four turnovers or fewer.

And with a team that has a margin for error that's a little bit smaller than most in the

Big Ten because they're just so new.

Only two scholarship players return from a season ago.

They've got transfers from all different kinds of levels, states, countries, etc.

They're a completely new ball club, but they bought in not turning the basketball over,

and it goes to show

you just how important that can be, especially on the road.

And the last piece to this is the value of being able to get ahead in a game.

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