His previous record was set at 15 units, equaled just a week ago in a very clear victory over Purdue. But, last night, Moussa Diabaté blew it up… in half time!
Author of 16 of his 28 points in the second half in Michigan’s victory against Iowa (84-79), Diabaté struck a blow. He was not only the man of the match for his team with his 12/15 on shots but he faced a direct competitor in his conference, the Big Ten, when the two teams had the same record (7 wins for 6 losses). And against Keegan Murray (23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks but at 9/23 on shots), one of the potential Top 10 in the next Draft.
It must be said that Diabaté was particularly upbeat for this match. Not necessarily for Murray but rather to erase the bitter taste left by the defeat against Ohio State (68-57), and EJ Liddell who had precisely finished at 28 points, most scored against the French…
“My teammates probably won’t say it but I think I cost us the game against Ohio State because [Liddell] was able to find his shooting positions the other night in front of me”, explained Diabaté in the FreePress. “He’s a great player. What I did to change that was that I regained aggressiveness because, even if it means being attacked [en défense]as long as I do the same [en attaque] ! “
Always as invigorating in his attacks from the circle, Diabaté showed off his offensive arsenal against the Hawkeyes, chaining hook shots one after the other, turning on his right hand. Untenable under the panels, he was able to roar on a basket plus the fault which gave Michigan a 10-point lead at the end of the game.
Still leaving a few points on the way, on the repair line (4/7), Diabaté therefore finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds plus 1 interception and 1 against in 34 minutes, by far his best career game. A very good omen as we are one month away from March Madness…
“Moussa is really hungry to learn and it helps him enormously in his progress”concludes Hunter Dickinson, the interior star of the Wolverines. “He is improving every day and I think it shows on the pitch. “
