“My 3-point percentage is going to be out the roof this year compared to last year,” Sims said. “I’m not going to take a lot of 3s unless I’m making them or unless I’m open. “I’ve been shooting the ball well this whole preseason, so I’m confident in my shot.”

He’s not the only one. Michigan coach John Beilein said Sims might have the most freedom to shoot from long range of any player 6-foot-8 and taller in the country.

The shooting, though, goes deeper. 

On Friday, both 3-point streaks started crucial runs for Michigan.

Both mini-streaks started runs, propelling Michigan (2-0) past an abysmal 4 of 23 start. His first two started an 11-2 run that gave the Wolverines a 28-20 lead. His second two started an 11-5 run to end the first half. 

“We have a rule,” Sims said. “If you hit a couple, you take the next one if you’re open. 
So, I knew I was going to take my next one and I hit it and then I hit another one.” 

In all, Sims hit 5 three-pointers, tying a career high first accomplished against Iowa in 2008, and scored 22 points for the second straight game.

He was also the cure to a Michigan funk that Beilein credited in part to Houston Baptist’s version of the 1-3-1 zone defense and in part to impatience on the part of his players. 

“We were just out of rhythm a little bit,” “Offensively, we weren’t quite running the things we know how to run and we’ve got some things we’ve got to clean up.” 

At no point, though, did visions of last year’s overtime win over Savannah State creep into Michigan’s players’ minds. In that game, the Wolverines trailed by double digits. On Friday, Houston Baptist (0-4) never led by more than five points. 

Then came Sims to ensure nothing like that would happen again. 

“When he’s open like that, it’s important,” Beilein said. “For us to knock those down from the corner when we were really struggling to make shots, we’re still as our substitution patterns evolve and a lot of things evolve, there’s a lot of timing issues we have to get.” 

Michigan’s timing returned soon after Sims’ streak. Harris capped both the runs Sims started - the first with a three-pointer and the second with four quick points to end the first half - to finish with a game-high 25 points. 

Zack Novak scored 6 of his 8 points in the second half and freshman guard Darius Morris had all 5 of his after halftime to keep the cushion comfortable. 

A lot of Friday, though, was about Sims. He showcased the three-pointer - he made 11 last season and already has 6 this year - but he also became the 38th Michigan player to eclipse 500 rebounds. With six boards Friday, he’s now at 502. 

“I wish I would have had more, you know,” Sims said. “I’m striving to get more than 500. It’s a great accomplishment, I guess, but I’m just going to keep striving.”