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ANN ARBOR – In the end, Michigan will lose a game.
Absolutely.
Probably.
There hasn’t been a perfect season in men’s college basketball in over 40 years, and in the rugged Big Ten, the Wolverines are doomed to slip up at some point.
Right now, however, the Wolverines seem invincible.
The final show was Tuesday’s 77-54 victory over No.9 from Wisconsin. Like several of Michigan’s recent wins, this one was far more off-balance than the already off-balance score suggests. Michigan led by as many as 40 points.
The game followed a similar storyline to the Michigan eruptions of Minnesota and the Northwest last week.
If beating three consecutive ranked teams by at least 19 points seems like some kind of record, ESPN says Michigan is actually the first team to do so.
“Wow,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard said after learning about this nugget. “I hope our guys won’t be too high on this.”
As good as Michigan (11-0, 6-0) plays, Howard knows that means little. On several occasions this season, including Tuesday, he has mentioned his desire to be the last team standing in April.
Wolverines’ championship goals seem achievable thanks to their focus on the day-to-day.
Michigan’s motto this week was “don’t be bored with the basics,” a quote Howard borrowed from Kobe Bryant.
Turnover had been a problem for the Wolverines. They committed just eight against Wisconsin, their lowest rate in the Big Ten game. They split the ball – four different Wolverines attempted between 9 and 11 shots and scored in double digits – and turned single games into highlights.
Michigan’s dismantling of the Badgers (and the Gophers and Wildcats before that) went beyond the fundamentals.
Michigan made 9 of 16 3s on Tuesday, with six players connecting from the background. The Wolverines blocked five shots in the first nine minutes and finished with eight rejections, their length once again disturbing the opponent.
A three-point lead late in the first half became 17 at half-time. A 22-0 run early in the second half made it a blast.
Michigan has a killer instinct and second-year forward Franz Wagner credited coaches with instilling that mentality. “We keep playing our game no matter if we’re down, up one or 25 more.”
Howard said he could hear the players in the locker room at half time remembering not to let go, to treat the game like it was a tie. “They hold each other accountable,” Howard said.
Big races can’t happen without stopping, and Michigan forced the Badgers to their worst offensive performance of the season. Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said Michigan has put the Badgers on their heels.
Michigan senior forward Isaiah Livers, who scored 13 goals on Tuesday, saw Michigan’s defensive potential this summer in scrimmages. “I’m trying to get the vaccine and I can’t get it,” he recalls.
The Badgers shot just 31 percent. Five of their prospective nine made 3s and four of their six free throw attempts came in the final 10 minutes, after Michigan pushed their lead to 40 points.
Following the victory, Michigan moved up to No.3 in the NCAA NET rankings, behind only other unbeaten Gonzaga and Baylor.
Howard was happy with how Michigan played on Tuesday, but still sees areas for improvement. He will earn his paycheck with this list before the next practice.
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