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ANN ARBOR – Wisconsin came to the Crisler Center on Tuesday with their all-senior starting fifth, their No.9 domestic ranking and plenty of experience in the big game.
It didn’t matter.
Michigan has done what it has done to almost all of its opponents, especially in recent times, dominating both sides en route to a 77-54 win to move up to 11-0.
The Wolverines’ 36-3 round, spanning both halves, resulted in another Big Ten blowout. They led by no less than 40 points.
Four Wolverines scored between 12 and 16 points as Michigan shot 52 percent from the field and clocked 9 of 16 3s. Wisconsin only shot 31%, and even that number was magnified by hot shots after the outcome was decided.
Good luck finding a team playing better than No.7 Michigan right now. UM had just earned a 25-point victory over Minnesota and a 19-point victory over Northwestern before that. Both opponents were classified at the time.
Wisconsin, the last team to win at Crisler on February 27 of last season, was supposed to present a tougher challenge.
Instead, the Wolverines drove to 6-0 in conference with a selfless attack and smothering defense. Their 14-0 run to close the first half gave them a 17-point advantage and had the home bench in hysteria. Wisconsin scored the first three points of the second period. It was then that the Wolverines opted for the jugular.
Chaundee Brown’s recovered dunk capped a 22-0 run over the next 6:38 am and would have torn Crisler’s roof apart had there been fans in attendance beyond the small number of family members.
Wisconsin missed nine straight field goals and committed three turnovers during the attack. The Badgers came in as one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country, but started only 3 of 17 deep (they finished 9 of 28). Wisconsin fell to 10-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten.
Franz Wagner produced 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Mike Smith scored 16 and added six assists. Isaiah Livers had 13 points and six tables.
D’Mitrik Trice led Wisconsin with 20 points. Micah Potter added 12, the only other double-digit Badger.
The teams combined for just 10 free throw attempts.
In addition to Michigan’s monster victory, center Austin Davis returned after missing the last five games with a foot injury suffered on December 9. The senior in the red shirt played 12 minutes off the bench, totaling four points and four rebounds.
Davis’s absence coincided with the emergence of Hunter Dickinson. Michigan’s top scorer of the season scored just two points in the first half, but kicked in during the second half push to finish with 12 points. Dickinson also recorded three of Michigan’s nine blocks.
The shots from Wisconsin that hit the basket were mostly contested. The Badgers couldn’t get an offensive pace. One of the best in the country at limiting turnovers, they had more freebies (10) than assists (eight) on Tuesday.
After Wisconsin stopped the aforementioned 22-0 breakout, Michigan scored the next seven points. All in all, it was a 43-6 run that saw Michigan take 69-29 with 10:23 left.
Michigan will look to maintain momentum in a rematch with the 23rd Minnesota on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Tuesday’s game appeared to be competitive early on. Livers showed his full repertoire early, scoring seven points as Michigan took an 11-5 lead. Wisconsin’s third 3-pointer tied the game at 15 with 12:13 left in the half before Michigan found its deep rhythm.
Brown hit a 3 shortly after recording. Wagner buried one. Livers crossed his defenseman – who fell and drew a warning on the flop – before passing to Brandon Johns Jr. for a corner triple, and Michigan led 26-19 with 8:31 left.
Wisconsin reduced the deficit to three with 6:19 left before Michigan’s 14-0 run to close the half. It featured back-to-back steals and breakaways, high-flying Wagner dunks, a nice 3-drop from Smith, and a locked defense. Michigan led 40-23.
The Michigan bench exploded on the court and made its presence felt throughout the evening.
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