Something new to be tried out here, I'm gonna give a rundown of my top five games from this Michigan basketball this season. There were a ton of highs along the season, picking out five was incredibly difficult, but somehow done. Tweet me @RMABTweets your own favorite game, or your own top five list as well.
Honorable Mentions: Big Ten Semi-Final vs. Michigan State, Sweet Sixteen vs. Texas A&M, and Round of 32 vs. Houston
Number Five - Michigan 78: UCLA 69 (OT):
The Wolverines marquee non-conference match-up did not disappoint at all. At the time of meeting, Michigan was just 7-3 and was coming off a brutal conference loss at Ohio State after having been up by as much as 20 in the game. With three losses already and a tough road trip to Texas next awaiting them, Michigan was facing a very important game ahead of them. The game was close throughout the first half, but the early second half was dominated by the Bruins and after a little over five minutes of second half action, UCLA had stretched their lead to 15. Things were looking bright for the Bruins at the time, but Michigan nearly immediately responded with a Charles Matthews three. Matthews then got the next five points as well forcing Steve Alford to call a timeout with twelve and a half left to play and the lead cut down to just seven. Holiday scored 11 straight for UCLA from 10:21 to 3:05 while, within the same time frame, Moritz Wagner gave Michigan eight points of their own. As things played out, Michigan was just down three with 20 seconds left and UCLA's ball, but Zavier Simpson and his quick hands stole the ball and put Michigan down one. UCLA's Gyorgy Goloman only made one free throw, then Eli Brooks was fouled on a drive, and he sunk both of his free throws sending the game to overtime and the completing the comeback. Michigan hit two threes in the opening minute of the extra five and the six-point deficit was one that UCLA could not overcome and Michigan took the game in an overtime blowout. This game seemed to spark on a Michigan run to close out non-conference play, and open up Big Ten play, where they found much success and got some important resume building wins early in the season to establish themselves as credible contenders in the Big Ten.
Number Four - Michigan 74: Ohio State 62:
Over the past four years, Ohio State had Michigan's number. The Wolverines class being honored before the game for Senior Day was just 1-4 against Ohio State entering the day: with losses including the aforementioned early-season loss blowing a 15-point halftime lead at Value City Arena. This was their opportunity to get back at the Buckeyes for the recent misfortune, and that's exactly what they did. Ohio State had been a shock-team in Big Ten play throughout this season and entered the game ranked 8th in the nation. For the first ten minutes they controlled the game, having the lead for the majority of this early portion of the game. However, in their time of need, Jordan Poole stepped up big with perhaps most notably a step-back-three that turned into a four-point play that got the crowd fired up. To the raucous crowd's delight, Poole manhandled ex-Michigan player Andrew Dakich en route to a seventeen point night. A Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman three right before the four-point play gave Michigan the lead at the 7:18 mark and they never let it go. Michigan led the remainder of the game and gave their seniors a fitting sendoff with a double-digit victory over Ohio State. This performance really set into motion the final sprint of the season and putting into motion Michigan's postseason run.
Number Three - Michigan 69: Loyola 57:
It would be impossible to leave out a double-digit Final Four triumph off of this list. Despite the NCAA Tournament not ending how Michigan had hoped, the game before the championship was massive reason to celebrate. Loyola had been the year's Cinderella story storming their way into the Final Four with strong upperclassmen play leading the way, and a lucky charm in a 98-year-old nun providing the media fuel. Loyola showed they were the real deal in the first half as they held Michigan to just 22 points, with Wagner getting the most of them on second chances. A Loyola buzzer-beater put them up seven at the half and seemed set to continue the momentum with an early and-one putting them up ten quickly. Michigan seemingly could not crack the six-to-eight point bridge throughout the middle of the second half, but a 12-2 stretch over four minutes gave Michigan a four-point lead with about seven minutes to play and the Wolverines never looked back getting the lead up to ten for the first time at 2:15 and maintaining it to hold on and win. This game was ugly at times, but it emphasized what Michigan had done for so much of the season: win even with an offensive effort that was not always on fire at times. Wagner had a stand-out performance, often keeping Michigan in the game, and Matthews did what he'd done so well all throughout the tournament, produce on offense even if no one else could while providing strong defense. A Final Four victory is always a season highlight no matter what type of game it is.
Number Two - Michigan 82: Michigan State 72:
You would be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying regular season victory than this. Michigan entered East Lansing coming off a heart-breaking loss to Purdue in what would be their only home loss of the season. Michigan State was not at their finest either as they were coming off a blowout loss at Ohio State and being taken to overtime in East Lansing by Rutgers. Both teams really could have used this victory. A back-and-forth first half was punctuated by a Gavin Schilling dunk over Isaiah Livers off a Cassius Winston lob bringing the crowd to their feet and the Spartans a three-point lead at the half. But, as John Beilein said, they'd win the highlight reel, but Michigan would win the game. While Michigan won the game, they also won the highlight reel too at times as Wagner took Nick Ward to the basket with three minutes left and sent Nick Ward to the floor after a behind-the-back dribble to put the Wolverines up eight. Michigan had a complete performance: they were strong on offense, held Michigan State to just 3-13 shooting from three, and even went 18-19 from the free throw line before four nerve-wracking late misses from Simpson. Better times were to come for Michigan, they would even trump this victory with another double-digit win in the Big Ten Tournament over their in-state rivals, and some down periods came too following this game (the 20-point loss at Nebraska was just two games later), but this was a game that was the foundation of Michigan's resume for the rest of the season.
Number One - Michigan 75: Purdue 66:
If the Michigan/Michigan State game was satisfying, the Big Ten Tournament Final was season defining. Michigan had already lost twice to Purdue by a combined five points, both times playing well in defeat. This Michigan team was not the one that played those two previous games, however. Purdue held three leads in this game: 2-0, 5-3, and 7-5. Purdue made runs during the game and certainly made it close, but Michigan would not be denied this third time. This was Jon Teske's breakout party as the sophomore had 14 points in the most important game of his life: captured in one moment where he sprinted through the line, got the feed from Simpson, and dunked it hard, screaming in triumph seemingly at Isaac Haas to put the Wolverines up 18 late in the second half. Carsen Edwards, one of the Big Ten's finest players, was held to 4-16 shooting from the field. Vincent Edwards, a man who absolutely torched Michigan in West Lafayette, scored just four points and only managed six shots. This performance seemed to have been built up to for the entire season. This was the Michigan that everyone had waited to see. This was the Michigan that had left nine teams in their wake on a path of destruction leading into the NCAA Tournament. This was the Michigan that was ready to go on a post-season run. One may argue that the two-week layoff hurt Michigan as they came out in every game but the Texas A&M match-up cold on offense after having played a near-month long stretch of their best basketball of the season, and I would consider them right. However, this was a game that had been an entire season in the making. This game was worth hanging a banner for.
Honorable Mentions: Big Ten Semi-Final vs. Michigan State, Sweet Sixteen vs. Texas A&M, and Round of 32 vs. Houston
Number Five - Michigan 78: UCLA 69 (OT):
The Wolverines marquee non-conference match-up did not disappoint at all. At the time of meeting, Michigan was just 7-3 and was coming off a brutal conference loss at Ohio State after having been up by as much as 20 in the game. With three losses already and a tough road trip to Texas next awaiting them, Michigan was facing a very important game ahead of them. The game was close throughout the first half, but the early second half was dominated by the Bruins and after a little over five minutes of second half action, UCLA had stretched their lead to 15. Things were looking bright for the Bruins at the time, but Michigan nearly immediately responded with a Charles Matthews three. Matthews then got the next five points as well forcing Steve Alford to call a timeout with twelve and a half left to play and the lead cut down to just seven. Holiday scored 11 straight for UCLA from 10:21 to 3:05 while, within the same time frame, Moritz Wagner gave Michigan eight points of their own. As things played out, Michigan was just down three with 20 seconds left and UCLA's ball, but Zavier Simpson and his quick hands stole the ball and put Michigan down one. UCLA's Gyorgy Goloman only made one free throw, then Eli Brooks was fouled on a drive, and he sunk both of his free throws sending the game to overtime and the completing the comeback. Michigan hit two threes in the opening minute of the extra five and the six-point deficit was one that UCLA could not overcome and Michigan took the game in an overtime blowout. This game seemed to spark on a Michigan run to close out non-conference play, and open up Big Ten play, where they found much success and got some important resume building wins early in the season to establish themselves as credible contenders in the Big Ten.
Number Four - Michigan 74: Ohio State 62:
Over the past four years, Ohio State had Michigan's number. The Wolverines class being honored before the game for Senior Day was just 1-4 against Ohio State entering the day: with losses including the aforementioned early-season loss blowing a 15-point halftime lead at Value City Arena. This was their opportunity to get back at the Buckeyes for the recent misfortune, and that's exactly what they did. Ohio State had been a shock-team in Big Ten play throughout this season and entered the game ranked 8th in the nation. For the first ten minutes they controlled the game, having the lead for the majority of this early portion of the game. However, in their time of need, Jordan Poole stepped up big with perhaps most notably a step-back-three that turned into a four-point play that got the crowd fired up. To the raucous crowd's delight, Poole manhandled ex-Michigan player Andrew Dakich en route to a seventeen point night. A Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman three right before the four-point play gave Michigan the lead at the 7:18 mark and they never let it go. Michigan led the remainder of the game and gave their seniors a fitting sendoff with a double-digit victory over Ohio State. This performance really set into motion the final sprint of the season and putting into motion Michigan's postseason run.
Number Three - Michigan 69: Loyola 57:
It would be impossible to leave out a double-digit Final Four triumph off of this list. Despite the NCAA Tournament not ending how Michigan had hoped, the game before the championship was massive reason to celebrate. Loyola had been the year's Cinderella story storming their way into the Final Four with strong upperclassmen play leading the way, and a lucky charm in a 98-year-old nun providing the media fuel. Loyola showed they were the real deal in the first half as they held Michigan to just 22 points, with Wagner getting the most of them on second chances. A Loyola buzzer-beater put them up seven at the half and seemed set to continue the momentum with an early and-one putting them up ten quickly. Michigan seemingly could not crack the six-to-eight point bridge throughout the middle of the second half, but a 12-2 stretch over four minutes gave Michigan a four-point lead with about seven minutes to play and the Wolverines never looked back getting the lead up to ten for the first time at 2:15 and maintaining it to hold on and win. This game was ugly at times, but it emphasized what Michigan had done for so much of the season: win even with an offensive effort that was not always on fire at times. Wagner had a stand-out performance, often keeping Michigan in the game, and Matthews did what he'd done so well all throughout the tournament, produce on offense even if no one else could while providing strong defense. A Final Four victory is always a season highlight no matter what type of game it is.
Number Two - Michigan 82: Michigan State 72:
You would be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying regular season victory than this. Michigan entered East Lansing coming off a heart-breaking loss to Purdue in what would be their only home loss of the season. Michigan State was not at their finest either as they were coming off a blowout loss at Ohio State and being taken to overtime in East Lansing by Rutgers. Both teams really could have used this victory. A back-and-forth first half was punctuated by a Gavin Schilling dunk over Isaiah Livers off a Cassius Winston lob bringing the crowd to their feet and the Spartans a three-point lead at the half. But, as John Beilein said, they'd win the highlight reel, but Michigan would win the game. While Michigan won the game, they also won the highlight reel too at times as Wagner took Nick Ward to the basket with three minutes left and sent Nick Ward to the floor after a behind-the-back dribble to put the Wolverines up eight. Michigan had a complete performance: they were strong on offense, held Michigan State to just 3-13 shooting from three, and even went 18-19 from the free throw line before four nerve-wracking late misses from Simpson. Better times were to come for Michigan, they would even trump this victory with another double-digit win in the Big Ten Tournament over their in-state rivals, and some down periods came too following this game (the 20-point loss at Nebraska was just two games later), but this was a game that was the foundation of Michigan's resume for the rest of the season.
Number One - Michigan 75: Purdue 66:
If the Michigan/Michigan State game was satisfying, the Big Ten Tournament Final was season defining. Michigan had already lost twice to Purdue by a combined five points, both times playing well in defeat. This Michigan team was not the one that played those two previous games, however. Purdue held three leads in this game: 2-0, 5-3, and 7-5. Purdue made runs during the game and certainly made it close, but Michigan would not be denied this third time. This was Jon Teske's breakout party as the sophomore had 14 points in the most important game of his life: captured in one moment where he sprinted through the line, got the feed from Simpson, and dunked it hard, screaming in triumph seemingly at Isaac Haas to put the Wolverines up 18 late in the second half. Carsen Edwards, one of the Big Ten's finest players, was held to 4-16 shooting from the field. Vincent Edwards, a man who absolutely torched Michigan in West Lafayette, scored just four points and only managed six shots. This performance seemed to have been built up to for the entire season. This was the Michigan that everyone had waited to see. This was the Michigan that had left nine teams in their wake on a path of destruction leading into the NCAA Tournament. This was the Michigan that was ready to go on a post-season run. One may argue that the two-week layoff hurt Michigan as they came out in every game but the Texas A&M match-up cold on offense after having played a near-month long stretch of their best basketball of the season, and I would consider them right. However, this was a game that had been an entire season in the making. This game was worth hanging a banner for.
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