For a Michigan Basketball team that has seemed to get caught playing down to opponents this year, showcased in hairy games against Ohio and Jackson State, not to mention a loss to Central Michigan, one might've thought that a home game against Penn State just before a rivalry clash with the Spartans could be recipe for trouble. That was not the case tonight, as the Michigan Wolverines moved past the visiting Nittany Lions with a solid effort, clinging to a lead nearly wire-to-wire and finishing it off in crunch time, something that has eluded the squad at times this year. In all, a 79-69 win keeps Michigan's perfect B1G record intact and has them on a two game winning streak ahead of Saturday's battle with MSU. The first half was a good all-around effort for Michigan, duking it out early in the first four minutes but then pulling ahead on a 9-0 run beginning with a Jett Howard and-one and ending on a Tarris Reed turnaround jumper, a possession extended by Reed's o
THE ESSENTIALS WHAT #47 Michigan (5-1) vs #147 Minnesota (4-4) WHERE Williams Arena Minneapolis, MN WHEN 9:00 PM THE LINE Kenpom: M -5 Torvik: M -4 TELEVISION BTN THE OVERVIEW Minnesota had the most year zero year possible in 2021-22, replacing literally everyone from the prior year except for big Eric Curry. This year they're doing it again. Kenpom has them 343rd in roster continuity; this year they're replacing literally everyone except stretch four Jamison Battle. Rough. The resulting team is not any better than they were a year ago and may be worse. They've dropped from 109th in Kenpom to 147th. They their best result against an opponent in the top 150 is a nine point loss on a neutral floor to UNLV; they have a one-point OT win over #156 Cal Baptist and one-point win over #315 Western Michigan. Purdue just hammered them by 19. To say this is a must win for Michigan is an understatement. THE US Seth's graphic [click to embiggen]: faq for these graphics Jaelin Ll