After a string of terrible and humiliating defeats, Michigan Men's Basketball got back up off the mat today by defeating the #11 Wisconsin Badgers at Crisler Center. The Wolverines got more of an ensemble effort on offense after Dug McDaniel had an uncharacteristically quiet effort, while they benefitted from a cold shooting night by the Badgers on the defensive end. Michigan took a lead into halftime, stomached an early surge in the second half from Wisconsin, and then re-established a lead. A lead that this time, they'd put away to earn a 72-68 victory, a win to end a five game losing streak. 

Michigan shot the ball very well in the early going of the game, leading 19-15 at the under 12 media timeout. Wisconsin had already turned the ball over seven times by that point and Michigan's offense was flowing seamlessly. Being a home game, PG Dug McDaniel's services were available and early on, he was going pretty well. Dug started 5/7 from the floor and put in 11 early points to boost Michigan's offense, and they held a lead much of the first half. They were up 26-20 at the under 8 timeout, a lead that would soon stretch to nine after a Jaelin Llewellyn three, causing Wisconsin coach Greg Gard to call timeout. 

It was around this point that McDaniel appeared to suffer a minor injury, locking knees with a Wisconsin player, causing his offense to drop-off precipitously. From that point until the game's closing minutes, Dug was a nonfactor offensively, forcing Michigan to look elsewhere for offense. The Llewellyn three was the capper of a 10-1 Michigan run, but Wisconsin made a push to narrow the lead. It was all the way down to 34-33 when Will Tschetter drove the lane, was fouled but laid it in. Tschetter converted the and-one to put Michigan ahead 37-33. Both teams had a chance to make a bucket before the half, but a McDaniel shot was off the mark and Wisconsin's fade in the lane didn't go down either. The score stood at 37-33 at halftime, Michigan shooting 14/26 from the floor to Wisconsin's 12/26, Michigan hotter from the perimeter but Wisconsin getting higher quality looks inside. 

[Marc-Gregor Campredon

The early second half seemed to be following the familiar script, the one where Michigan is among the NCAA's worst second half teams. Wisconsin came out on fire, continuing to get anything they want at the rim, which included an end-to-end layup with little contest that forced Juwan Howard to call timeout. Michigan still held a one point lead at that point, but their paint defense was on full display- at that juncture, 13 of Wisconsin's last 14 made field goals were layups(!!). A few moments later, the Badgers had the lead as McDaniel was caught sleeping, allowing an easy alley-oop to give Wisconsin a 43-42 lead. Michigan was simultaneously 1/7 from the floor to open the half and McDaniel went straight to the bench. 

Wisconsin would stretch their lead up to 48-44, the period of the game where the usual story of second half meltdowns appeared to be unfolding. But then the game turned. The biggest change was the Badger offense going away from what was working so well, easy points in the paint. Instead, they began to focus more on perimeter shooting and to their credit, they got some open looks from three. The problem was, their shooting abilities from three were colder than the waters of Lake Superior this time of year. Wisconsin bricked three after three and the consistent penetration they had been generating to reclaim the lead vanished. And in the process, so did their lead. 

Olivier Nkamhoua swished a fadeaway to put Michigan back up 49-48 and then Will Tschetter extended the lead with a three. Wisconsin's turnover bug from the opening minutes of the game was also starting to reappear, gifting Michigan an easy bucket to make the score 56-50. Tarris Reed Jr., who played one of his stronger games of the season, added points on a pretty little shake and dunk inside to make the score 58-52. Eventually the Michigan surge hit a fever pitch when Tschetter connected on a three to put Michigan up 63-54 with 5:45 left, now a 19-6 Michigan run. 

[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

Closing the game out wasn't going to be easy, though. Wisconsin came right back and finally began to wake up from deep. Max Klesmit hit a three to make it 63-57 and then Chucky Hepburn hit a three on the next possession, the two triples sandwiched around a difficult Terrance Williams II jumper. 65-60. Wisconsin turned it over again and Williams went to the free throw line, stretching the lead to 67-60, but an AJ Storr layup cut it back to five, 67-62. Tarris Reed Jr. would be next to go to the line and the big man went 0/2, sending a bit of a sinking feeling through the crowd. Thankfully, Reed made up for it with a block on Tyler Wahl, though Llewellyn gave the basketball right back on Michigan's trip up the floor. The Badgers came down and Storr would lay one in to make the score 67-64 with just 2:08 left. 

Nkamhoua lost the ball as Michigan's offensive troubles continued and Wisconsin now had possession with a chance to tie. Chucky Hepburn drove the lane but Llewellyn blocked the layup attempt, rebounded down by Williams, and Howard called timeout. Dug McDaniel, who had been an afterthought in the second half, was given trust from his head coach during the timeout. They put the ball in Dug's hands and the guard rewarded the trust: his driving floater went down, Dug's first points of the second half and Michigan was ahead two possessions.

Klesmit added two free throws after being fouled by Burnett to cut it back to 69-66 and McDaniel went back up the floor. This time his shot missed and Wisconsin had another chance to tie. Gard called timeout but whatever he drew up didn't materialize, the offense stagnating as the clock ticked down. Frantic late in the possession, Hepburn pulled up for a contested three over Nimari Burnett. The shot was off the mark, Michigan rebounded it down and McDaniel ended up at the line. Over the span of the final minute, Dug went 3/4 at the line and that was just enough to get it done. After Klesmit missed a three down 72-68, Wisconsin opted not to foul and the clock ticked away. 

[Marc-Gregor Campredon]

Michigan and Wisconsin shot very similar clips from the floor, Michigan 45% and Wisconsin 46%. Wisconsin did it on three more attempts, though Michigan made two more threes. The bigger difference was from the line, 19/25 to Wisconsin's 13/19. Michigan's offense was remarkably balanced, Dug with 16 points, but seven players scored 5 points or more. Storr led Wisconsin with 20, followed by Hepburn's 17. Tray Jackson we should note, was relatively quiet with just two points before fouling out. 

Michigan's win over Wisconsin ends a five game losing streak, moving them to 3-9 in conference play. They are now tied with Ohio State for last in the conference, but you have to start somewhere. It is just their second win in the last 12 games dating back to mid-December as well. The team doesn't have too many more games left at home, just three of their final eight being at Crisler Center. Next up is one of the B1G's most intimidating venues, Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln against a frisky Nebraska squad, and Michigan will have to do it sans Dug McDaniel, who will be back serving his away games suspension. That game is on Saturday night and is scheduled for 6:30 PM on BTN. 

[Click the JUMP for the box score]