Michigan’s early-season games set the expectation for Dusty May’s ideal basketball product. Sunday’s game in North Carolina against Wake Forest measured what Michigan can do when things don’t go as planned.
It was a chance to see how the Wolverines responded when they were hit in the mouth, reacted when they faced elite athleticism or length, and executed in pressure situations. The result was a 72-70 loss, and a team passed some tests but failed others.
The early-season stress test showed some evident cracks in Michigan’s team but also proved that this group can go away from home and battle a quality opponent. There was no insurmountable run that led to the Wolverines folding, and no moment where Michigan came unglued. It was a possession-by-possession game for the entirety of the second half. The Wolverines fell short, but this result will be judged by what comes from it in the future and how Michigan adapts to some weaknesses that Wake Forest exposed.
For now, they have a few days to prepare and make the necessary adjustments as they prepare for another high-major test on Friday.
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