There are nights in a college basketball season when getting through forty minutes becomes the goal. For Michigan, tonight was one of those nights. It wasn’t a great night, it wasn’t a disastrous night, but it was another win—albeit a win many will forget by January.
The Wolverines were hosting the worst team on their schedule, which had just lost by over 63 points earlier this week. They were a few days out from leaving cold Ann Arbor for Florida’s sunshine and 80-degree weather.
Unfortunately, Tarleton State is one of the most frustrating teams to play against in that situation. The Texans pressure the ball constantly, play physically, and aren’t afraid to foul. In short, they muck up games as effectively as any team in the country because they lack a more viable approach.
Michigan was never threatened on Thursday night and never hit full stride, either. It was the Wolverines’ worst 2-point and 3-point shooting performance of the season, and few players will be happy with their night offensively on an individual level.
Still, they handled their business and won comfortably, 72-49, even on a cold night.