Three Michigan teams have won at the Kohl Center since 2000, and they all went on to have special seasons and raise banners. Dusty May’s first team is now number four on the list.
The Wolverines went into the house of horrors in Madison, weathered adversity, and came out with a gritty 67-64 victory. It was an ugly night for the go-to options in the backcourt, and they shot just 24% from 3-point range, but their defense kept them in the game long enough for the bigs to win it.
Danny Wolf played like an All-American for the second game in a row, not like Michigan’s best player or one of the better players in the Big Ten, but like one of the best players in the country. He has to prove that he can do that more often, but he has stuff in his bag that few other players in the country have.
Wolf finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and three steals in 31 minutes. The stat line hasn’t been matched in a regulation game for eight years, but it feels like it sells Wolf short in some form.
Wolf did everything for Michigan on a night when he didn’t have much help. The 7-footer was Michigan’s best defensive player, as comfortable protecting the rim as he was guarding Wisconsin’s All-Big Ten wing John Tonje on the perimeter. He was the primary initiator in Michigan’s offense, scored circus shots on drives to the rim, whipped full-court transition passes, and most importantly, picked Wisconsin apart with his ability to play out of ball screens — as a 7-footer — racking up five second-half assists and fueling Vlad Goldin’s best scoring night in a Michigan uniform with dime after dime.
Michigan’s season has always been about the two-big lineup, and Michigan’s two bigs dominated Wisconsin’s bigs. Wolf and Goldin racked up 44 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, eight blocks and four steals. Wisconsin’s starting frontcourt duo combined for 10 points on 15 shots and just two in the second half.
Dusty May Promo!
Subscribe to Continue Reading
Join the UM Hoops community today and access our exclusive content.
- Advanced analysis and previews
- Member-only forum & monthly ‘Ask Me Anything’
- In-depth video breakdowns and features
- Ad-free viewing
Already a UM Hoops member? Sign in below
