Game 29: Michigan at Illinois Recap

Michigan clinched the outright Big Ten title in style on Friday night, dominating the closest competition on its home floor with physicality, poise, and toughness.

There’s no better way to prove you are the class of the league than double-digit wins against your closest rivals: 12 points in East Lansing, 11 points in West Lafayette, and 14 points in Champaign.

If we’re being honest, those final margins were generous to the opposition. Michigan led all three games — on the road — for an average of 34 minutes each.

The Wolverines were facing the tallest team in Division I on Friday night, but left no doubt which team had the best frontcourt in America.

Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara combined for 54 points (on 20 of 30 shooting), 22 rebounds, four blocks, and seven assists. On the other end? Illinois’ three bigs managed just 21 points on 9 of 23 shooting. They made just three more 2-point attempts than Michigan blocked.

Yaxel Lendeborg put what should be the rubber stamp on his Big Ten Player of the Year candidacy, notching 16 points, 7 rebounds, and four assists while guarding his biggest Player of the Year rival — point guard Keaton Wagler — for 94 feet.

Morez Johnson Jr. earned KenPom MVP honors in front of his former fans and current haters, dominating his old teammates and new replacements as the most physical player on the floor.

And Aday Mara played one of his best games of the year, again. He had 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and was unstoppable in the second half.

All three players made a case to be the best player on the floor tonight, but that’s been Michigan’s cheat code all year — it doesn’t just have the best player, it has three of them.