Michigan took the sport’s biggest stage on Saturday night and did what it has done all year: dominate. The Wolverines have been the biggest and toughest team in college basketball all season long. Saturday was supposed to be a match of equals — it wasn’t anything close to that.
The Wolverines landed the opening flurry and set the tone early, leading 10-1 out of the gates, then 26-10 by the 10-minute mark. They won the paint and won the game, leading by 30 points midway through the second half, and cruised to a win in their signature style with the walk-ons playing out the final minute.
It didn’t matter how many things went wrong; Michigan had the solutions. Yaxel Lendeborg was called for two fouls on one possession, 90 seconds into the game. Then he injured his knee and ankle when he returned and hobbled to 14 minutes on one leg.
It didn’t matter that the best player in the sport could barely walk; Michigan was inevitable. Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. were both whistled for two first-half fouls, too, but played their way through it and dominated.
To the 72,000+ packed into Lucas Oil Stadium, there was no doubt who the class of the sport was.
The Wolveirnes had the best bigs, the best guards, the best bench, and the best game plan — just like they have almost every time they’ve taken the floor this year. With the 91-73 win, the Wolverines are on the precipice of cashing in on Lendeborg’s early-season promise: best team in Michigan history.
It sounded cocky or hopeful then; it’s one Monday night away from reality now.
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