Five takeaways from Michigan’s 110-69 win over Penn State

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Michigan’s 41-point blowout win over Penn State was never close, with the Wolverines dominating an undermanned, undersized Nittany Lions squad in essentially every aspect of the game. It was something of a return to the lopsided, over-before-halftime victories that Michigan strung together earlier this season — albeit against a considerably outmatched opponent — and the score gave the Wolverines’ stars ample time to rest before the schedule picks up again in the thick of Big Ten play.

Here are five takeaways from Michigan’s record-setting win versus Penn State.

Best start in program history

For the first time in Michigan basketball history, the Wolverines are 21-1. Past teams have been close: Michigan was 20-1 in 2012-13 and 2018-19, but both teams lost that 22nd game. It quickly became apparent that a similar fate wouldn’t fall upon this squad.

“I’ve seen on social media that this is the best start since this team and that team. But I don’t pay that much attention to it,” Dusty May said postgame. “And then right before I went and talked to the guys, 12 minutes before the game, someone said, ‘If we win this game, this is the best start in Michigan basketball history.’ I started thinking about all the great teams and players who played here, and the coaches that coached here, and thought, ‘Wow, that’s a heck of an honor.’ ”

While the Wolverines played with an energy and effort level representative of setting a program record, May acknowledged that Michigan’s true goals are set much higher.

“Obviously, it’s not an ultimate goal, but for February, that’s pretty cool to be setting new standards and new bars,” May said. “And so we told our guys that, and they seem to be excited, because they respect the program and those that lay the foundation for us, there’s a reason that they’re making NIL money, and as coaches, are making the money we make because of the foundation that was laid over the last 100 years. So a lot to be grateful for.”