Michigan’s first eight games might have felt like glorified exhibitions, but Big Ten road games are still Big Ten road games.
There were times on Tuesday night when it seemed like Wolverines were toying with the Wildcats. They extended early leads in both halves and seemed to be in control of the game only to see Northwestern battle back.
“Every other team they’ve played has laid down and lost by 25 to 30 points,” Chris Collins remarked after the loss. “Our guys wouldn’t do that.”
He’s not wrong.
Every other team that Michigan has faced packed its bags when the Wolverines rattled off a 15-point lead, but the Wildcats dug in. A road whistle, big shots and critical mistakes landed Michigan with its first full serving of adversity of the season.
It wasn’t always pretty and a desperation heave at the horn by Ryan Taylor could have sent the Wolverines home with their first loss, but they escaped with a 62-60 win.
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