In a pivotal Big Ten clash, Purdue's hopes of dethroning Michigan for the regular season title slipped away in West Lafayette. The Wolverines, showcasing their dominance, cruised to a 91-80 victory, pushing their conference record to an impressive 15-1.
This win left Purdue's head coach, Matt Painter, acknowledging the uphill battle. "They ain’t losing four games.
That’s just reality," Painter admitted, conceding Michigan's formidable position.
Michigan's prowess was evident on the boards, out-rebounding Purdue 39-31. Despite Purdue grabbing one more offensive rebound, Michigan's control was clear, especially by halftime with a commanding 48-32 lead.
Braden Smith, Purdue’s All-American point guard, found his rhythm late, scoring all 20 of his points in the second half. However, Michigan's towering presence, led by 7-foot-4 Aday Mara, made Smith cautious in the paint early on.
While Michigan appears dominant, they're not invincible. Wisconsin exposed vulnerabilities earlier in the season, particularly when Michigan struggles from the perimeter and Elliot Cadeau is turnover-prone. Yet, if the Wolverines replicate their first-half performance from Tuesday, they might be unmatched nationally.
With the Big Ten title nearly in their grasp, Michigan's upcoming non-conference game against Duke will serve as a crucial test before March Madness. Painter, reflecting on the season's stakes, noted, "Your final test is in the NCAA Tournament. Sure, you want to win those games, but if we’d have won it, we wouldn’t have had a parade."
Under Dusty May, Michigan is on the brink of securing its first regular-season conference title in his tenure and the program's 16th overall. However, without a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, the season might feel incomplete. In college basketball, the ultimate measure of success is navigating the intense 68-team tournament, a challenge Michigan seems poised to embrace.