The No. 4 Michigan Wolverines wrapped up their annual West Coast swing with a pair of hard-earned wins, capped off by an 81-71 road victory over Oregon on Saturday night. And while it wasn’t always pretty, it was a gritty, resilient performance that showed why this Michigan team is sitting at 16-1 and climbing.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t the cakewalk we saw in some of Michigan’s early non-conference blowouts. Oregon, even shorthanded, came out with purpose.
The Ducks were missing key starters - point guard Jackson Shelstad and center Nate Bittle - but still brought the fight. That’s a credit to Dana Altman, who’s been a model of consistency in Eugene for nearly a decade and a half.
But this year’s squad is battling both injuries and inconsistency, and Saturday’s loss dropped them two games under .500.
Still, Oregon didn’t roll over. They punched first.
A Tale of Two Halves
Michigan came out a little sluggish, and Oregon took advantage. The Ducks were quicker to loose balls, more active on the glass, and they controlled the paint early, outscoring Michigan 16-10 inside in the first half. With freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. in foul trouble, Michigan was forced to go small, and the Ducks took full advantage.
The Wolverines didn’t help themselves either. They went ice cold late in the first half, failing to hit a field goal in the final 6:42 before the break. That drought allowed Oregon to take a 41-40 lead into halftime - a reminder that even top teams can’t afford to coast on the road in this new-look Big Ten.
But credit Michigan for flipping the switch when it mattered.
Coming out of the locker room, the Wolverines opened the second half on a 7-0 run, sparked by a couple of threes and some strong post work from Aday Mara. That stretch gave Michigan a 53-47 lead and set the tone for the rest of the game. Mara, in particular, was a force down low after halftime, scoring eight of his 12 points in the second half and giving Michigan the interior presence it lacked early.
From there, Michigan kept Oregon at bay. Every time the Ducks made a push, the Wolverines responded - whether it was a timely jumper from L.J.
Cason, a strong drive from Roddy Gayle Jr., or a key defensive stop. The Wolverines finished with seven blocks and made life miserable for Oregon down the stretch.
Still, there’s a lesson here. Michigan has shown it can turn it on when needed, but it can’t keep relying on second-half surges.
The Big Ten grind won’t always allow for slow starts and late recoveries. This team is 16-1, yes - but it hasn’t played a full 40-minute game since the McNeese win.
That’s something Juwan Howard and his staff will want to clean up as the season rolls on.
Balanced Attack, Burnett Sets the Tone
Offensively, Michigan was at its best when the ball was moving and the scoring was spread around - and Saturday was a prime example. Eight different Wolverines scored in the first seven minutes, and that early balance helped keep Oregon’s defense guessing.
Nimari Burnett was the tone-setter. The veteran guard came out firing, knocking down two threes and finishing a pair of strong drives to the rim.
He was the first Wolverine to hit double figures and stayed in rhythm all night. Burnett finished with 15 points on just 10 shots - efficient, confident, and exactly what Michigan needed.
But he wasn’t alone. Elliot Cadeau led the team with 17 points, while Mara chipped in 12.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Cason, Johnson, and Will Tschetter all added at least six. That kind of scoring depth is what makes Michigan so dangerous.
When multiple guys are involved, this offense hums.
Oregon’s Short-Handed Trio Steps Up
With Shelstad and Bittle sidelined, Oregon leaned heavily on Kwame Evans, Sean Stewart, and Wei Lin - and for a while, that trio delivered.
Evans was everywhere early, crashing the glass and scoring in bunches. He had 12 of Oregon’s first 17 points and was a key reason the Ducks stayed in it early.
Stewart, meanwhile, had a breakout performance, scoring a career-high 22 points, including his first made three of the season. Lin was steady as well, getting to the line and finishing with 11 points - six of those coming from the stripe.
That trio combined for 24 of Oregon’s 41 first-half points and 40 overall. They were the heartbeat of the Ducks' offense. But Michigan’s second-half defense clamped down, and those looks got a lot tougher after the break.
Ball Movement Fuels the Three-Point Game
One of the underrated strengths of this Michigan team has been its ball movement - and it was on full display again Saturday. The Wolverines moved the ball with purpose and precision, creating clean catch-and-shoot looks that they consistently knocked down.
They hit five of their first 12 threes (42%) to open up an early 17-9 lead. Burnett and Cadeau each hit key threes to open the second half and get Michigan rolling again. And perhaps the biggest shot of the night came from Tschetter, whose corner three extended the lead to double digits and felt like the dagger.
Michigan finished the game shooting 39% from deep and dished out 15 assists. That’s the kind of offensive execution that travels - and in the Big Ten, it’ll need to.
Smaller Lineup Gets a Look
With Johnson in foul trouble, Michigan had to go away from its usual jumbo lineup and lean on a smaller frontcourt rotation. That meant extended minutes for Lendeborg and Tschetter at the 5 - and mixed results.
Offensively, the smaller group spaced the floor and created some good looks. But defensively, Oregon exploited the lack of rim protection, driving straight to the hoop and winning the paint battle early.
It’s clear that Michigan is at its best when Johnson and Mara are both active and productive. The duo combined for just five points in the first half, but their presence in the second half helped stabilize things. Still, the smaller lineup might be something to keep in the back pocket - especially with foul trouble or matchup issues likely to pop up in March.
What’s Next
Michigan heads back to Ann Arbor for a pair of home games at Crisler Center. First up is Indiana on Tuesday, followed by a Friday night showdown with Ohio State - a game that will also feature a special moment, as Trey Burke’s jersey will be honored before tipoff.
At 16-1, Michigan is right where it wants to be - but the margin for error is shrinking. The Big Ten grind is here, and the Wolverines will need more complete performances if they want to stay at the top. But if Saturday’s second-half surge is any indication, they’ve got the tools to do it.