Michigan basketball wrapped up its West Coast swing with another statement win, this time against an Oregon squad that came out swinging despite being short-handed. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was gritty-and it gave us a clearer picture of where things stand for the Wolverines and the Big Ten race at large. Let’s break it down.
Oregon’s record doesn’t tell the full story
Don’t let the box score or their win-loss column fool you-Oregon brought it. Missing their top two scorers, Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle, the Ducks still managed to outplay Michigan for most of the first half. Dana Altman had his team locked in from the jump, and Wei Lin’s buzzer-beating three to close the half gave Oregon a lead that felt well-earned.
This is the same Oregon team that just got blown out by 35 against Nebraska. They could’ve folded.
Instead, they came out with energy, execution, and a chip on their shoulder. A full-strength Oregon team might have had the firepower to pull off a season-defining upset.
But as it stood, they simply ran out of steam after halftime.
Michigan loses the paint battle-for the first time all season
Here’s something we haven’t said yet this year: Michigan didn’t win the points-in-the-paint battle. Oregon matched the Wolverines bucket for bucket inside, each team putting up 32 points in the paint. That might not sound like a big deal, but for a Michigan squad that’s built its identity around dominating the interior, it’s a notable shift.
Aday Mara had a stretch where he was getting looks near the rim but couldn’t finish through contact. Eventually, Dusty May gave him a breather.
Morez Johnson Jr., who’s been a force lately, was limited by foul trouble-three whistles in just 12 minutes-and never fully found his rhythm. Yaxel Lendeborg was quiet offensively, hitting just one field goal.
Will Tschetter chipped in with eight points, mostly coming from beyond the arc and the charity stripe.
This wasn’t Michigan’s typical bruising performance down low, and yet they still found a way to win. That’s the kind of adaptability that matters in March.
Six teams are starting to separate in the Big Ten
With January winding down, the Big Ten race is heating up-and six teams have clearly emerged as contenders: Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin already holds the tiebreaker over Michigan, but Dusty May’s group will have chances to make up ground. The back half of January is loaded with high-stakes matchups: Illinois heads to Purdue, and Michigan faces Nebraska and Michigan State in a pair of road tests that could shape the top of the standings.
This is where the Big Ten starts to feel like a gauntlet. Every possession, every rotation, every late-game decision could be the difference between a regular-season title and a three-seed in the conference tournament. And right now, Michigan’s in the thick of it.
Michigan's win in Eugene wasn’t just another W on the schedule-it was a gut-check. They didn’t dominate the way they usually do, especially in the paint, but they found a way to respond when Oregon pushed. That’s the kind of resilience you want to see from a team with championship aspirations.