Michigan basketball has wrapped up what could be considered one of the most dominant seasons in Big Ten history. While the Indiana Hoosiers famously went undefeated against an 18-team schedule half a century ago, the landscape of the Big Ten has evolved dramatically since then. This year, the Wolverines faced off against six ranked teams within the conference, making up nearly a third of their schedule.
Out of their 20 victories, five came against top-five opponents, with four of those wins being by double digits. The only nail-biter was a three-point triumph over Nebraska.
In fact, only four of Michigan's conference games were decided by less than 10 points. Impressively, they became the first team to achieve a 10-0 record on the road in Big Ten play, a feat Indiana couldn't accomplish due to fewer road games back in their era.
Michigan's Dominance in Big Ten Awards
Given their stellar performance, it was no surprise that the Wolverines swept the Big Ten postseason awards. Dusty May was named Big Ten Coach of the Year by the media. Yaxel Lendeborg took home the Big Ten Player of the Year honors, while Aday Mara was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year.
Morez Johnson earned second-team All-Big Ten from the media and third-team from the coaches. Aday Mara also secured a spot on the third-team All-Big Ten, as voted by both the coaches and media.
Johnson, Lendeborg, and Mara were among the five players selected for the All-Big Ten defensive team, showcasing their prowess on both ends of the court. Additionally, Trey McKenney was named to the All-Big Ten freshman team.
With one banner already secured, Michigan is well on its way to achieving its goal of hanging three this season.