The Michigan Wolverines just wrapped up one of their toughest stretches of the season - and they came out of it unscathed. Two top-10 matchups in one week, one at home against Nebraska and another on the road at Michigan State, and Michigan walked away 2-0.
It wasn’t always pretty, but it was revealing. As February begins and the Big Ten race heats up, this team remains at the top of the standings and very much in control of its destiny.
Let’s break down what we learned about Dusty May’s squad this past week - and why the Wolverines continue to look like a team built for a deep March run.
Turnovers: The Achilles' Heel of an Elite Offense
There’s no denying it: Michigan’s offense is electric. Every player in the rotation has the ability to take over a game, and when the Wolverines are firing on all cylinders, they look like the most dangerous team in the country. But there’s one thing that keeps popping up - and it could be the difference between a Final Four run and an early exit: turnovers.
Dusty May’s up-tempo system thrives on pace and space. It’s aggressive, it’s fast, and it’s fun to watch.
But when that pace gets out of control, the offense can go from dominant to disjointed in a hurry. That was on full display against Nebraska.
Jamarques Lawrence got hot and rattled off 10 straight points across four possessions, suddenly putting the Huskers up double digits. Michigan looked rattled - and it wasn’t just the hot hand that hurt them.
Coming out of a TV timeout, the Wolverines rolled out a bench-heavy lineup. The next five possessions?
Turnover, turnover, turnover, layup, turnover. Three different players coughed the ball up, and while Nebraska only converted one of those into points, it underscored a lingering issue: Michigan’s margin for error shrinks when they get careless.
The Nebraska game wasn’t the only example. Against Michigan State, the Wolverines were surgical in the first half, turning the ball over just four times and forcing the Spartans into tough looks.
The result? A 16-point halftime lead in a hostile environment.
But after the break, the script flipped. Eight turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the second half allowed Michigan State to erase the deficit and even take a brief lead.
Then came the response - and it was telling. Down the stretch, Michigan committed just one turnover and dropped 31 points to not only retake the lead but close the game out in dominant fashion.
That’s the version of this team that can win a national title. When they take care of the ball, they’re nearly impossible to stop.
Will Tschetter: The Steadying Hand in the Chaos
While the headlines often go to the stars - Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, the explosive freshman Trey McKenney - it was fifth-year senior Will Tschetter who delivered when it mattered most last week.
Against Nebraska, Michigan’s offense was sputtering in the second half. They had just eight points in the first 10 minutes and were teetering on the edge of letting the game slip away.
Then came Tschetter. With the Wolverines down and the momentum swinging, he calmly buried a three-pointer that sparked a 19-8 run to close the game.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what Michigan needed.
Fast forward to Friday night in East Lansing. Another second-half surge from the opponent, another moment of crisis.
Michigan State had just taken the lead - their first since the early minutes - and the crowd at Breslin Center was roaring. But that lead lasted all of 20 seconds.
Tschetter answered with what Dusty May later called “the biggest shot of the game,” swinging the momentum right back to the Wolverines.
Beyond the big shots, Tschetter’s value is in the little things - the veteran plays that don’t always show up in the box score. Drawing a foul on a three-point attempt.
Calling a timeout in the middle of a scramble to save a possession. Selling a foul call with smart positioning and savvy timing.
He’s not filling up the stat sheet, but he’s filling the leadership void - and that’s just as important.
Tschetter is the kind of player every championship team needs. A glue guy.
A tone-setter. A fifth-year senior who knows exactly what it takes to win in the Big Ten and isn’t afraid of the moment.
He’s not just playing his role - he’s owning it. And last week, when Michigan needed someone to settle the storm, it was Tschetter who stepped up.
Looking Ahead
Michigan’s 2-0 week didn’t just keep them atop the Big Ten standings - it showed us something deeper. This is a team that can take a punch, regroup, and respond.
They can win with their stars, or they can win with their veterans. They can dominate early, or they can close late.
But if there’s one thing that could derail their run, it’s turnovers. Clean that up, and the ceiling gets even higher.
With more big games on the horizon and March creeping closer, the Wolverines are looking more and more like a team built for the big stage. And if Tschetter keeps hitting timely shots and the offense stays in rhythm, don’t be surprised if Michigan is still dancing deep into the tournament.