Michigan Escapes Nebraska's Push, But Defensive Concerns Linger
Final: Michigan 75, Nebraska 72 | Record: 19-1 (9-1 Big Ten)
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, for long stretches, it was downright frustrating. But when the dust settled, Michigan walked out with a hard-fought 75-72 win over Nebraska-a survive-and-advance type of night that reminded us just how grueling Big Ten play can be.
The Wolverines looked out of sync for much of the evening, struggling with turnovers, defensive lapses, and cold shooting from deep. But they made up for it the way veteran teams do: by owning the paint, crashing the glass, and cashing in at the free-throw line.
Michigan shot a blistering 83% from the stripe and continued its dominance inside, hitting 70% of its twos and pulling down more offensive rebounds than they had missed two-point attempts. That kind of efficiency is hard to beat-even on an off night.
Still, this game felt like a step back from the high-flying, non-conference version of Michigan we saw earlier in the season. The Wolverines have come back to earth a bit, but they’re still a very good team, likely tracking toward a No. 1 seed. And in the Big Ten, surviving nights like this is part of the deal.
Nebraska Is Legit
Let’s give Nebraska their due. They came into Ann Arbor shorthanded-missing key players Rienk Mast and Braden Frager-and still pushed Michigan to the brink.
They played just seven guys, but those seven came out swinging. No team has attacked Michigan’s switch-heavy defense quite like Nebraska did.
From the opening tip, they carved up the interior, shooting 18-for-31 on twos and making Michigan’s usually stout defense look vulnerable.
Sam Hoiberg was at the heart of it all, turning in a gritty, efficient performance: 13 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, and not a single turnover. He played with poise and toughness, muscling through defenders and setting the tone on both ends.
And how about freshman Leo Curtis? The 7-foot-2 Icelandic center stepped in and looked like he belonged, combining with Cale Jacobsen to go 7-for-10 inside, with zero turnovers and five steals between them.
Nebraska might not have been at full strength, but they played like it. This wasn’t a fluke-this team is for real.
Defensive Red Flags for Michigan
The biggest concern for Michigan coming out of this game isn’t the narrow margin-it’s the defense. Specifically, the two-point defense that had been a calling card earlier in the season has started to slip.
Since the Wisconsin game, opponents are shooting 51% from inside the arc over a six-game stretch. That’s a worrying trend, especially against teams that aren’t exactly offensive juggernauts.
The issue? Teams are pulling center Tarris Reed Jr. (and sometimes Mara) away from the basket, and Michigan’s switching system hasn’t been sharp enough to compensate.
Nebraska exploited this with smart cuts, crisp ball movement, and a willingness to attack mismatches. It wasn’t just players getting beat-it was Michigan getting out-schemed.
With big games looming, that’s something Dusty May and his staff will need to clean up in a hurry.
Illegal Screens and Missed Calls
Nebraska’s screen game was, let’s say, aggressive. Several screens looked more like pass blocks, with players lunging into defenders and extending elbows. Josiah Allick and Juwan Gary in particular were getting away with some obvious fouls, and it wasn’t until the second half that officials finally called one on Oleg Kojenets for an extended arm.
Frustration boiled over late in the first half as Michigan players and coaches pleaded for consistency. And they had a case.
The officiating crew missed several blatant calls-not just on screens, but on trips, shoves, and a couple of key out-of-bounds plays. One especially egregious no-call came when Dug McDaniel was clearly tripped while splitting a double team.
Another saw a kicked ball go uncalled, leading to a turnover.
To be fair, Michigan did benefit from a few whistles too-namely a no-call on the game-winning drive by Nimari Burnett, who barreled into Hoiberg with under a minute left. That one could’ve gone either way, but the lack of clarity on block/charge calls in today’s game continues to be a sore spot across college basketball.
Cadeau's Tough Night
It was a rough outing for freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau. He finished with eight turnovers and struggled mightily on defense, often getting caught behind back cuts or missing switches entirely. Nebraska repeatedly targeted him, and it paid off.
Offensively, Cadeau never found a rhythm. He scored seven points on ten shooting possessions, but his shot selection was shaky, and his decision-making wasn’t much better. His first possession of the game-an ill-advised, contested jumper early in the shot clock followed by a foul-set the tone.
To his credit, not all of the turnovers were on him. Several came on plays where he was clearly fouled-tripped on a drive, shoved on a pass, or knocked off balance-but didn’t get the whistle. Even grading on a generous curve, though, it was a night to forget for Cadeau.
The Offense: Still a Work in Progress
Michigan’s offensive identity is clear: dominate inside, get to the line, and live with the turnovers. That formula worked again here, even with a cold night from deep (just 23% from three). When you’re shooting 70% on twos and getting to the stripe that often, you can afford a few misfires from distance.
But at some point, the threes will need to fall-especially in March, when spacing tightens and every possession matters. For now, Michigan’s ability to win ugly is a strength. But the margin for error shrinks when the defense isn’t holding up its end.
What’s Next
This win keeps Michigan in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten, but the warning signs are there. Defensive slippage, turnover issues, and inconsistent perimeter shooting all reared their heads against Nebraska. The Wolverines escaped this one, but they’ll need to be sharper moving forward.
A big test looms on the horizon. If Michigan wants to stay in the one-seed conversation-and make a deep run come March-they’ll need to clean up the details, especially on the defensive end.
For now, though, a win’s a win. And in this league, you take those however you can get them.