Michigan Survives Nebraska, But Concerns Linger Heading Into Rivalry Clash With Michigan State
If Michigan has real aspirations of contending for the Big Ten title, Tuesday night’s game against Nebraska was one it simply couldn’t afford to drop. A loss would’ve meant falling two games back in the standings with a trip to East Lansing up next - not exactly an ideal scenario for a team still trying to find its identity.
For a while, it looked like the Wolverines might be heading straight into that nightmare. Nebraska came out firing, knocking down 10 threes in the first half and building an 11-point lead.
Michigan’s perimeter shooting, meanwhile, was ice cold once again. But the Wolverines didn’t fold.
Instead, they stayed aggressive, attacked the paint, and found their advantage at the free-throw line and inside the arc.
Michigan earned 24 trips to the stripe and converted 19 of them - a critical edge in a game where every possession mattered. Even more impressive: they shot a blistering 70 percent on 2-point attempts, compared to Nebraska’s 56 percent.
That interior dominance helped flip the script in the second half, especially as Nebraska’s hot shooting cooled off. The Huskers, who were already down two key players in Braden Frager and Rienk Mast, hit just one three after the break.
Let’s break down three key takeaways from Michigan’s gritty, but far-from-perfect, win.
1. Another Cold Night From Deep
It’s no secret at this point - when Michigan goes cold from beyond the arc, it’s really cold. The Wolverines shot just 23 percent from three against Nebraska, a number eerily similar to their 22 percent outing against Ohio State.
Yaxel Lendeborg went 0-for-6. Nimari Burnett was 0-for-5.
And as a team, Michigan continues to struggle to find any rhythm from deep.
That’s a red flag heading into Friday’s showdown with Michigan State. The Spartans are too disciplined defensively to let you live in the paint for 40 minutes. If Michigan can’t start hitting open looks from the perimeter, it’s going to be an uphill battle in East Lansing.
2. Sticking to the Formula
Despite the early barrage of threes from Nebraska, Michigan didn’t panic - and that patience paid off. Basketball is a game of averages, and the Huskers’ first-half shooting spree was always going to cool off. It did.
Fred Hoiberg leaned heavily on a seven-man rotation, and the lack of depth showed late. Without Mast and Frager - two of Nebraska’s best finishers - the Huskers simply couldn’t sustain their early pace. Michigan capitalized.
The Wolverines’ frontcourt trio of Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, and Yaxel Lendeborg went a combined 11-for-12 on 2-point shots. That’s efficiency you can build around.
Nebraska typically holds a +13 advantage in 2-point percentage over opponents. On Tuesday, that flipped - Michigan outshot them by 13 percent inside the arc.
And those 19 made free throws? That’s five more than Nebraska usually gives up. Credit Michigan for staying aggressive and forcing the issue inside.
3. Turnovers and Troubling Trends
While the win was important, it didn’t come without warning signs. Michigan turned the ball over 19 times - a number that simply won’t cut it against a Michigan State team that thrives on extra possessions. Last season, the Spartans swept the Wolverines, fueled in part by dominance on the offensive glass and Michigan’s inability to take care of the ball.
Yes, this is a different Michigan roster. But the shooting struggles from deep have carried over, and the turnover issues are becoming a pattern. Giving away possessions is a recipe for disaster in a rivalry game, especially on the road.
If Michigan wants to walk out of East Lansing with a win, two things have to change - the Wolverines need to clean up the ball-handling, and they have to start knocking down some threes. The interior scoring has been there.
The effort is there. But unless the shooting and turnovers improve, the road to a Big Ten title is going to be a steep one.
Up Next: A rivalry clash with major implications. Michigan heads to East Lansing to face Michigan State on Friday - a game that could go a long way in defining the Wolverines’ season.