Michigan got back to doing what it does best on Wednesday night - owning the paint and setting the tone physically - and the result was a much-needed bounce-back win after its first loss of the season.
Now, the fourth-ranked Wolverines are looking to keep that momentum rolling as they head into a Saturday showdown with Oregon in Eugene.
Just days after a surprising 91-88 home loss to unranked Wisconsin, Michigan responded with a gritty 82-72 road win over Washington. It wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. The Wolverines dominated the interior, outscoring the Huskies 50-28 in the paint, and looked much more like the team that had started the season 14-0.
Freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. was a force, finishing with 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. His energy on the glass and presence in the paint changed the game. Center Aday Mara, the 7-foot-3 transfer from UCLA, was nearly automatic, hitting 10 of his 11 shots for a season-high 20 points.
“As a coaching staff, we kept saying it over and over - ‘Rez is an absolute dog, Rez is an absolute beast,’” head coach Dusty May said postgame. “We were repetitive, but that’s because he kept making the kinds of plays that demand respect.”
Mara, who’s been steadily growing into his role, gave full credit to his teammate.
“Rez’s rebounding - I’ve never seen anything like it,” Mara said. “That was more important than me scoring 20.
Rebounding was a key for this game, and he crushed it. It’s way easier to play when you’ve got a guy like him on your side.”
That kind of frontcourt dominance was exactly what Michigan needed after letting Wisconsin shoot 50% from the field and 45% from deep in that loss. Against Washington, the Wolverines tightened the screws defensively, holding the Huskies to just 37.5% overall and 27.3% from three.
Now sitting at 15-1 overall and 5-1 in Big Ten play, Michigan is back in rhythm - but the trip to Oregon won’t be a walkover, even if the Ducks are struggling.
Oregon (8-9, 1-5 Pac-12) is having a tough season by its standards. Longtime head coach Dana Altman’s squad has dropped three straight, including a lopsided 90-55 loss at Nebraska on Tuesday.
That game got away from them fast - Nebraska led by 12 at the break and ran away with it in the second half, at one point leading by 39. The Cornhuskers shot 53% from the field and turned 16 Oregon turnovers into 23 points.
Altman didn’t mince words after the game.
“We got our butts kicked,” he said. “They played harder than we did.
They outrebounded us, outfought us at every turn. I’m very disappointed in my ball team.
We’ve got a tough stretch coming up with Michigan and Michigan State. It’s not going to get any easier.”
The Ducks’ top scorer, 7-footer Nate Bittle, was held to just 10 points and three rebounds in 25 minutes. He’s averaging 16.3 points and 6.7 boards on the season, but he’ll face a tall order - literally - trying to match up with Mara in the post.
For Oregon, this upcoming stretch could define their season. For Michigan, it’s about staying sharp, staying physical, and continuing to impose their will inside. If Johnson and Mara keep playing like they did in Seattle, the Wolverines will be a tough out for anyone - not just this weekend, but come March.