Michigan basketball happy to prove it can ‘win ugly’ in OT victory over Northwestern

[ad_1]

There’s a fine line in college basketball between rolling teams and getting rolled. Between feeling good about yourself and starting to question things. Between the results that matter — wins and losses.

As Michigan basketball head coach Dusty May explained Sunday afternoon at Crisler Center, where his Wolverines escaped a gritty Northwestern team, 80-76 in overtime, some days, it’s just about remembering one thing: All’s well that ends well.

Michigan guard Rubin Jones (15) dribbles against Northwestern guard Ty Berry (3) during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.

LISTEN UP: Danny Wolf leading the Michigan basketball turnaround

“Happy to find a way to win this one,” May said Sunday. “I do think this will give us confidence. There will be days where we’re on the road and down five, down eight and it’s just about stay the course and find a way to win ugly.

“This experience and this evidence will help us going forward.”

In the glass half-full view of Michigan’s most recent performance, Vladislav Goldin took over with 31 points and eight rebounds to will No. 19 Michigan (14-4, 6-1 Big Ten) to victory.

The Wolverines committed only 11 turnovers in 45 minutes against a top-50 team in generating takeaways, won the scoring battle in the paint, 24-14 and had an edge on second-chance points (15-11).

In a glass-half empty view of U-M’s effort against the Wildcats, however, you could point out that U-M allowed a team with only four effective shooters — Brooks Barnhizer, Ty Berry, Jalen Leach and Nick Martinelli took 55 of NU’s combined 58 shots — to score 76 points, though, again, that was in 45 minutes.

Likewise, U-M’s bench scored just 12 points, the Wolverines were outrebounded, 41-39, and the other 7-footer, Danny Wolf, didn’t make a shot from the floor.

Actually, it’s that last fact that has May optimistic as his team heads into a huge road showdown with Purdue on Friday (8 p.m., Fox).

“Very proud of our guys to stay the course especially…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-basketball-happy-prove-win-110813739.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2025-01-20 11:08:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.