5 months ago
- Wolverines
- Published: Jan. 01, 2026, 2:07 p.m.
ANN ARBOR — Michigan vs. USC successful early January? What sounds for illustration a Rose Bowl matchup is simply a top-25 men’s hoops showdown arsenic some programs resume Big Ten action.
The Wolverines big nan Trojans connected Friday nighttime astatine Crisler Center (7:01 p.m. ET, Peacock). Michigan will look to enactment undefeated successful their first crippled of 2026.
Michigan, No. 2 successful nan latest AP Poll, closed 2025 pinch a 112-71 triumph complete McNeese connected Monday to amended to 12-0. Michigan is beating teams by 30 points per game, nan largest mean separator successful assemblage basketball.
May said aft nan McNeese crippled that he didn’t scheme connected making immoderate New Year’s resolutions, not because his squad is flawless but because it’s not his thing. The Wolverines, he said, already “made sacrifices for nan season.”
That unselfishness is nan biggest logic Michigan has been truthful bully and nan cardinal to continued success. “If we get complacent,” guardant Morez Johnson Jr. said, “we won’t beryllium capable to do what we want to do astatine nan extremity of nan year.”
Johnson past referenced nan day of nan nationalist championship. Yes, nan Wolverines person lofty goals, including a Big Ten regular-season title. They’re already 2-0 successful nan convention pinch lopsided wins against Rutgers astatine location and astatine Maryland.
USC, classed No. 24 successful nan AP poll, is 12-1. The Trojans divided their early Big Ten games, winning astatine Oregon earlier falling astatine location to Washington. They’ve won 4 consecutive since, including a blowout triumph Sunday complete nan UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, a Division III program.
Friday’s crippled marks a homecoming for Terrance Williams II, who appeared successful 115 games for Michigan pinch 58 starts complete 4 seasons. He transferred to USC earlier past season, suffered a season-ending manus wounded successful early December — frankincense missing a location crippled against Michigan — and was granted a aesculapian redshirt.
The 25-year-old guardant has appeared successful each 13 games this play pinch 9 starts. He’s USC only returning danasiwa subordinate from past season. He’ll beryllium excited to return to Crisler and look his erstwhile school, which includes ex-teammates Nimari Burnett and Will Tschetter.
USC is led by journeyman Chad Baker-Mazara, whom Michigan faced successful past season’s Sweet 16 nonaccomplishment to Auburn. Baker-Mazara, who will move 26 this month, is averaging 21 points per game. He’s shooting 90% from nan foul statement connected 92 attempts. That’s almost doubly arsenic galore attempts arsenic Michigan’s astir predominant foul shooter and yet not nan astir among Trojans: starting halfway Ezra Ausar has attempted 115 free throws. No squad successful nan state has made aliases attempted much free throws than USC.
The Wolverines person done a superb occupation of defending without fouling, protecting nan overgarment amended than immoderate squad successful nan sport. They’ll effort to proceed that inclination arsenic they resume their pursuit of a Big Ten title.
“All signs constituent towards america being a really mature group that we’re not going to return anyone lightly, we’re not going to make definite games bigger than they request to be,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. He said astir a bigger target being connected their backs fixed their basking start.
“I judge our guys are up for nan challenge,” May said. “I cognize they’re going to hole to put ourselves successful position to triumph connected a nightly basis.”
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Andrew Kahn covers University of Michigan athletics for MLive. His superior thumps are Michigan football, men's hoops and women's basketball. He joined MLive successful 2017 aft antecedently freelancing for The Wall...
