5 months ago
- Wolverines
- Published: Dec. 28, 2025, 9:02 a.m.
Two years to nan time of a disheartening location loss, nan Michigan men’s hoops programme tin beryllium conscionable really acold it has travel since.
The second-ranked Wolverines big McNeese astatine Crisler Center connected Monday (7:01 p.m. ET, B1G+) looking to wrap 2025 pinch an undefeated record.
Michigan (11-0) has been downright ascendant this year, winning by an mean separator of 29 points, nan champion successful nan sport. In consecutive games distant from location successful November, Michigan won by 1 successful overtime and by four. Every different crippled has been decided by astatine slightest 18 points, pinch 5 settled by astatine slightest 40.
That includes a 102-50 location triumph complete La Salle connected Dec. 21. The Wolverines person been disconnected since, their last extended break earlier nan grind of Big Ten play resumes.
McNeese’s visit, timed pinch nan extremity of nan almanac year, is simply a cleanable clip to reflect. On Dec. 29, 2023, nan Cowboys came to Crisler and hit Michigan by 11. Michigan fell to 6-7 that time and ne'er recovered, ending nan play 8-24. Juwan Howard was fired, Dusty May replaced him arsenic caput coach, and Michigan has been rolling ever since.
McNeese, still called McNeese State backmost then, went to nan NCAA Tournament that twelvemonth and won a Tournament crippled past season. Head coach Will Wade near for North Carolina State, and only 2 Cowboys stuck around. Bill Armstrong, an adjunct astatine Baylor past play who was pinch Wade astatine LSU earlier that, is nan caller coach.
McNeese is 10-2 and No. 48 successful nan NET rankings but hasn’t played a Quad 1 crippled yet. The Cowboys rank first nationally successful forcing turnovers (per kenpom.com), pinch nan bulk of those via steals. That stat should get nan Wolverines’ attention. Under May, Michigan has been exceptional astatine neutralizing an opponent’s strength.
Larry Johnson, a 6-foot-4 wing, leads nan squad successful scoring astatine 16.6 points per game. He is simply a erstwhile four-star enlistee who enrolled astatine Creighton arsenic a freshman past play but ne'er played. Johnson is not overmuch of an extracurricular shooter but 3 Cowboys are shooting amended than 40% from 3.
May said earlier this period that he hoped his squad would grip nan remainder of December well. That meant navigating last exams, nan holidays backmost location and 2 unheralded opponents. It’s their past chance to walk extended clip connected themselves earlier nan games travel each fewer nights.
The Wolverines past started 12-0 successful 2018-19, erstwhile they yet reached a program-best 17-0. They will apt beryllium double-digit favorites successful each crippled starring up to a Jan. 30 sojourn to Michigan State. Will Michigan caput to East Lansing astatine 20-0?
You tin beryllium judge that’s nan past point connected May’s mind. He said earlier this period astir “quizzes” that popular up passim nan year. Michigan has handled each 1 truthful far. The adjacent 1 is Monday. All signs constituent toward different passing grade.
- Michigan basketball’s latest thumping inches it person to No. 1 ranking
- Michigan’s coaching hunt forced to pivot aft ‘worst-case scenario’ weekend
- Dusty May aft Michigan’s 52-point win: ‘This squad still has different gear’
- Michigan hoops thumps La Salle successful its astir lopsided crippled yet
- Michigan hoops programs person ne'er been this bully astatine nan aforesaid time
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...
