On Friday, Michigan, favored by 21.5 points, triumphed over the 24th-ranked USC squad. The second-ranked Wolverines secured a 30-point victory, with a final score of 96-66, even though their offensive performance wasn’t at its peak and their reserve players were on the court during the closing moments.
Dusty May’s squad, having already defeated then-No. 21 Auburn and then-No. 12 Gonzaga, has become the first team since the 1996-97 season to achieve three victories against ranked opponents by a margin of 30 points or more within a single season, as reported by The Field of 68.
Furthermore, the Wolverines (with a 13-0 overall record and 3-0 in the Big Ten) have just begun their conference schedule. The Trojans (holding a 12-2 record overall and 1-2 in conference play) had not encountered a ranked adversary this season prior to their game at Crisler Center. They are set to play their second consecutive ranked opponent on Monday against No. 9 Michigan State, which is part of an extensive three-game road stretch spanning a week.
USC proved unable to contain Michigan’s fast-paced team, which contributed 26 of the 28 total fast-break points in the contest. The Wolverines possess the fifth-highest adjusted tempo in collegiate basketball this season, as per KenPom’s metrics, effectively outpacing the Trojans.
Eric Musselman’s squad was further hindered by committing 21 turnovers, from which Michigan capitalized for 24 points. USC entered the game leading the nation in free-throw attempts per game with 31.2, and they took 33 foul shots in this match. However, their 63.6% success rate from the free-throw line significantly diminished the Trojans’ prospects.
Samford graduate transfer Jaden Brownell led their scoring effort, accumulating 16 points by making 6 of 10 shot attempts.
Even though the Wolverines ranked 27th across the nation in 3-point shooting efficiency at 38.3% coming into the game, they only converted 6 out of 30 attempts, equating to 20%, from beyond the arc when playing the Trojans.
Nevertheless, they almost hit 100 points. Ten athletes from Michigan registered points in the game. From the substitute players, four managed to score ten or more points, among them veteran guard Roddy Gayle Jr., who contributed 12 points before committing his fifth personal foul.
Second-year forward Morez Johnson Jr. successfully made 10 of his 12 shots from the field, concluding the game with a personal-best 29 points, in addition to six rebounds.
Michigan commenced the initial half with an 11-0 scoring streak and concluded it with a 6-0 run. Subsequently, they transformed an 18-point lead at halftime into yet another 30-point win, sealed by a last-second steal and layup from L.J. Cason while USC was attempting to run down the clock.
Michigan has been overwhelmingly defeating opponents
USC has little reason to feel discouraged, as Michigan has been imposing such dominant performances on nearly every team they face. The Wolverines have competed in 13 matches, securing victories in 10 of those by margins exceeding 20 points.
Among those ten wins, six were achieved with a lead of 40 points or more.
Michigan even defeated La Salle by 52 points on December 21st. One particular 40-point triumph for the Wolverines occurred on November 26th against the 12th-ranked Gonzaga squad. The Bulldogs have since bounced back with an eight-game winning streak, which features wins against then-No. 18 Kentucky and then-No. 25 UCLA.
However, the commanding performance against Gonzaga, which marked the first of Michigan’s three decisive wins against ranked adversaries this season, established the dominance at the Players Era Festival. A 59-point output in the initial half propelled them to a 102-72 victory over then-No. 21 Auburn.
The Wolverines’ average winning margin across their last 10 contests stands at 34.5 points:
Michigan has reached a score of 100 points or more on seven occasions this season. According to KenPom, the Wolverines rank sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency and hold the top spot in adjusted defensive efficiency. KenPom predicts Michigan to win their remaining games, forecasting a 29-2 season record for May’s team.
Considering the Wolverines’ consistent dominance over their rivals, discussions regarding a potential flawless season are likely to emerge sooner rather than later.
