Good luck, Big Ten. Michigan is your problem now.
Keep an eye out for the latest Wolverines numbers on their all-conference schedule. Imagine the locomotive that ran through the first two months of the season. The Big Ten might consider this litany fair warning.
Michigan is second in the nation at 12-0. Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, the Wolves are ranked No. 1 in the nation in offensive percentage defense with a 1-2 strikeout rate that has hindered anyone so far.
They also rank first in the nation in scoring margin, third in scoring and eighth in rebounding. Is there anything Michigan can’t do? Well, the Wolverines are 191st in the nation in free throw shooting. That could theoretically hurt them in close games. Assuming they have one more. Speaking of which…
They have won six games by at least 40 points and eight of their previous nine games by at least 25 points. The closest game since Nov. 14 was the final 18 points. That early-season offense led to a one-point overtime win over Wake Forest and a four-point lead at TCU, but that looks like a long time ago.
Historic pic.twitter.com/OmuVBb8yu6
— Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) December 30, 2025
In the past nine games, they have outscored their opponents 402-180 and have been outscored 149-42 in quick time.
They vaguely know how to play from behind. In nine of those games, they trailed less than 23 times in 360 minutes. They changed the lead just 42 times all season, 24 of which came in two games. Their biggest deficit all year is nine points.
They have five players in double figures and eight players averaging at least 8.2 points per game. Five players in the rotation are shooting at least 52.4% from the field. Jaksel Lendeborg is the only Wolverine to play more than 23 minutes per game. 63% of Michigan’s field goals were assists.
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Of the six undefeated teams, Nebraska averaged 17.3 points on New Year’s Day, the most in 11 years, followed by Miami Ohio 23, Vanderbilt 23.5, Arizona 24.1, Iowa State 27.5… and Michigan in its orbit at 330.
The Wolverines shot 13 more free throws than their opponents did. No player has made a mistake yet. Michigan’s opponents are averaging 66.5 points per game. The Wolves are averaging 50.3 points in the first half alone. Michigan scored 60 points against McNeese in the first half and made just four 3-pointers. The Wolverines’ bench scored more points than the entire La Salle team.
The head coach must have been a little shocked by all this?
“Yeah, it would be a lie if I said we felt like we had that advantage just because we know how hard it is and we have a lot of respect for the team we played against,” Dusty May said after last game. “We can come at you in waves.”
So many competitors noticed. Led Gonzaga by 46 points and Auburn by 35…Has not been in a game decided by single digits in the last 47 days of 2025…Had 89 points, lowest in six weeks. The Bulls are sure to slow down the Big Ten Wolves. Then they already played Rutgers and traveled to Maryland. They scored 101 points in each game and won 41 and 18.
It was a loud meeting. Purdue outscored two ranked rivals, Texas Tech and Auburn, by 30 and 28 points, and outscored Kent State, 101-60, to go 10-2.
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Nebraska’s 17-year winning streak is the longest in the nation, and it’s the first time since 1928 that it hasn’t lost a non-conference game.
Michigan State’s 114-97 win over Yale the night before was the most points scored in a regulation game in program history. The last time the Spartans scored 97 points was in 1964.
KenPom ranks Purdue No. 1 in the nation and No. 2 in the state of Illinois. In the latest NCAA NET rankings, six of the top 14 teams and 10 of the top 42 teams are in the Big Ten. They all take turns with Michigan. May believes her steam bike is ready.
“All signs point to us being a really mature group, and we’re not going to take anyone lightly,” May said. “We’re not going to make certain games bigger than they have to be. Our skill set, including the environment we’re in, the ability to stay consistent and play consistently, is something we need to be able to lean on. Now the target will be even bigger on our backs.”
Targeting Southern California in Ann Arbor on Friday. January brings long-distance traffic through Oregon and Washington, before stopping in Michigan at the end of the month. Jan. 27 in Ann Arbor will be especially interesting if both the Wolverines and Nebraska remain undefeated. On the final night of 2025, the most formidable rival in American college basketball will arrive, Michigan. It is not certain that May will see it.
“Honestly, I generally don’t make it to New Year’s. He’ll sleep well, which is more than Michigan’s upcoming opponents can say.
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