Michigan Basketball cruises past Minnesota into Big Ten title game

Michigan basketball earned a third straight trip to the Big Ten title game Saturday after thrashing Minnesota, setting up a rematch with Michigan State.

Michigan basketball may have been struggling offensively heading into the Big Ten tournament, but the Wolverines aren’t any longer.

The Wolverines knocked down 10 3-pointers for the second straight game as Michigan basketball dominated Minnesota 76-49 Saturday at the United Center in Chicago in the Big Ten semifinals.

The victory now gives Michigan a chance to complete a three-peat in the Big Ten tournament. Yet, standing in the way are the Spartans, who have beaten the Wolverines in each of the last two weekends.

It will also be the second time that Michigan and Michigan State will meet for the Big Ten tournament championship. The last time was in 2014. Michigan won the regular season title that year and the Spartans won the tournament title. Michigan, which is playing in the championship game for the fourth time in six years, will be looking to repeat that feat.

If Zavier Simpson plays the way he did against Minnesota, the Wolverines should do just that.

For the second straight day, Simpson was the best player on the floor, scoring 15 points, giving out nine assists, grabbing three rebounds and missing just two shots. The junior point guard was also 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

In two games at the Big Ten tournament, Simpson has scored 26 points, dished out 20 assists and shot 10-of-12 from the field. He also has just one turnover.

As good as Simpson was Saturday, Isaiah Livers was just as impressive. The sophomore who was relegated to the bench following the return of Charles Matthews went off for a career-high 21 points.

In the second half, Livers was absolutely on fire, hitting a string of threes on his way to scoring 17 points in the half as the Wolverines pushed their lead from 19 points to as many as 35.

After holding Iowa to 53 points Saturday and 36 percent shooting, Michigan basketball was dominant defensively again versus the Gophers. Minnesota was just 2-of-12 from 3-point range and was held to 60 or fewer for the third time this season against the Wolverines. Combined, Iowa and Minnesota made 3-of-30 shots from beyond the arc.

While the victory gives Michigan another chance to take on Michigan State Sunday for the Big Ten championship, it should also lock up the Wolverines stop as a No. 2 seed in the field of 68.

Following the win over Minnesota, Michigan now has 15 wins over teams currently ranked in the top 60 of the NET rankings and 20 wins over teams ranked in the top 100. If you pair that with the nine quadrant 1 wins, the Wolverines resume is good enough for a No. 1 seed, let alone a two.

But right now, that is all secondary. The thing that is most important is beating Michigan State and bringing home yet another Big Ten championship.