Michigan Basketball: 3 things we learned in Wolverines win at Purdue

Michigan basketball put together one of its most impressive wins of the season Saturday at Purdue and here are three things we learned.

The Michigan basketball team is good without Isaiah Livers. But with him, the Wolverines are as good as any team in the Big Ten and who knows, maybe one of the best teams in the country.

After missing the last game due to an ankle injury, Livers returned to the lineup Saturday against Purdue and scored 18 points in a 71-63 victory for the Wolverines, which was their fourth in a row on the road and fifth straight in games away from home.

It’s the continuation of an incredible turnaround. At one point, with Livers hurt and sidelined, Michigan basketball lost four games in a row and sat at 2-6 in the Big Ten. Then, the hope was just to reach the NCAA tournament. But with each victory, expectations are growing again.

For starters, the Wolverines are now 9-7 in the Big Ten conference after having won seven of their last eight games. Getting into the top four of the league is still a tall order, especially with road games against Maryland and Ohio State, but it’s possible.

With the way Michigan basketball has been playing defense lately, anything is possible. That’s nine straight games holding teams under 70 points and it’s clear whatever plagued the defense earlier in the year has been fixed. Juwan Howard has U-M rolling, just like John Beilein used to.

The growth has been stunning and following another road win, here are three things we learned about the Wolverines.