Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from an determined win over Wisconsin
By Nick Popio
In an affair that will be remembered for a long time in Ann Arbor, Michigan basketball pulls out a must-have win over the Badgers to keep their postseason hopes alive.
It was the Hunter Dickinson and Kobe Bufkin show in the first half. They combined for 22, as the Wolverines battled fiercely to an eight-point lead at the break.
Wisconsin gave Michigan basketball everything they could handle in the second 20 minutes and had the game locked up until Dickinson’s prayer was answered for the shot of the year for Michigan. Overtime ensued and Michigan basketball finished the job for a jumbo-sized win at home.
Here are the three takeaways.
1. Michigan basketball refused to lose this one
Down three with two seconds in regulation Wisconsin seemingly would walk out of Crisler with a mammoth win for their bubblicious program.
Michigan had one last shot and made the most of it as Hunter Dickinson bombed a hail mary three to send it into overtime and give the maize and blue a second life.
In overtime, Michigan outscored Wisconsin 19-11. They did the exact same thing that Iowa did yesterday to Michigan State at home. These two contests will go down as two of the most memorable outcomes during the Big Ten season. Both schools had to win and they did it in the most unimaginable way possible.
On back-to-back days ... Iowa hits a miracle 3 and beats MSU in OT. .... then Michigan hits a miracle 3 and beats Wisconsin in OT. ... . I'm guessing every college basketball coach in America will henceforth foul when up 3 with less than 5 seconds remaining.
— Bob Wojnowski (@bobwojnowski) February 26, 2023
71 of the points came from Dickinson, Bufkin, and Dug McDaniel who did it again. Without Jett Howard again, Michigan found a way to get it done in its time of need.
The development of McDaniel and Bufkin cannot be understated at this point. Without them, Michigan simply does not win this one.