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Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from a challenging win over Toledo

By Nick Popio

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 14: Joey Baker #15 of the Michigan Wolverines runs up the court during the second half of a NIT college basketball first round game against the Toledo Rockets at Crisler Arena on March 14, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 90-80 over the Toledo Rockets. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 14: Joey Baker #15 of the Michigan Wolverines runs up the court during the second half of a NIT college basketball first round game against the Toledo Rockets at Crisler Arena on March 14, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 90-80 over the Toledo Rockets. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan basketball gets its first win in March, only Toledo’s second loss in 19 tries

The Wolverines came in losing three in a row by a mere six points to Illinois and Indiana, and 12 to Rutgers. Toledo entered Ann Arbor 17-1 in their last 18, with the lone loss being the most important one of them all. That came this past Saturday in the MAC championship game to Kent State who won the automatic qualifying berth from that conference.

The Rockets went 16-2 in the MAC regular season with its only losses to Ball State at home in January and at Kent State a week later. They pulled off 17 straight, which was tied for the nation’s longest winning streak at the time until they fell in Cleveland by 15 to the same Golden Flashes. The Rockets also annihilated Central Michigan the two times they met them, which is something Michigan basketball could not do even once at home.

It’s Michigan’s first win since they won three at the end of February. If Michigan wins the next three they will be playing for the NIT championship in Las Vegas.

Their defense will have to be much better as the competition only enhances the deeper they advance in the ever-decreasing bracket.

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