In a game that probably reminded some Michigan basketball fans of the 2013 season, the Wolverines nearly saw their undefeated season come to an end.
Penn State had a shot to win the game on the final possession. It hit the back of the rim, and Michigan basketball survived for a 74-72 win as a 24.5-point favorite.
Penn State is ranked outside the top 100 in the Kenpom rankings. The Nittany Lions were 0-3 in the Big Ten. Michigan turned the ball over too much, got beat up on the glass, and didn't shoot well.
It was a weird game, but there's a good lesson there for the Wolverines, and here are three observations.
Michigan wasn't ready for this game
That doesn't mean Michigan wasn't prepared. But after just playing on Friday, this team looked a little tired. They certainly looked like they overlooked Penn State.
The Nittany Lions took advantage. They forced some turnovers early and won the turnover battle 12-8. What's even worse is that Penn State had 14 offensive rebounds compared to seven.
That's inexcusable. A lot of rebounding is about effort, and Penn State just wanted it more.
L.J. Cason saved the day
In just 17 minutes, Cason came off the bench and scored 14 points, all of them coming in the first half. The Wolverines scored the first bucket, then didn't lead again until a Cason 3-pointer with 11:17 left in the first half. He scored seven points in the last four minutes of the first half as Michigan extended its lead to nine at the break.
Without that spark, it's easy to see Michigan leaving with its first loss.
A learning experience
No season is going to be perfect from start to finish. This is the third time Michigan has nearly lost to an inferior opponent after a sloppy performance.
It's a good reminder, because in March, one bad night can mean the end of a national championship run. Michigan fans know that all too well.
A win is a win, and each loss could matter a lot in the Big Ten title race. That's the first goal: Winning the Big Ten championship.
Tuesday was likely a one-off, but it also felt like the Wolverines started reading their own press clippings a little too much. This should rectify that