Tuesday night's game against UCLA felt like a turning point for Michigan basketball. The Wolverines didn't just beat the 22nd-ranked Bruins, they made a statement in a 19-point win.
UCLA had the best defense in the Big Ten according to the Kenpom rankings, at least before they were updated, and Michigan basketball flat-out dominated. The Wolverines scored 94 points and made 15 3-pointers. They also made 70 percent of their 2-point attempts.
Dusty May understands that the game is played at the rim and the 3-point line. Almost all of the Wolverines' shots came near the rim and from 3-point range. Knocking down 15 treys made it a blowout but when you have 24 assists, it's not that surprising.
A good pass leads to a good shot. That's something we saw constantly under John Beilein and it has returned. This team likes to share the basketball. It also has multiple playmakers including Danny Wolf, who has turned into one of the best on-ball playmakers in the Big Ten.
At one time, people thought Wolf and Goldin couldn't play together. Now, it's more rare to see them apart. Wolf is athletic for a 7-footer and handles it like a point guard. It's been incredible to watch. When you add his size and skill to Goldin's, it makes Michigan virtually unstoppable.
We'll dig a little more into that but looking back at the 94-75 win over Tuesday here are three things we learned about Michigan basketball.