It's a good thing that style points don't matter in college basketball because if they did, the Michigan basketball team would have some questions to answer after a 49-46 win on Monday night.
Somehow, Michigan basketball shot the ball even worse than it did on Friday against Michigan State. The Wolverines shot 19 percent from 3-point range (5-of-27) and still found a way. Michigan shot 30 percent from the field. Nebraska shot 21 percent.
There were plenty of chances to put the game away down the stretch but two missed free throws and a turnover after a flagrant one, allowed Nebraska the chance to rally, which it nearly did in the final minutes.
LJ Cason made the last field goal for Michigan with over five minutes left. It was a 3-pointer that put the Wolverines in front 45-39. Two shots from Brice Williams to take the lead, plus another from Connor Essegian went off the front iron in the last 40 seconds and Michigan survived 49-46.
Roddy Gayle led Michigan with 12 points. Danny Wolf had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Tre Donaldson also had 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Williams was the lone bright spot for Nebraska with 26 of the Huskers' 46 points.
Here are the gut reactions to one of the ugliest wins you'll ever see.
Gut reactions to Michigan basketball win
- Danny Wolf looked lost most of the night but scored five points in a row right after Nebraska took the lead in the second half. Great players are great when they have to be and Wolf was, at least for a couple possessions.
- Dusty May was right about LJ Cason. It didn't always look great, but Michigan doesn't win without that deep 3-pointer.
- Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf need to get tougher. They were way too soft.
- Michigan as a team was too soft. I expected more after Friday night and the Wolverines need to get tougher if they are going to win in East Lansing.
- First place is first place.
- Good teams win on the road and Michigan just won its seventh Big Ten game on the road. It was also another quadrant-1 win.
- Winning championships usually means winning ugly. That was as ugly as I've ever seen it, but a win is a win and Michigan basketball is 13-3 in the Big Ten.
- No need to apologize for that.
- Go Blue!