3. Michigan's offense was 17 points below its average
Going into Saturday the maize and blue haven't scored less than 70 and won, but that changed. They needed every point to secure victory in enemy territory. Rutgers would not go away and their defense didn't let Michigan basketball get in a rhythm like they have been pretty much all season.
Perhaps the sickness that has been hovering around the program took a toll on them, but it didn't cost them a valuable victory. The win keeps Michigan in the hunt for a double-bye in the conference tournament, but with a two-game stranglehold on third place, it's about as thin as ice in this anything-goes conference. The USC upset of Michigan State didn't hurt either.
A year ago at this time, Michigan basketball was 2-8 in the Big Ten. Now they are a game out of first place with a month left. Dust May has transformed this program around in 365 short days.
Michigan's defense allowed the fewest points since the Purdue Fort Wayne victory. That's something to build upon with Oregon incoming on Wednesday. For the foreseeable future Michigan is favored to win out except for the Ohio State and Michigan State road battles.