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Michigan Basketball: Wolverines Wins Back-To-Back Big Ten Championships

By Austin Walther

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 during the championship game of the Big 10 Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines have won the 2018 Big Ten Championship by taking down No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers 75-66 on Sunday.

Michigan once again entered the Big Ten Tournament red-hot, but knowing they had to win four games in four days to secure the Title. The Wolverines were seeded higher than last season. They had a tough time with Iowa, but escaped in an overtime victory. Then they handled Nebraska in a heavily anticipated match up. The Wolverines played in an even better match up and defeated their in-state rival Michigan State for a trip to the title game.

Purdue on the other hand was playing Michigan for the second consecutive year in the Big Ten Tournament. Last year the Boilermakers were the No. 1 team and fell in the quarterfinals to the Wolverines. This year, also with a double bye, escaped two determined teams in Rutgers and Penn State to reach the Championship.

About a month ago the regular season and Tournament seemed to be Purdue’s to lose. They went on a three-game losing streak which bumped them down to number three, but everyone knows how strong their starting five is.

The Wolverines ended regular season play a different way. They avenged Ohio State on Feb. 18 which extended a winning streak to three. Michigan won their last two in the regular season and haven’t seen a loss since.

One battle that is highlighted every time Purdue plays is how the opposing teams handles Isaac Haas. In both games, the Wolverines didn’t double team the big man and the Boilermakers took advantage.

The same thing happened Sunday afternoon. Haas was getting in too deep on Michigan and he went to work. He accounted for Purdue’s first seven points. At one point in the first half, Haas had 11 off their 19 points.

Michigan was getting their own production around the basket as well. Zavier Simpson was getting things early with dribble drives. The Boilermaker guards couldn’t stay in front of him.

Due to John Beilein substituting his big men constantly so fresh legs could battle with Haas and Matt Haarms, Jon Teske saw increased minutes. The seven-foot-one center from Ohio took advantage of his playing time and proved to be the difference maker. He shot six for nine from the field and scored 14 points.

The defense that Teske and Simpson delivered in both areas of the court won’t show up in the box score on their end, but will on Purdue’s offense.

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Vincent Edwards only scored four points. Carsen Edwards shot a miserable four for 16 from the field for only 12 points. Haas did have his monster game. No matter how well you do defensively against Purdue, someone will produce high numbers. He finished the game with 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting and eight rebounds.

Something we saw on Sunday afternoon was the upcoming stars that are going to be leaders of the Big Ten. Purdue received a solid 11 points from freshman Nojel Eastern. He shot a perfect four for four from the field and didn’t attempt a three-pointer. while grabbing six boards.

It’s hard to believe Simpson is only a sophomore. With Muhammed-Al Abdur-Rahkman leaving after this season, it’ll be Simpson’s show. He scored 10 points, dished five assists and hauled in five rebounds.

The other young Wolverine that everyone has enjoyed in Madison Square Garden is freshman Jordan Poole. He only scored three points in the Championship game, but they all came from free throws as he shot 3 for 4 from there. Poole made a big time assist from a drive late in the game and grabbed four boards.

During the entire second half, we were all waiting for one of the Edwards or Dakota Mathias to go to work and win the game for Purdue. Neither one of the three could get in enough of a consistent rhythm to put the Boilermakers over the edge. The two guards and Edwards shot a combine 30% for the game from the field. Michigan had a great defensive game plan.

The Wolverines came out with an nine-point victory after being up eight at halftime. Mo Wagner ended up winning Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten

Tournament. He averaged over 15 points per game despite the miserable game against Iowa. He did record a double-double in the win over Nebraska while averaging 6.5 boards per game.

The general consensus was if it was just for the game, Teske would’ve won the award. That’s how well he played. To me, it just goes to show well deep this Michigan team really is. Poole looked great earlier in the week. Duncan Robinson was being talked about as the x-factor going into the weekend and it was Teske who stole the show in the Championship.

The Michigan Wolverines wins its second consecutive Big Ten Tournament title with a victory over Purdue on Sunday. What’s next for both teams?

It’s crazy that Purdue is still going to be in line for a three-seed and will probably rank higher than Michigan on Selection Sunday. The Boilermakers were a No. 1 seed about a month ago. They slipped down to a two seed and seemed to be in pretty good shape to stay there. The Boilermakers haven’t faced elite opponents in the Big Ten Tournament which is why it seems weird to keep them on one of the first two lines.

Looking deeper at their resume and going into the championship, they were 8 in the RPI. I’d assume they should stay in the top-12. The updated KenPom ranking has them number 5. That ranking has been favorable to the Boilermakers all season. That gives you the indication that Purdue won’t slip passed a three seed.

Michigan once again catches fire at the end of the season and sweeps the Big Ten Tournament in four games. Last season they only got a seven seed. Everyone is hoping it’ll be something better than that. Michigan has been all over the place, but most are saying they shouldn’t get anything worst than a six-seed when it comes down to it. Michigan ranks 17 in the RPI and now number nine in the KenPom. That really bodes well for their resume.

Next: Bracketology a week before Selection Sunday

Either way both teams are going to have to wait a week to find out their fate in the NCAA Tournament. Obviously neither will be fretting, but they both hope to better than five seeds and shouldn’t expect anything more than a three.

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