FRANZ WAGNER

College basketball season ended almost three months ago, the NBA draft lottery was more than a month ago and the draft itself is later this week.

Former Michigan basketball player Franz Wagner was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Team on Wednesday night. The 20-year-old from Germany played two seasons at Michigan, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in his first year. Last July, Orlando selected Wagner with the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft. The last Wolverine to make the NBA’s All-Rookie Team was Tim Hardaway Jr. in 2014. In Orlando, Wagner teamed with two former Wolverines: His old brother, Moe, and Ignas Brazdeikis.

Franz Wagner made three free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining and dunked on an inbounds play for the final points, leading the Orlando Magic to a 94-90 win over the Golden State Warriors.

All-Star point guard Darius Garland had 24 points and 12 assists, Evan Mobley had his NBA rookie-high 20th double-double, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 113-109.

Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 51 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 134-120 on Thursday night end a four-game losing streak.

Pistons forward Saddiq Bey scored a career-high 51 points, leading the Pistons to a blow-out win vs. the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

While Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley has separated himself from the pack, Cade Cunningham among several others has made a case to take it home. Cunningham, who went first overall in the NBA Draft last July had a slow start, but he managed to make up plenty of ground in January. The NBA awarded him, Rookie of the Month after he averaged 17.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. But the Pistons guard hurt his hip pointer heading into February and missed several games as a result. So here is where Cunningham sits in this week in the Rookie of the Year race.

The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham, led Team Barry to a 25-20 victory over Team Isiah and Detroit Pistons second-year players Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart in the Rising Stars Challenge championship.

On Friday night Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart showed off why the Pistons’ future is bright. The rookie guard delivered a clutch three at the top of the key that gave his team a 24-20 lead. Then Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner hit one free throw making Team Barry the first to get to 25 over Team Isiah, which included Bey and Stewart. Cunningham scored five points, had two rebounds and three assists in the title game but ended the tournament with 18 points and nine assists. Bey scored five points in the final, ending the night with 21 pts as well as the game-sealing block on Jalen Green in the first semifinal.

From preseason No. 6 to the wrong side of the bubble, the last three months have proven difficult for the Michigan basketball program.

The Pistons starters scored just 11 points, with rookie Cade Cunningham going 0-of-7 in his first nine minutes. But it wasn’t the Pistons’ night. The Pistons’ starters seemed to find their footing allowing the Magic to outscore them by just one point in the third quarter. The Pistons shot 36.8 percent from the floor and made 10 of their 29 shot attempts from distance. By comparison, the Magic made near 50 percent of their shot and made 12 of their 25 shot attempts from distance.

Roster attrition, partly due to COVID-19 protocols, has allowed for more call-ups from the G League than in the past. Derrick Walton Jr. was among those who got a chance, playing in an NBA game for the first time since March of 2020 on a 10-day contract. Foot surgery prevented him from full practice participation until November, and he’s only appeared in one NBA game, for five minutes, so far. While guys like Teske, Stauskas, et cetera are getting their shot, other ex-Wolverines are building on their NBA careers. Averaging 17.4 points per game, he’s moved to the bench with the return of Klay Thompson.

Cade Cunningham and Franz Wagner are giving the Eastern Conference's bottom two teams reasons for optimism.

The Los Angeles Lakers rolled past the Orlando Magic 106-94 for their fifth victory in seven games.

Reggie Jackson hit a step-back jumper with 2.2 seconds remaining to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 106-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

The Pistons (1-4) handed the Magic (1-6), who was on the second night of a back-to-back, a 110-103 loss. 5 overall pick Jalen Suggs scoring back-to-back layups in transition to cut the Pistons lead to one point. The bench ended the night with 59 points to help the Pistons to one of their better all-around games. They got out to a five-point lead with the hustle of Cade Cunningham, who made his NBA debut. He ended the night with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists despite dealing with right oblique soreness.

Juwan Howard is shooting to win a national championship, an achievement that has eluded him as a coach and player at Michigan.

Nov. 4 Philadelphia | 7:00 p.m.Fri. Nov. 5 Brooklyn | 7:00 p.m.Wed. Nov. 10 at Houston | 7:30 p.m. -- ESPNFri. Nov. 12 at Cleveland | 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 Sacramento | 7:00 p.m.Wed. Nov. 17 Indiana | 7:00 p.m.Fri. Nov. 19 Golden State | 7:00 p.m.Sun. Jan. 10 Utah | 7:00 p.m.Wed. Jan. 12 Phoenix | 7:00 p.m.Fri. Jan. 14 Toronto | 7:00 p.m.Tue. Jan. 25 Denver | 7:00 p.m.Fri. Jan. 28 at Orlando | 7:00 p.m.Sun. Feb. 3 Minnesota | 7:00 p.m.Fri. Feb. 4 Boston | 7:00 p.m.Sun.

The 2021 NBA Summer League is in the books. Here’s a look back at all the former Wolverines in Summer League, most of which was played in Las Vegas and wrapped on Tuesday night. These deals are not exactly straightforward, but essentially fall between a typical G League contract and a two-way deal. Jon Teske (Orlando Magic)After helping Lakeland win last season’s G League title, Teske was back with the franchise for Summer League. Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)Wagner’s first Summer League basket came on a dunk after a pretty bounce pass from Teske.

Former Michigan basketball player Franz Wagner was commonly projected to come off the board between the No. “It’s hard to find guys like Franz,” Weltman said. “He’s going to be one of these guys that really elevates the rest of the team,” Weltman said of Wagner. He’s going to stretch the floor for the guys with the ball. He’s a very good cutter, and he’s going to drag defenders with him.

The former Michigan basketball player and Kalamazoo Central graduate was drafted by the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night in the second round (No. Livers also is the second pick of the Pistons in the 2021 draft behind No. He will reunite with former Michigan head coach John Beilein, who is now on the Pistons’ staff as a senior advisor. Livers had a solid four-year career with the Wolverines, appearing in 119 career games and starting 69. The Pistons are slated to make two more picks in the second round: No.

Franz Wagner is the Michigan basketball program’s first top-10 NBA draft pick in seven years. Wagner becomes the Wolverines’ highest draft picks since Nik Stauskas was selected eighth overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2014. “He’s a really good off-ball defender,” ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas said Tuesday on a conference call with reporters. “He’s, I think, a good offensive player that is evolving into a really good offensive player,” Bilas said. Forward Isaiah Livers is widely projected as a second-round pick, while guards Mike Smith and Chaundee Brown also are draft hopefuls.

Michigan basketball’s Franz Wagner was selected by the Orlando Magic with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

Michigan’s Franz Wagner is essentially a lock to be a first-round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, but how early he’ll come off the board remains to be seen. “He’s a really good off-ball defender. “He’s, I think, a good offensive player that is evolving into a really good offensive player,” Bilas said. “I saw him as a first-round pick, but I didn’t see him as sort of that high, but a really good prospect. I think he’s going to be taken -- sounds like he’s going to be taken in the lottery.”Wagner isn’t the only Wolverine who could hear his name called in this year’s draft.

Michigan guard DeVante’ Jones has withdrawn from the NBA draft.

A pair of in-state players are expected to participate in this month’s NBA draft combine in Chicago. Michigan’s Isaiah Livers and Michigan State’s Aaron Henry were among the 69 players announced by the NBA on Tuesday. As a junior last season, the 6-foot-6 wing averaged 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, becoming the first player in Michigan State history to lead the team in all three categories. In addition to Livers and Henry, there are three other Big Ten players expected to participate in the combine: Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu and Iowa’s Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp. More MLive college basketball content:Freshman Max Christie wants to help bring back ‘old, real’ Michigan State basketballJalen Rose talks Juwan Howard NBA rumors, tells Michigan fans to ‘breathe easy’As summer practice starts, Michigan State shows athleticism and togethernessTom Izzo: ‘No intentions’ of following other coaching greats into retirement

Michigan freshman center Hunter Dickinson has entered the NBA draft while giving himself the option of staying in school.

Last year, a Michigan player was not selected in the NBA draft for the first time since 2015. Three former Wolverines, besides Wagner, have indicated their desire to play in the NBA: Isaiah Livers, Chaundee Brown, and Mike Smith. The NBA draft is set for July 29. Livers shot 43 percent from 3-point range on 116 attempts last season; he’s at 41 percent for his career. Grant said Livers projects as a spot-up shooter in the league who has “good enough size to avoid being a complete liability defensively.” In the NBA, Livers figures to be a small forward or a small-ball power forward.

For the next 2.5 months, NBA teams will evaluate prospects, studying, scrutinizing, and ultimately selecting on July 29. West compared Wagner to Deni Avdija, who was drafted ninth by Washington last year (and suffered a season-ending injury after 54 games). West likes Wagner’s size for his position (wing) and his feel for the game. “I think he’s better than the numbers,” West said of Wagner’s shooting, noting Wagner’s pre-college performances with professional and national teams in Germany. Wagner’s career to date and what he can show in pre-draft workouts will determine exactly where he ends up on draft night.

The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans will meet twice in the 2021-22 Big Ten basketball regular season.

Caleb Houstan has yet to arrive on Michigan’s campus, but that hasn’t stopped experts from projecting his place in next year’s NBA draft. ESPN released a full two-round mock draft on Tuesday morning. Houstan, who will be a freshman at Michigan in the fall, is projected as the No. Before Brazdeikis, Jamal Crawford, in 2000, was the most recent Wolverine to leave for the NBA after his freshman season. Jones has made it clear he will test the NBA draft this season, but it seems more likely that he spends a season at Michigan before turning pro.

After a busy four days for the Michigan men’s basketball program, it seemed like a good time to assess the roster. That’s the focus of the latest Wolverine Confidential episode. The former includes Franz Wagner, who declared for the NBA draft on Tuesday. 1 in the country as well as Coastal Carolina transfer DeVante’ Jones. Related stories:Possible starting lineup, depth chart for Michigan with Franz Wagner goneFranz Wagner declares for NBA draft, leaves Michigan after sophomore seasonCoaches assess Michigan basketball transfer DeVante’ JonesMight Michigan be in play for the recently decommitted Emoni Bates?

The Michigan sophomore made the announcement Tuesday.

The sophomore wing is projected to be a top-15 pick in numerous mock drafts.

Michigan basketball's Franz Wagner declared for the NBA draft.

Wagner, who started throughout his two seasons with the Wolverines, declared for the NBA draft on Tuesday. The 6-foot-9 guard/forward, who won’t turn 20 until late August, is projected by many experts as a first-round pick, potentially as high as the top 10, in the July 29 NBA draft. This past season, Wagner showed off his skills at both ends of the floor. More Michigan basketball content:Might Michigan be in play for the recently decommitted Emoni Bates? Coaches assess Michigan basketball transfer DeVante’ JonesMoe Wagner lands with third NBA team in about a monthMichigan basketball recruiting DMV again with point guard Dug McDaniel

Multiple players in the portal have reported that Michigan has reached out. Jones does not appear in Jeff Borzello’s transfer rankings for ESPN, as he just entered the portal on Tuesday. There are quality frontcourt players in the portal too, but it’s unclear if Michigan will go that route. The best-case scenario for Michigan is Wagner returning and avoiding the transfer portal altogether. More Michigan basketball content:Why Eli Brooks, who once leaned towards leaving, decided to stay with Michigan basketballWolverine Confidential podcast: Michigan wins a national titleMichigan’s Franz Wagner is a projected NBA draft lottery pick

Michigan senior Isaiah Livers is not returning for an extra year of eligibility.

Potential top-10 NBA draft picks typically don’t stay in school. And he was probably the best defender on one of the best defensive teams in college basketball. Many of the writers who penned too-early rankings for the 2021-22 college basketball season assessed Michigan based on the idea that Wagner would not return. Simply put, Wagner will jump to the NBA this summer if feels he’s ready. More Michigan basketball content:Michigan basketball recruits wrap impressive final high school seasonsJuwan Howard got his due as a player.

Juwan Howard, on Thursday, wasn’t ready to discuss the questions facing his Michigan men’s basketball program this offseason. There’s reason to believe Michigan can keep the momentum from a season in which it won the Big Ten regular-season title, earned a No. Michigan has five scholarship seniors: Eli Brooks, Chaundee Brown, Austin Davis, Isaiah Livers, and Mike Smith. The two Big Ten jobs, for which Michigan assistant Saddi Washington figured to be a candidate, have been filled. Even if only the seniors leave, Michigan will need contributions from its newcomers.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It’s going to take a while for the sting of Tuesday night’s loss to fade for the Michigan basketball team. The Wolverines were one win away from the Final Four, but played their worst 40 minutes of offense all season. 11 seed UCLA marked an incredibly disappointing end to the 2020-2021 season, but that doesn’t mean it should tarnish the memory. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since the Fab Five era. Michigan didn’t get its storybook ending, but the journey was one fans won’t soon forget.

Michigan missed its final eight shots against UCLA on Tuesday. UCLA didn’t score during that three-minute stretch, meaning any of those shots listed would have given Michigan the lead. The next two Michigan shots were 3s, both after timeouts: Smith went coast to coast and misfired. After Michigan inbounded from under the UCLA basket with half a second left, Wagner misfired from the left wing at the buzzer. One came at the end of the first half at Wisconsin, a game Michigan came back to win.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – UCLA has made more trips to the Final Four than any program but North Carolina. AdThey were clinging to a 50-49 lead when Michigan called a timeout with 19 seconds to go, intending to set up the game's final shot. The buzzer sounded and UCLA began to celebrate, only for the officials to put a half-second back on the clock. They were 3 of 11 beyond the arc, shot 39% overall and couldn't make one at the end. UCLA won a regional semifinal in 2006 and the Bulldogs returned the favor in the 2015 regional semifinals.

Michigan missed its last eight shots, scoring just three points and failing to convert a basket over the final 5:22. Smith, Eli Brooks, Chaundee Brown, Wagner, and Hunter Dickinson were on the floor for Michigan, down 50-49. His second rolled off the rim, Wagner snatched the board, and Michigan used its final timeout with six seconds left. Michigan missed several point-blank shots: Johns, Wagner, Dickinson, and Smith all missing shots that would have given Michigan the lead. Johns scored three straight inside for Michigan, but Juzang kept connecting, and Tyger Campbell’s 3 made it 27-23 Bruins with 1:08 left.

FINAL: UCLA 51, Michigan 49The Wolverines’ tournament run ends after they went the final 5:22 without a made field goal. 0:19 – UCLA 50, Michigan 49Jaquez Jr. missed a corner 3 and Michigan comes up with the rebound. 0:35 – UCLA 50, Michigan 49Cody Riley, a key starter for UCLA has fouled out. HALFTIME: UCLA 27, Michigan 23FIRST HALF0:00 -- UCLA 27, Michigan 23The Bruins heated up offensively in the last 4 minutes to grab the lead. 11 seed UCLA square off in an Elite Eight matchup at 9:57 p.m. Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and MLive will be providing live updates throughout.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball will play UCLA on Tuesday in the Elite Eight for a spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. The game is scheduled to tip off at 9:57 p.m. Tuesday from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 1 seed Michigan advanced to the Elite Eight with a dominant win over No. 11 seed UCLA punched its ticket by upsetting No. AdThe winner of the UCLA-Michigan game will play either No.

The evening’s most telling stat was points in the paint: Michigan 50, Florida State 28. Other low lights for the Seminoles:— 14 turnovers, including 10 in the first half that led to 16 Michigan points. Adding to the trouble, Walker, the team’s leading scorer this season, rolled his ankle at the 14-minute mark of the second half. FSU went on a mini-tear when Osborne and Polite made back-to-back 3s to trim Michigan’s lead to five early in the second half. Driving the lane and making the extra pass underneath, the Wolverines made 11 of their first 13 shots in the second half.

Michigan dominated Florida State 76-58 on Sunday night to get within one game of the Final Four. The Wolverines beat LSU on Monday night, and coaches immediately went to work studying Florida State and assembling a game plan. (It appears most, if not all Sweet 16 teams did these activities, set up by the NCAA; Florida State certainly did). It had been two seasons since Florida State had lost by 18 points; three since it lost by more than that. “I thought they did an excellent job in their preparation and their execution,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said.

The evening's most telling stat was points in the paint: Michigan 50, Florida State 28. Other lowlights for the Seminoles:— 14 turnovers, including 10 in the first half that led to 16 Michigan points. Adding to the trouble, Walker, the team's leading scorer this season, rolled his ankle at the 14-minute mark of the second half. FSU went on a mini-tear when Osborne and Polite made back-to-back 3s to trim Michigan's lead to five early in the second half. Driving the lane and making the extra pass underneath, the Wolverines made 11 of their first 13 shots in the second half.

(AP Photo/AJ Mast)INDIANAPOLIS – It's not that Juwan Howard doesn't love his old friend and mentor, Leonard Hamilton. Howard and Hamilton struck up a strong friendship in 2000, when Howard was wrapping up his time with the Washington Wizards and Hamilton was coaching there. He said even if his late grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, was alive and playing basketball, "I'd play her 1-on-1. “Johnny is young,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said after the BYU game. He’s improved immensely.”___More AP College Basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball; and https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS – What the Big Ten needed was someone, anyone, to start playing like it came from the Big Ten. Seven of nine teams from the conference had departed before coach Juwan Howard brought Michigan (22-4) to the court for its second-round game in the East region. But during the 14-1 stretch that opened things up, Michigan did what typical Big Ten teams are supposed to do. Most-telling stat of the night was points off the bench: Michigan 26, LSU 2. His 27 points kept LSU in range in the second half, but Wagner rejected him underneath at the end of that stretch.

Chaundee Brown #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to beating the LSU Tigers in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 22, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1 seed Michigan basketball knocked off No. 8 seed LSU on Monday to clinch a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Wagner ended up with 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists. 11 seed Michigan State have all been eliminated.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In an NCAA Tournament full of upsets, with top Big Ten teams getting bounced all over the bracket, No. The Wolverines won a thriller against 8 seed LSU in the Tournament’s second round on Monday night, 86-78. Each scored 21 points as Michigan overcame a nine-point first-half deficit against the offensively gifted Tigers. Michigan responded with a 14-1 run over the next five minutes, including 12 points from Brown, to take control for good. LSU attempted 17 more shots than Michigan, partly due to committing just three turnovers to Michigan’s 12.

1 seed Michigan Wolverines (21-4) vs. No. 8 seed LSU Tigers (17-8)Where: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)When: Monday, March 22, 7:10 p.m. The LSU Tigers figure to have more bite. Michigan takes on LSU with a spot in the East Region Sweet 16 on the line. Pregame reading:LSU coach on Hunter Dickinson: ‘There are just not players like him in the SEC’Michigan’s Isaiah Livers declares he is #NotNCAAPropertyTo continue NCAA Tournament run, Michigan will need freshmen to step upGet to know LSU, Michigan’s second-round opponent in NCAA TournamentMichigan let off the gas in NCAA Tournament opener but did enough to advance

– Juwan Howard got the win in his first NCAA Tournament game since taking over at Michigan, guiding Mike Smith and the top-seeded Wolverines to an 82-66 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday. It's his second season in charge, but the NCAA Tournament was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Howard and the Wolverines (21-4) had little trouble with the No 16 seed Texas Southern, but the absence of Livers could lead to adversity down the road. It wasn’t perfect as Texas Southern outscored Michigan 42-30 in the paint and got within 12 late, causing Dickinson to re-enter the game. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference member Norfolk State ousted Appalachian State on the same court, marking the first time SWAC and MEAC schools won NCAA Tournament games on the same day.

SECOND HALF0:00 – Ohio State 68, Michigan 67Duane Washington stepped out of bounds while driving baseline for another OSU turnovers. 3:40 – Ohio State 65, Michigan 55The Wolverines’ offense is starting to heat up but they can’t get a stop at the other end. 7:18 -- Ohio State 56, Michigan 45Duane Washington remains hot, scoring 14 of his 19 points in the second half. 10:21 – Ohio State 47, Michigan 43The Buckeyes are back on top with a Duane Washington Jr. 3-pointer. 1:24 -- Michigan 25, Ohio State 21Despite hitting just one of its last 10 shots, Michigan is on a 7-0 run.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – All Michigan coach Juwan Howard intended to do, he said, when he started walking toward the baseline during the second half of Friday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals was question a call. After the game, Howard apologized for his actions — and also placed blame on the other bench. Don’t talk to me ever again,’ Then he charged at me. All I said is, ‘Don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me.’”Maryland scored five points after the fracas to cut the deficit in half. BIG PICTUREMaryland: A strong finish — and Thursday's victory over Michigan State — should be enough to get an NCAA Tournament bid.

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after a made basket by Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Assembly Hall on February 27, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball landed three players on All-Big Ten teams this season: wings Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner, and freshman center Hunter Dickinson. He was named to the second team by the coaches and third team by the media. Dickinson, who led Michigan with 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, was named the to the first team by the media and second team by Big Ten coaches. RELATED: Hunter Dickinson named Big Ten Freshman of the YearThe trio led Michigan in scoring and rebounding this season while playing strong defense.

Rocket Watts scored 21 points and Aaron Henry had 18 to lead the Spartans in a 70-64 victory over No. The Wolverines (19-3, 14-3) closed the regular season getting routed at home by the Fighting Illini, beating Michigan State handily to clinch the Big Ten title and losing the rematch three days later. They were ready to play today and we weren’t.”AdJoey Hauser scored nine of his 11 points off the bench in the first half as Michigan State led 30-26. SENIOR MOMENTFifth-year senior Joshua Langford, who missed much of the previous two seasons with injury, made a 3-point shot with 49 seconds left to give Michigan State a 64-59 lead. UP NEXTThe Big Ten Tournament begins Wednesday in Indianapolis, where first-seeded Michigan may meet Michigan State for a third time.

Michigan has won the last two games in the series, both played in Ann Arbor, while Michigan State has won the last two played at the Breslin Center. Michigan State will be the No. • The two teams are playing three days after Michigan won, 69-50, on Thursday night at the Crisler Center. Franz Wagner scored 19 points in that matchup to lead Michigan, while Aaron Henry had 14 for Michigan State. Langford also participated in the Spartans’ senior day ceremony last year before opting to return for a fifth year.

ANN ARBOR – The confetti was already falling before Michigan State players and coaches finished leaving the Crisler Center floor. If it wasn’t enough that Michigan State had lost by 19 to its rival, it did so on a night that Michigan clinched a Big Ten title and officially ended a streak of three straight titles for the Spartans. After two more Michigan State baskets, Michigan ripped off 13 straight points to go up by 28. Joshua Langford shot 2-for-10, although Izzo didn’t think fatigue was a major factor in that shooting line. “I didn’t think a couple of plays were maybe Michigan State lore,” Izzo said.

2 Michigan wrapped up the Big Ten title with a 69-50 victory over rival Michigan State on Thursday night. The Wolverines won it again in 2014. Aaron Henry scored 14 points for Michigan State (14-11, 8-11), which will finish with a losing conference record for the first time since 1993. Michigan State went 0 for 9 from 3-point range, its first game without a 3 since Nov. 15, 2013 against Columbia, according to Sportradar. MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOFormer Michigan State star Draymond Green made an appearance in a pregame video the Wolverines watched.

Michigan topped Michigan State 69-50 at Crisler Center to improve to 14-2 in the Big Ten, guaranteeing the program’s first regular-season championship since 2013-14. The Spartans, still looking to solidify their NCAA Tournament résumé, fell to 14-11 and 8-11 in the Big Ten, the first time Michigan State coach Tom Izzo will finish under .500 in the Big Ten. Michigan State was 0-for-9 from 3. Michigan State cut it to 18-16 -- Henry delivered his second emphatic dunk -- with 7:43 left, at which point the Wolverines had seven turnovers. With 2:43 left in the half, Wagner was whistled for a foul on Henry.

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan has looked scary good for much of the Big Ten season. Michigan was held to a season low in points, field goal percentage (35 percent), and assists (four). Entering Tuesday, the Wolverines’ season low in 3-point attempts was 13. “It became a two-on-two game,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. Similar adjustments following Tuesday’s game would go a long way in Michigan winning the Big Ten and going deep in the postseason.

Gonzaga continued to hold down the top spot in the Top 25, just as it has all season, receiving 59 of 63 first-place votes among national media members. Illinois climbed one spot to fourth and Iowa gave the Big Ten three teams in the top five. They have a showdown with the Illini on Tuesday night before wrapping up the regular season with a home-and-home series against Michigan State. That’s a big part of what they’re doing.”West Virginia continued its steady climb, up four spots to No. The newcomer Boilermakers and sliding Badgers give the Big Ten six teams in the Top 25, one fewer than the poll-leading Big 12.

“There’s a reason I think Michigan is championship good,” Hoosiers coach Archie Miller said. They’ve also won eight straight over Indiana, three in Bloomington, and it didn’t take Michigan long to break this one open. After the Hoosiers answered with five straight to cut the deficit to six, Michigan went on a 10-3 run for a 42-29 lead. Michigan made Indiana uncomfortable against full-court pressure, stayed in front of the Hoosiers in half-court defense, and challenged shot after shot. Indiana: hopes to earn a split in the season series Tuesday at Michigan State.

3 Michigan pull away for a 73-57 victory Saturday at Indiana. Aljami Durham led Indiana (12-12, 7-10) with 15 points and Race Thompson finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Michigan made Indiana uncomfortable while facing full-court pressure, stayed in front of the Hoosiers in half-court defense, and challenged shot after shot. Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed 22-21 with 8:36 to go in the first half — and then this one got away from them. ... Indiana shot 38% from the field and was outrebounded 37-27.

Michigan pulled away from another Big Ten opponent on Saturday, and is now on the verge of a Big Ten title. The Wolverines won 73-57 at Indiana behind Franz Wagner’s second straight 21-point game to improve to 13-1 in the Big Ten and 18-1 overall. Livers hit three 3s in the first 2:15 of the second half as Michigan went up 51-38. Dickinson scored inside. Consecutive turnovers by Michigan helped Indiana cut it to one, but a Smith 3, Dickinson and-one, and four free throws made it 32-21.

Dickinson vs. GarzaOffensively, Dickinson was solid, dropping in 14 points on 6-13 shooting with one assist and three offensive rebounds. Iowa center Luka Garza came into the game leading the nation in scoring at over 24 points per game. Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines go for a rebound during the second half at Crisler Arena on February 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (2021 Getty Images)Many Michigan fans will remember last season, when Garza dropped 44 and 33 points on the Wolverines in their two games against Iowa. Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at Crisler Arena on February 25, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Franz Wagner had his fingerprints all over Michigan’s 79-57 win over Iowa on Thursday. Wagner took over to start the second half, scoring nine of Michigan’s first 11 points as the Wolverines started to pull away. Livers and Wagner forced a turnover, and Wagner picked up the loose ball and led a fast break. He’s shooting 61 percent on 2-point shots, 38 percent from 3, and 82 percent from the foul line. “Franz, when he’s aggressive and he’s locked in, we definitely are the best team in the country,” Livers said.

Dickinson gave Garza fits around the basket, and Franz Wagner scored 21 points to lead No. Michigan answered that with a 14-2 run that took place mostly while Dickinson was on the bench. The 7-foot-1 Dickinson, who like Garza went to high school in the Washington area, blocked Garza's first shot attempt of the game. “I know I’ve got to be better for my team,” Garza said. Michigan: The Wolverines have only one day off before playing at Indiana on Saturday.

Dickinson, a freshman, didn’t back down against the senior superstar, and Michigan pulled away in the second half for a second straight top-10 win, 79-57 at Crisler Center. The Wolverines shot 8-for-17 (47 percent) from deep. The Hawkeyes led by a point early in the second half but Michigan outscored them 43-20 over the final 17:08. When he returned about three minutes later, he got a stop on Garza, then scored at the other end as Michigan went up by 11. A 9-0 Michigan run in the middle of the second half made it 62-46, and the home team kept extending its lead.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball has rescheduled home games against Michigan State, Illinois and Iowa after several matchups were postponed by a three-week pause. READ: If Michigan basketball wants Big Ten title, it has to beat the best over next 2 weeksTwo of those five games -- home games against Michigan State and Illinois -- will now be made up, the university announced. Here’s how the final six games of the Michigan schedule will play out:Feb. 21: at No. 5 IllinoisMarch 4: vs. Michigan StateMarch 7: at Michigan StateThe Iowa game was originally scheduled to take place March 4, but now, the Wolverines will finish the season with a home-and-home against in-state rival Michigan State. Ohio State, Iowa and Illinois are the top three teams in the conference, other than Michigan.

4 Ohio State on Sunday. AdJacob Young scored 16 points for Rutgers, which led early but lacked the offensive sharpness necessary to keep up with Michigan. Rutgers missed the Top 25 by only two spots this week, but the Scarlet Knights couldn't come up with the upset Thursday. UP NEXTRutgers: The Scarlet Knights host Maryland on Sunday. Michigan: The Wolverines play at Ohio State.

3 Michigan to a 71-64 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. 4 Ohio State on Sunday. Jacob Young scored 16 points for Rutgers, which led early but lacked the offensive sharpness necessary to keep up with Michigan. Rutgers missed the Top 25 by only two spots this week, but the Scarlet Knights couldn’t come up with the upset Thursday. Michigan: The Wolverines play at Ohio State.

Rutgers didn’t get closer than 11 until the final two minutes, with the game never truly in doubt down the stretch. Michigan held Rutgers to 3-of-12 from 3-point range and 40 percent from the field. Isaiah Livers’ hot streak came to an end, as he was held to seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. Myles Johnson’s (13 points) effectiveness near the basket for Rutgers made Michigan work to close it out. Michigan was disjointed offensively early, while Rutgers connected on midrange shots to grab an early advantage.

Michigan's Franz Wagner had 10 of his 14 points in the second half. But the Badgers shot 7 of 28 in the second half and missed their last 11 3-point attempts. “What we did in the first half is what we wanted to do in the second half,” Ford said. Michigan beat Wisconsin 77-54 on Jan. 12 and became the first team to sweep a regular-season series from the Badgers since 2017-18, when Michigan State and Nebraska both did it. AdWisconsin: The Badgers needed more from their starting five, who combined to score 10 points and shoot 2 of 16 in the second half.

There has been debate all season regarding Michigan’s best defender. “He has really bought into being a two-way player,” Michigan assistant Howard Eisley said recently. Wagner was also named one of 10 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Shooting Guard of the Year award, named after Jerry West. The Hall of Fame’s aforementioned positional award finalists were named this week. More Michigan basketball content:For Michigan’s outgoing transfers, a mixed bag in first season at new schoolMichigan basketball recruits shine on national stageWhat two weeks without games or practice means for Michigan basketball

The Michigan Wolverines won the game 62-58. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan basketball’s postponed game at Penn State has been rescheduled for Wednesday (Jan. 27), the Big Ten announced. Michigan and Penn State were supposed to meet in Happy Valley on Jan. 9, but the game was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Nittany Lions’ program. Instead, they will play at Penn State on Wednesday night and then host Indiana the following Saturday (Jan. 30) in Ann Arbor. In their first meeting this season, Michigan survived a scare from Penn State, winning 62-58 after trailing in the final minutes at the Crisler Center.

7 Michigan raced to a 17-3 lead, and the Wolverines had little difficulty beating Maryland 87-63 on Tuesday night. Michigan led 42-25 at halftime and stretched its advantage to as many as 25 points in the second. Livers led Michigan with 20 points and Franz Wagner contributed 15. Michigan: The Wolverines made their loss to Minnesota look like just a bump in the road, putting Maryland in a big hole early and not letting up. Michigan: The Wolverines play at Purdue on Friday night.

Michigan, after dropping its first game of the season, responded with an 87-63 win over Maryland on Tuesday. Michigan shot 12-of-24 from downtown while holding Maryland to a 4-for-19 mark. Michigan, thanks to Livers’ free throw shooting, gained three points out of the ordeal and went up 55-34. The margin was 18 with a little more than seven minutes left before Michigan’s run slammed the door for good. Smith’s impressive acceleration and finish in transition and Wagner’s 3 in the final seconds made it 42-25 Michigan at half.

9 Wisconsin on Tuesday night, Michigan became the first team in college basketball history to stack such a dominant trio of ranked blowouts. 19 Northwestern, which came into the matchup after victories against Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State and a close road loss to Iowa. 4 Iowa and beaten Michigan State and Ohio State by a combined 42 points. 9 team in the country and a proven contender atop the Big Ten, came in sporting victories over Michigan State, Minnesota and Iowa. Saturday will bring a different kind of test, as Michigan hits the road against a ranked team for the first time this season.

Then, unbelievably, the Wolverines led No. “Wisconsin’s a team that’s capable of going on runs, and basketball is based on runs.”On this night, it was No. Michigan led 26-23 before scoring the last 14 points of the half. Michigan led by 29 against Northwestern before winning by 19. The Wolverines led by 37 against Minnesota before winning by 25.

Then, unbelievably, the Wolverines led No. The Wolverines outscored the Badgers 43-6 over a stretch that spanned parts of both halves, and Michigan remained unbeaten with a 77-54 win Tuesday. They have a lot of players and they have playmakers on both ends of the floor," said D'Mitrik Trice, who led Wisconsin with 20 points. Michigan led 26-23 before scoring the last 14 points of the half. Michigan led by 29 against Northwestern before winning by 19.

Four Wolverines scored between 12 and 16 points as Michigan shot 52 percent from the field and made 9-of-16 3s. D’Mitrik Trice led Wisconsin with 20 points. After Wisconsin stopped the aforementioned 22-0 burst, Michigan scored the next seven points. Livers crossed his defender -- who fell and drew a flop warning -- before passing to Brandon Johns Jr. for a corner triple, and Michigan led 26-19 with 8:31 left. Michigan led 40-23.

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In its two first ranked matchups of the season, Michigan completely blasted No. Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines yells during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a team, Michigan shoots 35.8%, which is tied for 100th in the nation. Chaundee Brown #15 of the Michigan Wolverines and Jaron Faulds #44 of the Michigan Wolverines talk after their win against the Ball State Cardinals at Crisler Arena on December 02, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Freshman Hunter Dickinson was once again unstoppable, scoring 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting, as Michigan blitzed Minnesota to start the second half and never looked back. Minnesota point guard Marcus Carr entered averaging 22.1 points per game; he scored 14 on 5-of-16 shooting. Starting at the 12:31 mark of the second half, Michigan went on a 20-0 run over the next 4.5 minutes to go up 71-34. Minnesota (10-3, 3-3) went nearly 6.5 minutes in the second half without a field goal. Michigan found another gear to start the second half, going on a 7-0 run out of the locker room.

Dickinson turned and fired to Brown up top, and he popped it to Brooks on the right wing. The Dickinson dilemmaHunter Dickinson was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week on Monday for the fourth time. “I want to see us do a better job of taking care of the ball, making the simple plays,” Howard said after the Northwestern game. The 3-point defense hasn’t been nearly as good. Like turnovers, 3-point defense was something more than one Wolverine mentioned, including Howard.

Franz Wagner #21 and Jace Howard #25 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate after winning a college basketball game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Crisler Arena on January 3, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 85-66. The truth of the matter is, most people probably didn’t watch any Michigan games in 2020, unless they tuned in for overtime against Oakland. 19 Northwestern, a team that already has wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, as well as on the road against Indiana. It’s entirely possible that in four Big Ten games, Michigan has played the three worst teams in the league: Nebraska, Penn State and Maryland.

ANN ARBOR -- Family of players and coaches were allowed inside Crisler Center for the first time this season on Sunday. There were 88 fans in the building, including some Northwestern supporters, according to a Michigan basketball spokesperson. “For some guys, it’s the first time their families are watching them on the Crisler court so that means a lot. Michigan’s last home game with spectators was on March 5. “It’s been a very challenging time and our players have been through a lot,” said Michigan head coach Juwan Howard.

Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines shoots a free throw against the UCF Knights during the second half at Crisler Arena on December 06, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But dig a little deeper and Thursday’s victory starts to look even more impressive for a Michigan team that was previously untested against quality teams. Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after scoring in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Welsh-Ryan Arena on February 12, 2020 in Evanston, Illinois. Winning without vintage LiversWhile Wagner, Dickinson and Smith played exceptionally well Thursday, it was perhaps even more encouraging to see Michigan win so convincingly without a strong game from Isaiah Livers. Instead, Michigan breezed past Maryland, at one point leading by 19 points with under four minutes to play.

16 Michigan is the only unbeaten team in Big Ten play: Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson played for DeMatha High School, located a few miles from the University of Maryland. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half, Maryland took its first lead, 47-46, on a 3-pointer by Aaron Wiggins with 18:31 remaining. Maryland coach Mark Turgeon found consolation in watching his team hang with perhaps the best team in the Big Ten. Michigan was 15 for 16 at the line in the first half and Maryland was 3 for 4, which offset the Terrapins 9-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan basketball team survived the first three games on its schedule and will now play against much tougher competition the rest of the season. Three days before taking Michigan to overtime, Oakland lost to Toledo by 27. Two days after leaving the Crisler Center, Oakland lost to Purdue by 43. Coming upIn this COVID-19-shortened season, Michigan only has five non-conference games before the start of Big Ten play. Franz Wagner #21 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the second half against the Ball State Cardinals at Crisler Arena on December 02, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Isaiah Livers scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, Hunter Dickinson had his first career double-double, and Michigan beat Ball State 84-65 on Wednesday night. Franz Wagner added 14 points and Mike Smith scored 10 for Michigan (3-0). Dickinson made a layup to make it 34-14 with 5:39 left in the first half, but the Cardinals scored 19 of the last 25 first-half points. El-Amin hit a jumper early just 14 seconds after halftime to trim Ball State's deficit to 40-35, but Michigan scored the next six points and the Cardinals got no closer. Walton led Ball State (0-2) with 20 points.

The Wolverines have been to the NCAA Tournament eight times in the last nine seasons. But will that translate to an NCAA Tournament appearance in March 2020? (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Its hard to see Michigan making the NCAA Tournament if Livers isnt one of the top players in the Big Ten. If they live up to the hype, Michigan will certainly be an NCAA Tournament team. If he returns to full health, Michigan could be a dangerous middle seed in the NCAA Tournament.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - New Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard got his first major recruiting victory over the weekend, landing a commitment from German forward Franz Wagner, brother of former Wolverines star Moe Wagner. Franz Wagner is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall, so while he has good size, he's a much different player than his brother. "We are extremely excited to announce Franz has committed to join the University of the Michigan in the fall," Howard said, via MGoBlue.com. @JuwanHoward has announced German guard Franz Wagner has a Tender of Financial Aid & will join the Wolverines this fall! Michigan made two national championship games, three Elite Eights and five Sweet 16s in that span.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. New Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard got his first major recruiting victory over the weekend, landing a commitment from German forward Franz Wagner, brother of former Wolverines star Moe Wagner. Franz Wagner is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall, so while he has good size, he's a much different player than his brother. "We are extremely excited to announce Franz has committed to join the University of the Michigan in the fall," Howard said, via MGoBlue.com. @JuwanHoward has announced German guard Franz Wagner has a Tender of Financial Aid & will join the Wolverines this fall! Michigan made two national championship games, three Elite Eights and five Sweet 16s in that span.