The second-ranked Michigan Wolverines had their best chance of entering the top spot of the AP Polls for the first time this season come Monday after the Duke Blue Devils fell at home to the Syracuse Orange earlier this week. Although, the Wisconsin Badgers had other things in mind on Saturday afternoon, handing the Wolverines their first loss of the season, 64-54, at the Kohl Center. Ethan Happ finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, as the Badgers snapped the Wolverines' best start to a season in program history after they began the season 17-0, including 6-0 in Big Ten play. The Badgers had to fight until the very end, leading by just three with a minute to play, but used multiple steals and free throws in the final minute to pull away and seal the major upset.
The Wolverines trailed for just about the entire second half, as their leading scorer, Ignas Brazdeikis, was held without a point in the loss. Happ had a game-clinching putback after an intentional foul, which nearly got Michigan head coach John Beilein ejected, as he did not feel Brazdeikis' foul was intentional. That got the Badgers a free throw and the ball, and the Wolverines forced an initial miss, but could not grab the rebound. Turnovers hurt them the rest of the way, while also keeping them away from that top spot in the AP Polls.
The loss for the Wolverines is their first since last season's National Championship Game against the Villanova Wildcats. Despite the Badgers being unranked, this is not a horrible loss for Michigan, as Wisconsin was once ranked as high as 12 earlier this season. Their .500 play against conference foes have hurt them, but they got their conference record over .500 with Saturday's win.
Jon Teske led the Wolverines with 15 points and Jordan Poole added 14 for Michigan, who will return home to host Minnesota on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Badgers will hit the road to battle the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday.
The Wolverines trailed for just about the entire second half, as their leading scorer, Ignas Brazdeikis, was held without a point in the loss. Happ had a game-clinching putback after an intentional foul, which nearly got Michigan head coach John Beilein ejected, as he did not feel Brazdeikis' foul was intentional. That got the Badgers a free throw and the ball, and the Wolverines forced an initial miss, but could not grab the rebound. Turnovers hurt them the rest of the way, while also keeping them away from that top spot in the AP Polls.
The loss for the Wolverines is their first since last season's National Championship Game against the Villanova Wildcats. Despite the Badgers being unranked, this is not a horrible loss for Michigan, as Wisconsin was once ranked as high as 12 earlier this season. Their .500 play against conference foes have hurt them, but they got their conference record over .500 with Saturday's win.
Jon Teske led the Wolverines with 15 points and Jordan Poole added 14 for Michigan, who will return home to host Minnesota on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Badgers will hit the road to battle the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday.
