Michigan Wolverines Basketball Sets Never Before Seen Record In 2025
Michigan Wolverines basketball is back! In the first year under Dusty May, the team is among the best in the Big Ten. They are 22-6 overall with a 14-3 record in the conference, currently tied with their in-state rival, the Michigan State Spartans. Once the calendar turns to March, all eyes are on how teams are performing heading into the tournament. There has been one constant this season. The Wolverines are winning close games, so many, in fact, that they have set a record for close victories in a season.
Michigan Wolverines Close Victories
The Michigan Wolverines have been excellent in close games. It is one thing to win a game when blowing out an opponent. It is another to win when every possession matters in the last five minutes of a game. In Big Ten play this year, the Wolverines have 11 victories of four points or less. No other Division I program, men’s or women’s, has had double-digit such wins this century. January 12 was the last time the Wolverine won a game by more than four points.
They have gone 9-3 since January 12, with almost every game coming down to the wire. This speaks to the coaching job that May has done with the team and to the players for focusing at the right time. We’ve seen many teams falter under pressure, making bad decisions that lead to losses that should have been wins. This is an amazing stat, but it’s also one that can be concerning.
Flying Too Close To The Sun?
The old tale about Icarus rings true often. Are the Michigan Wolverines playing with fire being in so many close games? There is an element of luck in sports. Close games are decided by the team that executes, but sometimes dumb luck takes over. If the Wolverines have simply gotten lucky this season, at some point, their luck will run out. However, this argument is a little flimsy. I’m sure Michigan would rather be blowing their opponents out, but the Big Ten is full of quality teams. It’s hard to do!
What the Michigan Wolverines do have is experience in tight situations. We’ve seen it many times in the NCAA tournament. Teams get locked into a tight battle, and the team that locks in often emerges victorious. A tight game down the stretch won’t phase the Wolverines. They have plenty of in-game practice of what to do and how to execute.
Final Thoughts
How far can the Michigan Wolverines go in the tournament? They first have to finish off the Big Ten season. There are three games left, with the last one being a huge one against Michigan State. From there, they can improve their positioning in the conference tournament. If they get hot at the right time, this team could be a difficult out in the postseason.
