After which there have been two. Arizona and Miami (Ohio) are the ultimate two undefeated groups in school basketball after No. 3 Michigan rallied late to outlive No. 5 Nebraska’s upset bid with a 75-72 victory Tuesday in Ann Arbor. Michigan erased a seven-point gap with eight minutes left in regulation to enhance to 19-1 and, at 9-1 within the Massive Ten, be a part of Michigan State and the Cornhuskers atop the convention standings.
The Huskers (20-1, 9-1) misplaced their excellent document, however received loads of respect, exhibiting championship-level mettle of their hardest take a look at of the season with out star huge man Rienk Mast (sickness) and stud sixth man Braden Frager (ankle harm). Even with two of its finest 4 gamers sidelined, Nebraska gave Michigan all it might deal with after which some with a barrage of treys within the first half. The Huskers dropped 50 on Michigan’s vaunted protection within the first 20 minutes alone, however they ran out of fuel down the stretch. Nebraska did not rating a single level for the ultimate 3:21 of the sport
Each Michigan and Nebraska got here into the sport as projected No. 1 seeds within the CBS Sports activities Bracketology mannequin and are each anticipated to stay on the highest line after their solely regular-season assembly when the NCAA Match bracket projection updates Wednesday.
After Nebraska’s loss, No. 24 Miami defeated UMass 86-84 and matched No. 1 Arizona’s 21-0 mark this season. The Wildcats held on to defeat No. 13 BYU 86-83 on Monday.
Arizona is 21-0. The scary half? It will probably nonetheless get higher
Matt Norlander
Residence losses are killers for Massive Ten Championship hopes, and Michigan was on life help till it bought a spark from some unlikely sources. Senior ahead Will Tschetter modified the tenor of the sport together with his consideration to element defensively and fixed vitality. Tschetter completed with seven factors, did not miss a shot and Michigan outscored Nebraska by eight factors in his quarter-hour of taking part in time. Freshman Trey McKenney hopped off the bench and was terrific, pouring in 11 factors, together with a go-ahead, big-boy bucket within the last minute.
With out key contributions from McKenney and Tschetter, Nebraska very effectively might have notched one of the spectacular street wins of the season.
In the end, Michigan used its patented brawn to lastly put the Huskers away for good. Michigan had six monumental offensive rebounds within the second half to stem the tide and keep alive. Morez Johnson Jr. erupted for 17 factors and 12 rebounds. His frontcourt mate, Aday Mara, chipped in 10 factors and 7 boards.
Pryce Sandfort was excellent for the Huskers, but once more, chipping in 20 factors. Jamarques Lawrence hit some big-time treys within the first half on his solution to 20 factors. Former walk-on Sam Hoiberg (13 factors, seven rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals) continued his stellar breakout season.
