Danny Wolf, Michigan survive another close call in win over Oregon
ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines won their third game in a row with an 80-76 victory over Oregon on Wednesday night at home, which was again a bit too close for comfort.
But one night after rival Michigan State dropped its second Big Ten game in a row to kick the door wide open in the Big Ten race, a win is a win is a win, as far as Michigan is concerned. Junior big man Danny Wolf (15 points, 12 rebounds) knows things can improve, but nothing matters more than avictory.
“Super happy with the win,” Wolf said after the game. “Big Ten wins are hard no matter which way you look at it. You gotta protect home court. I mean, I think it’s just a common theme that we get these big leads. But we just really have to stop beating at it. We get these leads, myself included, really just got to focus on the team. But nonetheless, we were able to come away with a big win against a very good team.”
WATCH: Dusty May, Vladislav Goldin, Danny Wolf break down Michigan win over Oregon
The victory was Michigan’s fourth in a row by four points or less, which has been a reversal of a trend from earlier this season. When Michigan found itself in close games, it lost its first four games by a combined four points.
“We’ve been on the opposite end of the string,” Wolf said. “You look at the Oklahoma game, you look at the Arkansas game, Minnesota even. Some of the worst losses, buzzer beaters, that you just don’t want. I think when you hit your free throws late you get defensive rebounds and you get stops. We did a good job at that tonight. It’s just a good feeling and wins are much better than losses.”
Michigan is still working to find its best version of itself as he heads into the stretch run, but finds itself in the thick of it for a Big Ten regular season title, and has more than doubled its win total from last season.
Top 10
- 1
SEC victory lap
Super Bowl billboards a bold touch
- 2New
Greg Sankey
Calls for CFP change
- 3
Ryan Day picks OC
Brian Hartline promoted at Ohio State
- 4Hot
Brian Kelly responds
Greg Brooks Jr. allegation amid lawsuit
- 5
Jalen Milroe
'You don't ask a zebra to be a dog'
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“I think if you would’ve told us in June when we first got here that we’d be at 17 wins and in clear contention for a Big Ten championship, you’d say yes,” Wolf said. “But internally we know that we’re still so far behind what we can be doing. I know we keep saying it and I know we’re gonna keep working at it. And I know come the ext few weeks, come March come April, we’re gonna look back at this and just say it’s a constant improvement.”
Michigan has a gauntlet of a schedule the rest of the way, headlined by games at Indiana and Ohio State and at home against MSU and Purdue over the next two weeks. If it can find a way to limit some of its self-inflicted wounds and stay locked in, it could be an entertaining and fruitful stretch run.
“We don’t like we don’t like these close games. It might look entertaining if someone has a big shot, but like, we’d rather be in a 15-point win. We should have been in that position and we’ve got to do a much better job down the stretch of taking care of the ball, getting defensive rebounds and playing team basketball. It’s just been a common theme when we get a lead guys go their own ways, myself included.
“We just really got to stay with the team and great things happen. But again, just happy we get the win and I’m happy with the spot [we are in].”
