'We know we're a really good basketball team': Michigan looking to 'be a better version of ourselves' beginning at MSU
Michigan Wolverines basketball is locked into a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament and is fighting for seeding in the NCAA Tournament, where being on the 4, 5 or 6 line all seem like possibilities. The Maize and Blue have one final regular-season game, a Sunday afternoon tilt at Michigan State.
The Spartans have captured the regular-season Big Ten championship, meaning seeding and the competition of that individual game are all that’s on the line Sunday.
“Now, the regular season is out of our hands, so it allows us to play free and not stress about any other stuff,” Michigan graduate center Vladislav Goldin said. “It helps us to feel more confident, play with the opposite of tight hands — loose hands. And it’s good preparation for the tournament, because we’re going to obviously see good teams in the tournament.”
Goldin said the Wolverines, who have lost two in a row and three of their last five games, may have been playing tight while chasing the conference crown this season.
“Yes and no, because you can say it doesn’t affect you, but you cannot lie to your psyche about some stuff,” he explained. “It’s gonna get nervous, you’re gonna get thinking about winning championships, and the teams who can fight it off, who can get over that, those are the teams who usually win the championships.”
None of it means Michigan doesn’t have motivation going into the regular-season finale.
“Be a better version of ourselves,” Goldin said of the goal. “That’s probably the main point. We do it for ourselves, not just for them.”
Michigan State will hang a championship banner Sunday, win or lose, but head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans always put an extra emphasis on beating their biggest rival. MSU is looking to sweep the two-game season series with Michigan, having won 75-62 in Ann Arbor Feb. 21.
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“Michigan’s gonna come in here and play,” Izzo said. “The score was not indicative of the game. It was not a 13-point victory, if you ask me. I know what they are. I know what they’re gonna do. I just hope we regain who we are the whole game and not just half the game.”
The Spartans played a great second half at Iowa Thursday night but struggled early on.
Michigan hasn’t played well lately, losing to MSU, Illinois and Maryland, and barely skating by with wins over Nebraska and Rutgers. The last five games have been a struggle, but as long as there’s a next game to play, there’s still life this time of year in college basketball.
“We know we’re a really good basketball team,” Michigan assistant coach and general manager Kyle Church said. “We’ve shown we’re a really good basketball team. The last week, two weeks haven’t been our best, but these things turn quickly. Even Michigan State lost three of four and now have gone on a historic run the last few weeks.
“Hopefully, going up there Sunday, playing in an awesome environment with, more or less, nothing to lose, hopefully we can get a little confidence back. I don’t see any reason why we can’t play our best basketball the next month.”
