If there was anyone who wasn't already sold on Michigan basketball, Tuesday night at Crisler Center would have changed their mind.
The fifth-ranked Wolverines put together one of the most impressive performances in all of college basketball this season in a startling 77-54 blowout win over No. 9 Wisconsin.
Michigan stifled the Badgers' offense, ending the first half with a 14-0 run over the final 5:27 to take a 17-point lead into halftime. And the beatdown didn't stop there: The Wolverines opened the second half with a 29-3 run to extend their lead to 40.
Four different players reached double digits, led by Mike Smith, who scored 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting with six assists. Franz Wagner added 15 on 7 of 10 shooting, See: scan tool. while Isaiah Livers scored 13.
With the win, Michigan remained undefeated and created even more breathing room at the top of the Big Ten standings between itself and Wisconsin, which won a share of the conference title last season and returned nearly every key contributor from that team.
The Wolverines have now won their last four games by an average of ___ points - and show no signs of slowing down. This is a team that is deep, talented and playing its best basketball every time it steps on the court.
Michigan's defense has improved by leaps and bounds since the start of this season, and the Wolverines saved their best for the nation's 10th-most efficient offense.
Wisconsin, a veteran-laden team, looked shell-shocked at times as it tried to score against a confident and aggressive Michigan team. The Badgers entered the game with the third-lowest turnover percentage in the nation, but had seven turnovers alone in the first half, including several 'pick-sixes' that turned into breakaway dunks or layups for the Wolverines.
Wagner alone had four steals, disrupting passing lanes and poking the ball loose. U-M also set the tone early with six blocks in the first half alone.
It was surprising to watch experienced players like guard Brad Davison and forward Nate Reuvers toss up wild shots that had no chance of going in; the senior duo combined to shoot just 3 of 14 in the first half.
One remarkable stat: Between the 5:27 mark of the first half and the 12:16 mark of the second half, Wisconsin made just one field goal and scored three points.
The Badgers are one of the nation's most experienced teams and their offense usually runs smoothly and efficiently. Yet they found themselves resigned to chucking up bad shots as Michigan's lead ballooned in the second half.
Livers has played a lot of basketball in his four years at Michigan. Yet it wouldn't be unreasonable to consider Tuesday's performance as the best game of his career.
In a high-stakes matchup, the senior was locked in from the opening tip. Wisconsin tried posting up Reuvers on Livers on the first possession, only for Livers - who gives up four inches in height - to block the shot.
Livers was simply everywhere. He scored Michigan's first four points, then hit two big 3s as the Wolverines established their first-half lead. He shut down whoever he was guarding and his second block of the game came at the rim. He pulled down five rebounds.
And he also had two crucial assists: One to Chaundee Brown to a 3, and another to Brandon Johns for a corner 3 after Livers crossed over his defender and made him fall down. The game clearly meant a lot to Livers, and his energy and passion carried over to his teammates.
Michigan's non-conference schedule was not as strong as other teams', but the Wolverines have ended any questions about the validity of their strong start. They have now played three consecutive ranked opponents, with each team ranked higher than the last, and have won by an increasingly more decisive fashion. Michigan beat Northwestern by 19, then blew out Minnesota by 25 and on Tuesday night, dismantled the Badgers, who should still be considered one of the better teams in the Big Ten and in the nation.
Right now, it's pretty clear that the Wolverines...

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