Michigan basketball was on a heater entering March, but the Wolverines squandered two straight games in overtime to Illinois and Indiana to make things much for difficult on themselves.
The maize and blue could’ve entered the Big Ten Tournament as high as the No. 2 seed, but due to two inexplicable losses, Michigan entered as the No. 8 seed and the Wolverines had a rematch with Rutgers on Thursday.
Michigan defeated the Scarlet Knights by 13 points earlier in the season and the Wolverines badly need at least one win in the Big Ten Tournament to have any chance to go dancing.
The Wolverines started fast against Rutgers taking a 9-2 lead, but the Scarlet Knights stormed back into the game. Michigan entered halftime with a slight three-point lead, 28-25. The Wolverines shot 48% from the field but between giving up seven turnovers and Rutgers securing eight offensive boards — the game was close.
But the Wolverines couldn’t muster anything at all offensively in the second half and Rutgers took the win with ease. Michigan shot 4-for-21 from the field in the second and the Wolverines fell to the Scarlet Knights, 62-50.
Here are three takeaways.