Overview
- Michigan improved to 27-2 and locked the Big Ten’s No. 1 tournament seed with a triple-bye to the March 13 quarterfinals, snapping a nine-game skid to Illinois.
- Transfer forward Morez Johnson Jr. posted 19 points and 11 rebounds, with 13 before halftime, after facing boos and saying his phone number was leaked before the game.
- Aday Mara powered the second half with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting as Yaxel Lendeborg added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists to underscore the frontcourt edge.
- The school announced sophomore guard L.J. Cason tore his ACL in the game and is out for the season; he averaged 8.4 points and a team-best ~40% from three as a key reserve, and Dusty May said he repeatedly checked whether Cason should return.
- The road win bolstered Michigan’s No. 1 seed case for the NCAA Tournament, with Iowa up next on March 5 before the regular-season finale against Michigan State on March 8.