Wisconsin 5 – MI 2

I’m thinking Purdue gets to 26 wins when its name is called by Greg Gumbel on Selection Sunday. He hit just 3 of 8 shots and had nearly as many turnovers (four) as assists (five).

After grabbing command of the game with around seven minutes to play, the Wolverines are learning how to close.

His replacement, D’Mitrik Trice may have only made 2 of 15 shots, but at least he took shots.

Irvin then nailed a three from the top, Wisconsin calling timeout as Crisler thunderously welcomed a seven-point MI lead at 7:05.

In NCAA Basketball news, Wisconsin suffered its second consecutive defeat Thursday falling to MI, 64-58.

The Badgers widened their lead to 4-2 when Aidan Cavallini was working the puck along the back boards and he sent a backhand pass to Jarod Zirbel to the left of Michigan’s net.

All five of the Badgers’ losses have come at the hands of top-15 teams, while four of the five were to top-10 teams and three were in the top 5. Against the Badgers, the Wolverines shot 9/23 (39%) from beyond the arc, with Irvin and Robinson hitting two apiece in addition to Wagner’s three threes. Koenig is shooting 25.5 percent over his last five games. A banked in, turn-around three pointer was probably the turning point for him, as he finally saw the ball go in.

NO. 7 NOTRE DAME 84, CLEMSON 80: Marina Mabrey scored 24 of her career-high 29 points in the second half to help No. 7 Notre Dame hold off Clemson for its eighth straight victory, 84-80 on Thursday night.

Irvin dished out three assists (to just one turnover) in 38 minutes, and even had a rare two-handed dunk on a breakaway. Center Ethan Happ led the way, scoring 22 points – 18 of which came in the first half. He finished with only five points on 1-of-8 shooting. Happ and Iverson were the only two Badgers in double figures.

Guard Zak Showalter discussed the effect of Koenig’s absence.

Irvin finished with 18 points, his most since the last meeting with Wisconsin on January 17, making 4 of 7 two-point shots and 2 of 5 from deep.

The best win of U-M’s season – and loudest statement to the NCAA tournament selection committee – was Michigan’s first win over a ranked opponent since last season’s Big Ten tournament upset of No. 10 Indiana. Wisconsin is not a team that plays poorly very often, but they did not play great against the Wildcats and it hurt them in the end.