Wolverines Set to Battle No. 18 Badgers for Big Ten Tournament Title – University of Michigan Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The 22nd-ranked and third-seeded University of Michigan men’s basketball team (24-9) advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final and will take on 18th-ranked and fifth seed Wisconsin (26-8) for the conference tournament championship on Sunday (March 16) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The title game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff on CBS.

Notes

• A coast-to-coast, buzzer-beating layup by Tre Donaldson lifted the Maize and Blue to an 81-80 semifinal victory over No. 11-ranked and second seed Maryland to the championship game for the sixth time. Donaldson finished with 12 points and a career-high nine assists.

• With 5.3 seconds remaining on the clock, a pair of Maryland free throws gave the Terrapins an 80-79 lead. Without a timeout, Donaldson quickly inbounded the ball to Vladislav Goldin, who handed the ball back to Donaldson. Sprinting the length of the floor and driving to the middle of the lane, Donaldson hit a running left-handed layup off the glass with 0.4 seconds remaining.

• Michigan has 16 games decided by four points or fewer. After U-M fell in four of its first six games, the Maize and Blue have won 10 straight and are now 12-4.

• In the semifinal, Goldin and Danny Wolf each posted double-doubles. Goldin closed with 25 points and 10 rebounds while going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Wolf added 21 points and a season-best-tying 14 rebounds. It was the fourth time this season that U-M’s “Area 50-1” had a double-double in the same game.

• U-M is making its sixth trip to the Big Ten Tournament title game (3-2). It last played in the title game in the 2019 tournament vs. No. 1 seed Michigan State. No. 3 seed Michigan fell, 65-55, to the Spartans.

• In Michigan’s 86-68 quarterfinal win against No. 6 seed Purdue, Wolf led the way with 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, converting 7-of-10 from the field and 2-for-4 from long range. Goldin added 15 points and eight rebounds. Donaldson scored 13 and dished out five assists. Roddy Gayle Jr. added 11 points and four rebounds. U-M had 25 assists as four Wolverines dished five-plus: Wolf (six), Donaldson (five), Gayle (five) and L.J. Cason (career-best five).

• Goldin earned a spot on the All-Big Ten first team from media voting and a second-team spot from the coaches. Wolf was named to the second team by the coaches and the media. In addition to their conference accomplishments, the duo was honored by the Associated Press, with Wolf earning a spot on the All-Big Ten first team while Goldin was named to the second team.

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