Here’s why BTN’s Tom Dienhart tabs Michigan win over Michigan State in East Lansing as the biggest win of the year for a B1G season:
There have been some impressive wins in Big Ten action this season. Ohio State’s triumph at Purdue turned heads, as did Nebraska’s 20-point triumph vs. Michigan and the Buckeyes’ victory vs. Michigan State. But the most impressive of all was Michigan’s 82-72 win at Michigan State on January 13.
The Wolverines were unranked at the time and coming off a loss to Purdue. But undeterred, Michigan marched into the Breslin Center and dumped the No. 4 Spartans by double-digits. Credit Wolverine big man Moritz Wagner, who tallied a career-high 27 points. Even more impressive, Wagner did that while playing with a bum ankle. Regardless, Wagner burned his rival on 8-of-13 shooting and made 3-of-4 3-pointers en route to leading Michigan to a big win, the only time MSU has lost at home this season.
“We didn’t know if Moe would play,” coach John Beilein said afterward. “He tweaked the ankle. We have a trainer, Alex Wong, who needs a shout-out for this one.”
Added Michigan State star Miles Bridges: “He’s a pick-and-pop guy and it’s tough to guard him. We could tell he really wanted that game.”
