Wolverine Digest

Why Michigan's stunning loss to Minnesota is a good thing

Jerred Johnson|
Dec 10, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May watches from the sidelines in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Dec 10, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May watches from the sidelines in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Michigan basketball headed to Minnesota riding high. Locked in a battle for the top spot in the Big Ten with rival Michigan State, holding a five-game winning streak, national pundits declaring them a viable national championship threat, and the players brimming with confidence. It all came crashing down with one nearly half court three pointer at the buzzer on a cold Minnesota night. Social media pounced immediately, every MSU fan came crawling out of the woodwork declaring the maize and blue a fraud, laughing that they lost to a team that was previously winless in the conference.

But did this loss really hurt that bad? In the moment sure, any last-minute defeat is going to sting, especially against a team you are better than in every metric imaginable. But college basketball is not college football. A loss here and there does not ruin a season, and a single conference loss does not strip away a shot at a conference title. A slight drop in net rating, maybe, but a loss like this can also have a positive effect.

1. A DOSE OF HUMILITY

Danny Wolf
Jan 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) steals the ball from Michigan Wolverines center Danny Wolf (1) during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

A loss can sometimes teach you more than a win. Michigan was on a five-game winning streak in which they were routinely up by double digits, scoring in the high 80's-90's and winning in comfortable fashion. Analysts were extolling all the great virtues of this team. Two 7-footers that were unstoppable on the pick and roll, three-point shooting in the high 30% from six players, and a point guard that was commanding the team in championship fashion. Minnesota overcame all of those things in their last second win. That shot did more than defeat the Wolverines, it gave them a quick dose of humility. No team is ever as good as they appear, the Wolverines know they can still lose. That is not a bad lesson to learn before March.

2. REFOCUSES THE TEAM ON THEIR GOALS

Vlad Goldin
Jan 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Vladislav Goldin (50) shoots as Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Parker Fox (23) and guard Femi Odukale (11) defend during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

As aforementioned, college basketball losses and college football losses are not the same. Michigan now has one loss in the Big Ten, and nobody expected them to go undefeated in a conference as strong as the Big Ten. Playing any Big Ten team on the road is always a challenge, one that Michigan experienced last night. Even so, that loss did not take any of this teams goals off the table. Big Ten regular season championship? Stil possible. The Big Ten Tournament championship and National Championship are both still on the table.

3. COACHING

Dusty may
Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts to a play against Washington during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A team on a winning streak is sometimes tougher to coach. The more they win, the less they can sometimes focus on the little things that created that success in the first place. Following the loss to Minnesota, head coach Dusty May and his staff can extoll upon their players the value of the small things. Diving for loose balls, making free throws, boxing out, and making smart hustle plays are how you win ball games. Or in the case of the Minnesota debacle, how you lose them. I anticipate the next few days will be tough for these young Wolverines and coach May. Even with so much success early, the reality is that they've got plenty of work to do in order to reach their goals in 2025. Coach May will get his guys refocused and hungry again. This is still a very dangerous and capable team, despite what we saw in Minnesota.

Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Jerred Johnson
JERRED JOHNSON

Jerred Johnson has served in the United States military for over 23 years. He has a Bachelors in Marketing, a Masters in Management and is in the final phases of completing his Doctorate in Business Administration.

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