Entertainment

Michigan, Beilein win second-consecutive Big Ten Tournament Title

John Beilein’s Michigan Wolverines are on a nine-game win streak after beating two top ten teams to win the Big Ten Tournament Championship.
In convincing fashion, Michigan sought out redemption against Purdue, a team who had swept them prior in the regular season. Final score of 75-66.
Michigan had a memorable four-day run at Madison Square Garden. Beating Iowa, Nebraska, rival MSU, and then Purdue to win their second consecutive Big Ten Tournament title.
Beilein’s Wolverines will, yet again, enter the NCAA tournament as considerably one of the hottest teams in basketball. CBS Sports has Michigan (28-7 overall, 13-5 conference)  projected to be a four-seed. Ranked at no. 7 in the latest AP top 25 as of Monday morning.
Moe Wagner led Michigan with 17 points despite playing just 17 minutes on the day; Wagner was named the most outstanding player in the tournament.
Sophomore center Jon Teske was a difference maker for the tournament champs. Teske came off the bench to put up 12 in the first half, finishing the game with 14. Prior to Sunday, the sophomore had averaged just 3.3 PPG.
Teske put down a two-handed dunk in the second half with 6:02 left, the game then reached its biggest point deficit of the day at 66-48. At this 18-point lead, the vibe was everything but official for Michigan despite the amount of time left in the game. Essentially a start-to-finish domineering day on all cylinders.
Defense was the bread and butter for Michigan, holding the top-two Purdue scorers Carsen and Vincent Edwards to just 16 points after shooting 6-of-22 combined. However, Issac Haas led the Boilermakers with 23 on the day.
According to KenPom.com, Beilein’s Michigan team is no. 6 in defensive efficiency. This team, thus far, has arguably proven themselves to be Beilein’s best defensive team to date in his 11-year tenure.
A season ago, momentum from a five-game win streak and a dramatic tournament title run propelled Michigan into the Sweet Sixteen, ultimately falling a point shy to Oregon of advancing to the Elite Eight. Right now, Michigan is red-hot and will await their seeding for the NCAA Tournament.