The Streak Is Over: Badgers Stun No. 2 Michigan in Ann Arbor
Home court had become a haven.
Coming into Saturday, Michigan Wolverines had won 14 straight games at Crisler Center, and for a while it felt like Ann Arbor might be immune to the chaos that defines Big Ten basketball. Saturday afternoon didn’t erase what Michigan has accomplished this season — but it did remind everyone of an unavoidable truth in this league:
If you don’t bring your best, you’re going to lose.
Michigan’s 91–88 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers doesn’t change the Wolverines’ trajectory — but it absolutely should serve as a wake-up call. Back-to-back shaky performances, first escaping Penn State by two and now dropping their first game of the season, exposed cracks that had been forming beneath the undefeated record.
The idea of invincibility?
That ends here.
The One Stat That Told the Story
On paper, this game was fairly even — except where it mattered most.
Wisconsin buried 15 three-pointers.
Michigan managed eight.
That’s the ballgame.
In a league where margin is razor thin, getting outscored by 21 points from beyond the arc is almost impossible to overcome. Michigan struggled to close out shooters, over-helped on penetration, and paid for it possession after possession.
If you give up 15 threes in the Big Ten, you’re playing with fire.
John Blackwell Was the Problem
There was no mystery about who drove the Badgers.
John Blackwell — a Brother Rice High School product — was everywhere. He poured in 26 points, attacked gaps, hit timely shots, and punished Michigan every time the defense lost focus.
Blackwell didn’t just score — he dictated rhythm. When Michigan threatened to make a run, he answered. When the crowd surged, he quieted it. It was the kind of performance that travels — and the kind Michigan never quite solved.
From Control to Chaos
Michigan actually looked the part early.
The Wolverines built a 14-point lead in the first half, defended well, and played with pace and confidence. But Wisconsin chipped away late, trimming the lead to 38–37 at halftime, and that momentum carried straight into the second half.
Wisconsin erupted for 54 second-half points, torching a Michigan defense that had been one of the nation’s most reliable units. The Wolverines never truly regained control, instead trading punches in a game that slowly tilted toward the Badgers.
Cadeau, Johnson, and the Fight to the Finish
Michigan didn’t fold — and that matters.
Elliot Cadeau shook off a scoreless first half to pour in 19 points, slashing to the rim and keeping Michigan alive when the game threatened to slip away.
Morez Johnson Jr. continued his impressive stretch, scoring 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, providing consistent interior offense when perimeter defense broke down.
Yaxel Lendeborg added 14 points and six rebounds, while Nimari Burnett chipped in 10, offering stability amid the chaos.
The effort was there.
The margin was not.
The Moment That Will Be Debated
Down three late, Michigan appeared to get the basket it needed.
A tip-in by Aday Mara ignited Crisler — until it didn’t. Officials waved it off for basket interference after review, wiping away Michigan’s best chance to tie the game.
It was controversial.
It was deflating.
But it wasn’t the reason Michigan lost.
Reality Check, Not a Collapse
This loss doesn’t undo Michigan’s season — but it does recalibrate expectations.
Two weeks ago, the undefeated talk felt plausible. After watching Michigan barely escape Penn State and then struggle again here, reality sets in: the Big Ten doesn’t allow cruise control. Any team can beat you on any night — especially when perimeter defense slips.
The undefeated dream ends.
The real work begins.
Stat Capsule 🏀
Final Score: Wisconsin 91, Michigan 88
Michigan Record: 14–1 (4–1 Big Ten)
Key Numbers
- Three-pointers: Wisconsin 15, Michigan 8
- FG%: Wisconsin 50%, Michigan 47%
- FT%: Michigan 92%, Wisconsin 78%
Michigan Leaders
- Elliot Cadeau: 19 points
- Morez Johnson Jr.: 18 points (7-of-8 FG)
- Yaxel Lendeborg: 14 points, 6 rebounds
- Nimari Burnett: 10 points
Wisconsin
- John Blackwell: 26 points
Bigger Picture
This wasn’t about officiating.
It wasn’t about effort.
It was about discipline, perimeter defense, and the reality that no one is immune in this conference — not even at home.
If Michigan needed a reminder that the Big Ten doesn’t care about rankings or streaks, they got it.
Food for Thought 🤔
Did you expect the Wolverines to lose a game at home this season, or was that not even a consideration? Drop your comment below or join the conversation in the Wolverine Wire — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
