WASHINGTON – The Michigan basketball entered the 2017 Big Ten Tournament as the league's No. 8 seed, but it's leaving as the conference champion.
The Wolverines won their fourth game in four days Sunday, cruising past Wisconsin for a 71-56 win. It comes just four days after the team plane skidded off the runway at Willow Run airport and forced the players to arrive in Washington, D.C., just 90 minutes before the tournament began.
Recommended Videos
For the third straight game, Derrick Walton led the Wolverines on both ends of the court. He scored 22 points to go with seven assists and six rebounds.
Zak Irvin continued his late-season resurgence, scoring 15 points on 6-9 shooting and chipped in seven rebounds and five assists. He also took on the role of Michigan's toughest defender throughout the weekend.
D.J. Wilson, who led Michigan Friday with 26 points in its upset of No. 1 seed Purdue, was strong on the offensive end with 17 points and three assists. He also had six rebounds, two steals and a block.
Michigan completely shut down Wisconsin in the second half, allowing just 24 total points. Bronson Koenig, Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ combined to score 43 points, but they shot just 17-41 from the field.
Michigan moved to 24-11 on the season with the win. On Thursday, it eliminated an Illinois team that was fighting for its NCAA Tournament life. On Friday, the Wolverines sent the No. 1 seed, Purdue, packing. On Saturday, Michigan beat a Minnesota team that had won nine of its last 10 games.
Now the Wolverines are Big Ten champions.