The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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michigan basketball Beilein made certain everyone knew such talk had no bearing on the Wolverines going forward. "I don't care what the deal is. You don't look at anybody else's schedule and say, 'Okay, we've got to win this because they've got a softer schedule.' We've just got to win this because we've got to win this. "We've learned that over the years. The strangest things can happen, if you just take care of your own business. It's a non-issue." Another non-issue involved chatter regarding the absence of sophomore forward Mitch McGary. While the Wolverines were lauded for beginning a relatively easy start to the Big Ten schedule at 4-0, the fact that McGary is out was expected to show up in games like the trip to the Kohl Center. Again, Beilein stiff-armed all such talk. Michigan's roster, as it is, can move ahead and be successful, he insisted. "It's been a month now," Beilein said. "His last game was Arizona, on Dec. 11. It's been five weeks since we were playing or practicing without him. "We all wish he was with us. At the same time, his recovery is very important. We've moved past that point. We are who we are, and we've just got to do with what we have, and we have done really well." They continued to do so in Madison, with television analyst Dan Dakich singling out Beilein as one of the nation's coaches who does not make excuses, whine about injuries like some, etc. So far, the results back the defiant stance. ❏ Michigan Basketball Rewind: Dec. 16-Jan. 20 Record: 13-4 overall, 5-0 Big Ten. Record from Dec. 16-Jan. 20: 7-0, 5-0 Big Ten. Best Win — 77-70 over Wisconsin in Madison: There were several wins from which to choose, but this one's no contest. Michigan hadn't won in Madison since 1999, hadn't beaten a Bo Ryan team on the road, and entered the game underdogs in the minds of everyone but those in their own locker room. From the opening tipoff, none of that mattered. The Wolverines built as much as a 15-point lead down the stretch, before weathering a furious Wisconsin rally and winning 77-70. Sophomore Nik Stauskas' dagger of a step-back threepointer, after the Badgers had slashed the Michigan lead to one, sent a message that this wouldn't be like so many U-M close calls at Wisconsin in recent years. Stauskas led the Wolverines with 23 points on the night, while classmate Caris LeVert scored 20. Worst Loss: None. Michigan's seven-game winning streak marks its longest since the Wolverines reeled off 16 straight victories at the start of last season.