It was a must-win game for Michigan, who still faces an uphill battle to earn a share of the Big Ten title. Nebraska entered Thursday night as easily the weakest opponent left on the Wolverines’ schedule, but that has not always translated to easy wins for the Maize and Blue. To complicate matters, just moments before tip it was announced that Charles Matthews — on his de facto Senior Day — would be sitting out, making a shallow rotation even lighter.
One might think all of these ingredients would lead to a frustrating and potentially disappointing evening, but the Wolverines had something else in mind.