Ann Arbor, MI- Hail to the Victors Valiant!

Tonight, (February 11, 2025) the #20 Michigan Wolverines hosted the #7 Purdue Boilermakers in a game that looked to shake the foundation of the BIG10. Michigan has been the success story across the league, as in year one of the Coach Dusty May era, the Wolverines have rebounded from a last-place finish in the conference and look primed for a deep March run. Michigan was the biggest winner of the transfer portal, bringing in Yale’s Danny Wolf and May’s former FAU Owl Vlad Goldin to form the best front court in college basketball.

As for Purdue, the Boilermakers have responded well all season during the post Zach Edey era of the squad. Losing such a dominant player like Edey usually leaves a program searching for a new identity, but Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith have stepped into the star role.

With two Top 25 conference rivals facing off against each other, everyone in attendance at the Crisler Center expected a movie, and they sure got that.

I’ll tell you one thing.

This Dusty May guy can coach basketball. pic.twitter.com/vZWT7niU7n

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) February 12, 2025

Throughout the entirety of the night, both Purdue and Michigan went blow for blow, keeping pace with elite offensive aggression. While Purdue controlled the overwhelming majority of the game, they could never truly pull away and put this one to rest.

With four minutes remaining, Purdue held a 65-61 lead over Michigan. Immediately, momentum swung for the Wolverines as Tre Donaldson knocked down a tough three to cut the lead to one. As Purdue began to drive down court, Vlad Goldin popped a loose ball, and Reubin Jones connected a fast break lay to gain a Wolverine lead. The Boilermakers responded as a Braden Smith layup regained the lead, but Danny Wolf hit a lay of his own to set Michigan atop once more. (68-67 Michigan, 2:21 2).

Four more Goldin free throws just under two minutes to go gave Michigan a deeper cushion to work with, now leading 71-67. As time wound down under thirty seconds remaining, Jones hit a nasty put back dunk to set the Crisler Center ablaze, sealing this game at 75-73.

THE FIRST TOP-10 WIN OF THE DUSTY MAY ERA pic.twitter.com/PI0g6Wgq2t

— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) February 12, 2025

It’s finished. Michigan had secured their first 10 upset of the Dusty May era, while skyrocketing into the #1 Seed of the BIG10. To make the pot sweeter, the Wolverines will have two tough matchups on their hands over the next week facing off against rivals Ohio State and Michigan State in the coming days.

BOX SCORE

Michigan:

Danny Wolf: 15 Points, 9 Rebounds

Tre Donaldson: 12 Points

Vlad Goldin: 12 Points, 5 Rebounds, 2 Steals

Purdue:

Braden Smith: 24 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists

Trey Kaufman-Renn: 22 Points, 7 Rebounds

Cover Photo Credits: MLive.com