Yaxel Lendeborg’s 27 points, along with key coaching from Dusty May, helped the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines topple the No. 8-ranked Michigan State Spartans 90-80 on Sunday in a packed Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
As the college basketball world tuned into CBS to watch this matchup of statewide rivals, reactions after Michigan’s win were hot and heavy.
Michigan’s Home Win Stirs Up Lots of Commentary
Jeff Goodman, a longtime basketball analyst and co-founder of Field of 68, posted on X some thoughts about the Wolverines’ victory and what it means in the big picture. That big picture involves a probable date in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
“Michigan finishes the regular season at 29-2 and 19-1 in Big Ten play after a home win over rival Michigan State,” Goodman wrote. “Incredible season thus far for Dusty May and the Wolverines.”
Michigan finishes the regular season at 29-2 and 19-1 in Big Ten play after a home win over rival Michigan State.
Incredible season thus far for Dusty May and the Wolverines.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 8, 2026
James Hawkins, a sportswriter who covers Michigan men’s basketball for The Detroit News, shared context behind the Wolverines’ win.
“UM sweeps the home-and-home series in the rivalry for first time since 2013-14 and sets record with 19 Big Ten wins,” he said.
Final: Michigan 90, Michigan State 80. UM sweeps the home-and-home series in the rivalry for first time since 2013-14 and sets record with 19 Big Ten wins. pic.twitter.com/9bIjMdCsWh
— James Hawkins (@jamesbhawkins) March 8, 2026
Analyst Kevin Graham expressed appreciation for the rivalry, writing, “Michigan-Michigan State basketball games are as intense as Michigan-Ohio State in football. Nice W by the Wolverines especially winning by 10!”
Michigan-Michigan State basketball games are as intense as Michigan-Ohio State in football. Nice W by the Wolverines especially winning by 10!
— Kevin Graham (@KGrahamContent) March 8, 2026
Jordan Strack, who has covered Michigan sports for a long time, posted, “Another double-digit no-sweat rivalry game victory for Michigan. Just a really good basketball team. That was fun. This team just played 4 games against top-10 opponents in 20 days & went 3-1 with wins by 11, 14 & 10.”
Another double-digit no-sweat rivalry game victory for Michigan. Just a really good basketball team. That was fun.
This team just played 4 games against top-10 opponents in 20 days & went 3-1 with wins by 11, 14 & 10.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) March 8, 2026
Jon Rothstein, a college basketball insider for CBS Sports, compared Michigan’s overall record to that of the Duke Blue Devils and Arizona Wildcats. “Michigan, Duke, and Arizona all the finish the regular season at 29-2. Wolverines got an average of 19.0 PPG combined from Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle off the bench in their first two games without LJ Cason,” he wrote.
Michigan, Duke, and Arizona all the finish the regular season at 29-2.
Wolverines got an average of 19.0 PPG combined from Trey McKenney and Roddy Gayle off the bench in their first two games without LJ Cason. https://t.co/Lf4cFbx753
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 8, 2026
Morez Johnson Jr. had 18 points for the Wolverines, while Roddy Gayle Jr. added 15 points and Trey McKenney scored 12 points off the bench for Michigan. The Wolverines are now 29-2 overall, 19-1 in Big Ten play. Michigan State falls to 25-6 overall, 15-5 in Big Ten play. The Big Ten Tournament is just around the corner for both teams.
