Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverines to Welcome Gophers for Crisler Pool(e) Party
2/23/2026 2:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Promotions
• Pool(e) Party -- Get ready for Spring Break with our annual Pool(e) Party. Fans are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite pool attire.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The third-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team (25-2, 15-1 Big Ten) returns to Ann Arbor for conference play, welcoming Minnesota (13-14, 6-10 Big Ten) to a sold-out Crisler Center Pool(e) Party on Tuesday (Feb. 24). Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network, with Kevin Kugler, LaPhonso Ellis and Andy Katz on the call.
Notes
• With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Michigan has two opportunities to clinch at least a share, or potentially the outright, Big Ten regular-season title. If successful, it would mark U-M's 16th Big Ten title and its first since 2021.
• Michigan holds a 99-71 lead in the all-time series against Minnesota; however, U-M has lost the last two meetings -- a 73-71 setback at Crisler Center (Jan. 4, 2024) and an 84-81 overtime loss on a last-second shot at Williams Arena (Jan. 16, 2025).
• Michigan is one win away from its 100th all-time victory over Minnesota. Overall, U-M has recorded 100-plus wins against three Big Ten opponents -- Iowa (100-68), Michigan State (105-92) and Northwestern (121-60). In addition to Minnesota (99), the Wolverines have 98 all-time wins against Wisconsin.
• U-M holds a 59-22 mark in Ann Arbor, despite the Gophers having won two of the last three games at Crisler Center.
• Last season: With seven seconds remaining and no timeouts, Minnesota advanced the ball to Dawson Garcia, who drilled a shot from just inside half court to lift the Gophers to a dramatic 84-81 overtime win. Despite Danny Wolf's 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, along with Vladislav Goldin's 18 points and eight rebounds, the Wolverines were unable to withstand Minnesota's late second-half rally, which included a pair of free throws that forced overtime.
• With a 25-2 record, U-M continues to build one of the most dominant seasons in program history, highlighted by 21 wins by 10-plus points, 13 by 20-plus, 10 by 30-plus, seven by 40-plus (Big Ten record) and one by 50-plus.
• U-M's 25-2 record marks the best start in program history. The Wolverines have reached 24-3 on four previous occasions -- 2018-19 (Sweet 16), 1984-85 (Second Round), 1976-77 (Elite Eight) and 1964-65 (NCAA runner-up).
• U-M is the first Big Ten team to post a 25-2 record in the last 15 years. The last was Ohio State (25-2) during the 2010-11 season.
• Michigan's 15-1 Big Ten mark is the best conference start in program history, topping the previous 14-2 openings by the 2020-21, 1984-85 and 1976-77 squads.
• Michigan's program record for Big Ten wins is 16, achieved in both 1984-85 (16-2) and 1976-77 (16-2). The Wolverines have posted 15-plus league victories six times, recorded 10-plus Big Ten wins in 13 of the last 15 seasons, and reached double-digit conference wins 39 times.
• Michigan's "Big Three" -- Yaxel Lendeborg (14.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Morez Johnson Jr. (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Aday Mara (11.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg) -- account for more than 40 percent of U-M's scoring and over 50 percent of its rebounding.
• Lendeborg has scored in double figures in five straight games, recording two double-doubles and knocking down nine of his 37 three-pointers during that stretch.
• Johnson has scored in double figures in nine straight games, adding three more double-digit rebounding efforts during that span to give him seven on the season.
• Mara has 73 blocks (2.73 bpg), recording at least one in every game. He ranks fifth nationally, owns 23 multi-block games and posted a career-high six vs. Penn State.
• Elliot Cadeau (5.6 apg) has recorded five-plus assists in nine straight games. With 150 assists, he becomes the 24th Wolverine to reach 150-plus in a single season.
