Wolf and Goldin perform in race with No. 22 Xavier as Michigan wins 78-53

The Michigan men’s basketball team prides itself on playing at a rapid pace. For the first time all season, against No. 22 Xavier, the Wolverines’ speed was matched from the get-go. 

Pushing the pace and having it pushed right back, Michigan (6-1) defeated the Musketeers (6-1) in the track-meet styled showdown, 78-53. The Wolverines took some time to adjust to defending another speedy team, but eventually settled in behind junior forward Danny Wolf and graduate center Vlad Goldin to secure their first ranked victory of the season.

Despite the break-neck pace, Michigan oxymorinically leaned on its bigs to handle the opening sequence. Goldin and Wolf combined for the Wolverines’ first 13 points with three 3-pointers between the duo. Their offensive output helped Michigan adjust to the pace of play, but Xavier’s need for speed meant the Wolverine bigs wore out quickly. 

As a result, Michigan looked to benefit from its usual methodology of staggering Wolf and Goldin as the game progressed. Redshirt junior Will Tschetter entered to keep the Wolverines’ in a height advantage, but his mobility alongside Goldin or Wolf helped them keep up on the go. 

The extra spacing Tschetter brings allowed Wolf to continue to flourish, finding his footing to score 16 first-half points and lead Michigan to a 11-point halftime lead after weathering a late Musketeer run. 

With every Michigan run and Wolf deep shot, it gathered stronger control of the tempo of the game. Entering the second half, Xavier still wanted to run, but the Wolverines were the pacer. 

Goldin and Wolf opened the second-half scoring for Michigan, fighting through another Musketeer pushback attempt. Maintaining their double-digit lead as the second half progressed, the Wolverines had won the early sprint and just needed to pace it into the finish line. 

To do that Michigan kept looking to its bigs. Wolf made a driving layup with just under ten minutes to go to secure a 20-point double-double; meanwhile Goldin continued to stay aggressive as he too entered double digits just a minute prior. 

Their aggression allowed the Wolverines to keep control of the pace at Xavier’s detriment, scoring within the offense while still running when needed. The Musketeers stayed within striking distance, but time was running out quickly. 

With the clock ticking under four minutes to go, Michigan subbed Wolf and Goldin back in together for a kill shot. Goldin hit two free throws to create the Wolverines’ biggest lead at 17, and then emphatically blocked Xavier on the other end. 

With this coming out party, Goldin and Wolf both earned season-high point counts at 18 and 20, respectively. They proved that their pairing can work offensively and can even work against a team that wants to push the pace all the time, something a two-big lineup would usually struggle with. 

And most importantly, their big night earned Michigan a ranked win, the first of the Dusty May era and a positive sign going into Big Ten play. 

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