Game Day Activities
• White Out Event — Fans are encouraged to don white attire in support of the Wolverines as they face off against the Bruins.
• Rally Towel Handout — The first 5,000 attendees will receive a complimentary white rally towel, courtesy of Coca-Cola.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The formidable No. 2 University of Michigan men’s basketball team (23-1, 13-1 Big Ten) is set to host a special “White Out” Valentine’s Day showdown at Crisler Center this Saturday (Feb. 14) against UCLA (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten). The highly anticipated Big Ten contest will commence at 12:45 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBS, featuring commentary from Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery.
Key Information
• UCLA, inactive since Feb. 7, has secured victories in five of its last six outings. Their sole defeat during this period was a narrow 98-97 overtime loss to Indiana at Pauley Pavilion. While the Bruins boast an impressive 14-1 home record, their road performance stands at 3-6.
• The last encounter between Michigan and UCLA in Ann Arbor occurred on Dec. 9, 2017, marking a span of eight years, two months, and five days (2,989 days) since their previous meeting. In that game, Michigan orchestrated a remarkable comeback from a 15-point second-half deficit, forcing overtime with 10.9 seconds left and ultimately outscoring UCLA 13-4 in the extra period to claim a 78-69 victory. Key contributors included Moritz Wagner with 23 points (10-of-16 shooting), Charles Matthews with 20 points (8-for-11), and Zavier Simpson, who added 15 points and four steals.
• Last season, following an 85-74 triumph over USC, Michigan concluded its West Coast swing by defeating No. 22 UCLA 94-75 at Pauley Pavilion. In that game, Vladislav Goldin delivered a career-high 36 points, while Tre Donaldson contributed 20 points, including six three-pointers, with back-to-back late triples fueling Michigan’s decisive run.
• Michigan’s current 23-1 record represents the finest start in the program’s history, surpassing the 20-1 starts achieved by the 2013 (31-8; Final Four) and 2019 (30-7; Sweet 16) teams. With 13 Big Ten victories this season, U-M has now recorded 10 or more league wins in 13 of the last 15 seasons.
• The Wolverines continue to build on one of their most dominant seasons ever, featuring 19 wins by margins of 10+ points, 12 by 20+, nine by 30+, a Big Ten record seven by 40+, and one by 50+ (a 102-50, +52 victory over La Salle).
• After their 14-0 season-opening streak was snapped by Wisconsin, Michigan has responded with an impressive nine-game winning streak, which includes five road victories and consecutive wins against top-10 ranked opponents.
• Dusty May has achieved the fastest 50-win milestone for a Michigan coach, reaching the mark in his second season and 61st game at the helm.
• Michigan’s “Big Three” — Yaxel Lendeborg (averaging 14.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Morez Johnson Jr. (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg), and Aday Mara (11.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) — collectively account for nearly 45 percent of the team’s scoring and 56 percent of its rebounding.
• Lendeborg has been dominant on the boards, securing 45 rebounds over his last four games (11.2 rpg). This stretch includes three double-digit rebounding efforts, three double-doubles, and a season-high 14 rebounds against Ohio State.
• Elliot Cadeau has consistently delivered, recording six or more assists in six consecutive games and leading the Wolverines with an average of 5.5 assists per game. He has logged at least five assists in 14 games this season.
• Trey McKenney has embraced his vital role as Michigan’s “Sixth Man.” With seven consecutive double-figure scoring games (17 total), he has elevated his season average to 10.2 points in just 21.0 minutes per game.
• In his most recent performance, L.J. Cason delivered a career-best outing at Northwestern, pouring in 18 points, along with three assists and four steals, instrumental in Michigan’s second-half comeback victory.