Michigan went on a 43-6 run. Against Wisconsin. Sound, steady, obnoxiously consistent Wisconsin.

This didn't look like two Big Ten teams playing each other, let alone two Final Four contenders. Michigan was the varsity team to Wisconsin's JV squad, the lion to their antelope, the bully, the beast.

While the Wolverines held the lead for most of the first half, this was actually a close game for the opening 14 minutes or so. Then Michigan simply chose to choke the life out of Wisconsin's offense, going on a 14-0 run to end the half leading by 17 points, the biggest deficit UW had faced all season. It happened so fast that it's still hard to process. The Badgers looked like they'd been hit by a piano dropped from the heavens. They failed to so much as get a shot up on their final possession of the half.

Wagner stole a couple easy buckets [Campredon]

It didn't stop after the break. There were no lanes to the basket for Wisconsin's guards, no post position for their big men, no chance to do much at all except shoot over the defense and hope. Even with Juwan Howard emptying the bench down the stretch, as is becoming tradition, Michigan hounded UW into shooting 11/37 on two-pointers and 9/28 from three. The Badgers had more turnovers (ten) than assists (eight). Five Wolverines combined to block nine shots with Hunter Dickinson and Isaiah Livers recording three apiece.

Meanwhile, the offense hummed along at well over 1.3 points per possession before (extended) garbage time. Mike Smith had maybe his best game as a Wolverine, scoring 16 points—including an ankle-breaking stepback three against Brad Davison—and dishing out six assists. Franz Wagner needed only ten shots to score 15 points and was everywhere on defense, recording four steals, a block, and several deflections. Livers and Dickinson chipped in 13 and 12, respectively, to add to their rim-protecting exploits.

nowhere to run, nowhere to pass, nowhere to shoot [Campredon]

The lead touched 40—FORTY—midway through the second half on a Chaundee Brown layup from Austin Davis, who returned for his first minutes since injuring his foot against Toledo. A few minutes prior, Brown sent the bench into a fit of hysteria with a tip-slam. Terrance Williams pretended to resuscitate a prone Jace Howard. Howard lived; Wisconsin's dignity did not.

Michigan has a signature win over a quality team now. They checked that box as emphatically as possible. The only fluke here is the final score, which is at least ten points closer than it could've been. Yes, closer. These are your Big Ten favorites, and as the ESPN studio crew discussed after the game, they may very well be in the conversation with Gonzaga and Baylor for the best team in the country.

[Hit THE JUMP for more photos and the box score.]

All photos by Marc-Gregor Campredon. Full album is being uploaded right now to Flickr.