This was not your standard KenPom cover.

Michigan overcame the continued absence of Isaiah Livers, a titanic performance from Trevion Williams, another woeful shooting night from beyond the arc, untimely missed free throws, and getting hammered on the glass to beat Purdue in double overtime, 84-78.

It took a wild sequence of events to even reach overtime. Williams, having the game of his life, beat the shot clock with a contested stepback three-pointer—his second made triple of the season—to give Purdue a late one-point edge. Zavier Simpson responded by splitting a screen and hitting a difficult layup over Williams for the tie. Williams hit right back with a drop step spin move that caused a Jon Teske goaltend. After a Michigan timeout, Simpson maneuvered by a Teske screen and snuck a finish under Williams from the left side to knot it back up. On the final possession of regulation, Franz Wagner blocked Williams from behind after he appeared to be alone under the hoop for a buzzer-beating layup.

you're kidding me right [Campredon]

The first overtime saw Simpson go back-and-forth with Williams. The final two baskets of the session were a Williams post finish off his seemingly unstoppable spin move and Simpson blowing by the entire Purdue defense for a lefty layup. After an impressive David DeJulius stop on Eric Hunter Jr. that may have featured a missed shot clock violation, Simpson nearly ended the proceedings with a halfcourt bank shot that rimmed out.

Those who survived to see the second overtime received some respite as Michigan was able to build a lead for the first time all game. Teske completed an and-one from DeJulius, Simpson drilled a spot-up three, DeJulius found Wagner in the corner for another from long range, and Michigan opened up a nine-point gap before the Boilermakers scored their first point of the period. When Purdue responded with a quick four-point run, DDJ canned a stepback jumper, then he and Simpson iced the game at the line. I have skipped over multiple protracted and useless reviews for the sake of narrative and sanity.

This was not an easy watch. Williams was practically unstoppable, posting career highs with 36 points and 20 rebounds with two assists, a block, no turnovers, and only two fouls in 44 physical minutes. On offense, at least, he more than made up for the sudden absence of fellow big man Matt Haarms, who left the game in the first half with an upper body injury and did not return. Meanwhile, Michigan made only five of their first 26 three-pointers before going two-for-three in the second overtime.

NEIN [Campredon]

But Purdue received little in the way of secondary scoring. All 14 of Isaiah Thompson's points came in a surprising second-half burst, while Hunter went 4-for-14 from the field on his journey to ten points. Simpson took advantage of Haarms's absence with repeated forays to the rim, scoring 22 points and making all nine of his two-point attempts in addition to handing out nine assists; all but four of his points came after halftime.

Teske was no slouch himself, tallying 18 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and a steal in 39 minutes while being tasked with guarding the 270-pound Williams one-on-one with little to no help. The strategy eventually paid off when Michigan's shooting finally came around late; it was generally sound, too, as Purdue couldn't crack a point per possession.

The game featured 17 lead changes, 11 ties, and no lead greater than five points by either team until the second overtime. You are right to feel emotionally exhausted.

The win draws Michigan level in the Big Ten standings at 2-2 while also moving them ahead of the Boilermakers, who drop to 2-3. While they'll need to overcome a quick turnaround and the near-impossibility of winning on the road in the Big Ten this year, they'll move above .500 if they can beat Minnesota in The Barn on Sunday.

Try to at least regain your breath before then.

[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]