No. 4 Michigan Blows by Kansas State en route to NIT Tip-Off Championship

Photo by Brad Penner/US Presswire

Tim Hardaway, Jr. (above) played a lot like his dad today as the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines won the NIT Tip-Off Championship. After edging the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Semifinals, the Wolverines turned it up another notch and coasted by the Kansas State Wildcats, winning 71-57. 

Hardaway, Jr. led the way for the Wolverines, scoring a game-high 23 points on 15 shots, shooting a near lights out 66.7 percent from the field. He also added seven rebounds which were only bested by Glenn Robinson III, as the freshman pulled down 12 of his own. 

This was a very important victory for the Wolverines. Even though the Wildcats are not nearly as dangerous as they have been recently, there were a lot of pundits and people out there who have not been drinking the kool aid that the Wolverines have been possessing since the offseason. There were a lot that feel that they are overrated, and there are perhaps more out there that still feel that way. However if they continue to string together victories on big stages, against good teams they can quickly silence them.

Michigan looks to continue to do some silencing, as next week they take on the highly touted North Carolina State Wolfpack on Tuesday in the Crisler Center. Certainly the Big Ten-ACC Challenge brings out the best in just about everyone, and as the precursor to the much anticipated North Carolina-Indiana matchup, the Wolverines can do a bit of spotlight-stealing if all the cards fit into place.