Michigan Wolverines Clinch Outright Big Ten Championship

The team celebrated their victory over Illinois with a locker room celebration.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The Michigan Wolverines basketball team clinched the outright Big Ten championship with an 84-70 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday night. The Wolverines held a 21-point second-half lead and were led by a strong performance from sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., who returned to his former school. The team celebrated the title win with a lively locker room celebration, waiting for Johnson to join them before dousing him with water.

Why it matters

Winning the outright Big Ten title is a significant accomplishment for the Michigan Wolverines, as it solidifies their position as one of the top teams in the conference. The victory over a ranked Illinois team on the road also demonstrates the Wolverines' strength and ability to perform under pressure.

The details

Michigan jumped out to a big lead in the second half and cruised to an 84-70 victory over Illinois. Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., who previously played for Illinois, had a standout game with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolverines celebrated the title win enthusiastically in the locker room, waiting for Johnson to join them before dousing him with water.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Morez Johnson Jr.

A sophomore forward for the Michigan Wolverines who previously played for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

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What they’re saying

“They took the belt off and beat our behinds with it”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach (The Field of 68)

“I feel like Lloyd Bridges in Airplane. When you come to an environment like this — we had the students right behind us, they were looking to see who we were covering. This one kid was like waving his flag and hitting me in the head, and I think he did it on purpose. I'm pretty sure he did it on purpose. But I didn't care. By the end of the game, they were very quiet.”

— Chris Balas, The Wolverine (The Wolverine)

What’s next

The Wolverines will await their seeding and matchups for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where they will look to make a deep run and potentially win a national championship.

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant victory over Illinois to clinch the outright Big Ten title demonstrates the team's strength and resilience, as they were able to overcome a hostile road environment and a talented opponent to secure the conference championship.