Special to Detroit Free Press
Last season, Michigan basketball won the Big Ten, secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and danced all the way to the Elite Eight.
Meanwhile, Tarleton State played its first season as a Division I program.
In a game that was even closer than the 65-54 win over Tarleton State on Wednesday suggests, U-M once again proved that its mix of returning talent and five-star recruits aren’t ready to replace Franz Wagner, Isaiah Livers and Mike Smith in defending its Big Ten title just yet.