Yeah, Michigan was 19 points better than Michigan State on Thursday.

Michigan was six Big Ten victories better than Michigan State coming into Sunday.

But none of that matters once these two rivals tip it off.

Quite frankly, no context matters.

It doesn't matter what the records are, the circumstances are.

Michigan, Michigan State resonates.

It overshadows the storylines, the ramifications, the recent history entering the game.

That's why the urgency, the hunger, the effort needs to carry over.

Michigan possessed all of that on Thursday night.

The Wolverines played far from a perfect game, but they overcame any of those issues or mistakes that they made with the energy that overwhelmed the Spartans in Ann Arbor.

That was not the case on Sunday, and it came back to Burn Michigan.

The tough pill to swallow in this one was that we did see that energy and effort late in the game.

The Wolverines made a push, whittling an 11-point

deficit down to two with a minute 13 to play, but ultimately the mountain was too tall to climb.

Michigan State executed late and got the job done. Yes, Michigan still won the Big Ten title,

no matter what a certain team in Champaign might have to say. Yes, Michigan still is a one

seat in the NCAA tournament picture and will likely stay there barring some crazy stuff

happening over the next week. But there are no more learning lessons, no more dismissable losses.

Win nine games, complete the three for three, the guys talked about after Thursday's regular season clincher.

Lose it all next week in Indy and a chance at a Big Ten tournament championship is over.

Lose beyond that and it's all over.

Another thing some of the guys talked about on Thursday, watching Michigan State two years ago

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