Just like at Wayne State last weekend, Michigan played in a game on Saturday that was bigger than basketball in Washington, D.C.

It was the inaugural coaches versus racism game, and it pitted Michigan against one of the top HBCU basketball programs in the country, Prairie View A&M.

It was a great platform for both schools and, of course, an important conversation continuum in the fight against racism. I hope fans got an opportunity to also get a

closer look at the unique challenges that programs like Prairie View A&M have to overcome

in order to have basketball. The Panthers started the season at St. Mary's on Tuesday

night. Two days later, they were at San Francisco.

The team then flew out to Washington, D.C. on Friday for Saturday's game, which began

a back to back to back.

Prairie View plays Oklahoma State before many of you will listen to this, 2 o'clock central

time on Sunday in Stillwater.

Then it's off to Texas Tech for a Monday night game, then a well-earned off day just to get

back at it on Wednesday at Grand Canyon. Prairie View won't win many, if any, of those games,

but they are giving themselves a chance to play by enduring this grueling stretch.

They'll ultimately have their season

come down to a few days in March as it does in one-bid leagues like the Swack. So ultimately,

this game won't be remembered for the stuff on the floor. It will be remembered for what people

came together to do. And I just hope people keep in mind what Prairie View A&M's players, coaches,

and staff members had to do to make this game happen. The Panthers, they've already moved on.

They're off to Stillwater, and they're going to give it everything that they have like they did

on Saturday night against Michigan. Let's break down that victory for the Wolverine, 77 to 49 from Washington, D.C.

right here on Defend the Block. We're talking Michigan basketball. Welcome to Defend the Block,

where we'll take you inside the basketball programs with interviews, analysis, and so much more.

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