Roddy Gayle Jr.’s 26-point outburst on Saturday was one of the best performances from a Wolverine this season, but what are some of the other best single-game performances in the recent history of Michigan basketball? We explore:
When Michigan trailed late in the second half of its game against Texas A&M on Saturday, it was looking as if the dream first season for Dusty May was drawing to a close. Instead, Michigan got some great clutch play (26 points) from Roddy Gayle Jr. to ultimately help the Wolverines advance in the NCAA Tournament.
Gayle’s performance was merely the latest in a long line of great performances by Wolverines in recent memory. This got us thinking — what are some of the best single-game performances by Michigan basketball players recently? Today, we’ll take a stroll down memory lane and re-live some of the best performances from Michigan’s biggest stars over the last decade.
D.J. Wilson vs. Iowa
January 1, 2017
Although Michigan didn’t win this game (lost 86-83 in overtime), this represented Wilson’s coming out party as one of the true stars on Michigan’s 2016-17 team. On the road, Wilson paced the Wolverines with 28 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Wilson led the way for Michigan alongside Derrick Walton and a young Mo Wagner to make the NCAA Tournament. He was eventually picked No. 17 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft .
Derrick Walton Jr. vs. Minnesota
March 11, 2017
Walton had plenty of great performances for Michigan during the 2016-17 campaign, but perhaps none were bigger than his showing in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal against Minnesota. Walton had 29 points, nine assists and five rebounds in the 84-77 victory. This performance helped pave the way to Michigan winning the tournament championship over Wisconsin despite being the No. 8 seed.
Michigan basketball in the 2017 B1G semis vs. Minnesota with an 84-77 win to get them to the finals for the first time.
-The Derrick Walton Jr show w/career high 29 pts, 9 assists
-Minn was never ahead but got it to 3 with :53 left
-DW would then go 4-4 FTs to help close it out pic.twitter.com/5cuevBOqfh— Swanky Wolverine (@swankywolverine) March 9, 2022
Mo Wagner vs. Michigan State
January 13, 2018
When Michigan upset No. 4 Michigan State at the Breslin Center, Wagner asserted himself as one of the best players in the land. He tallied 27 points and four rebounds as part of the 82-72 victory. His most memorable moment from the game was breaking Nick Ward’s ankles on the way to the rim, leaving a little lingerie on the deck as Bill Raftery would say. Michigan went 18-4 from this game forward, ultimately losing to Villanova in the NCAA Tournament Championship.
Moe Wagner vs Michigan State https://t.co/tv6y773nib pic.twitter.com/iHU8NfhtRZ
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) April 18, 2023
Muhammad-Ali Abudur-Rahkman vs. Maryland
February 24, 2018
This game might fly a bit under the radar since Michigan won it by a 24-point margin, but it was easily the best in the great career of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman. He had 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, knocking down six three-pointers as well. He would be another key contributor in Michigan’s run to the National Championship.
Ignas Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole, and Charles Matthews vs. North Carolina
November 28, 2018
We’ll lump these three players together since they all made big contributions to Michigan’s 84-67 win over the Tar Heels. Brazdeikis welcomed himself to Michigan in this game, leading the way with 24 points. This game was also a big stepping stone for Poole, as the sophomore had 18 points and five made three-pointers, proving he was more than just the role player he’d been as a freshman. This would also be one of Matthews’ more memorable games, as he had 21 points and seven rebounds.
#7 Michigan vs #11 North Carolina (2018) ACC/Big Ten Challenge pic.twitter.com/1tQut042Gd
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) June 1, 2023
Zavier Simpson vs. Wisconsin
February 27, 2020
Although Michigan came up short in this one, Simpson saved one of his best career performances for last. Just two weeks before the pandemic forced an end to the 2019-20 basketball season, Simpson torched the Badgers for 32 points, six assists and five rebounds. He wouldn’t get much help from his teammates, though, as he would account for nearly half of Michigan’s scoring in the game.
Hunter Dickinson vs. Michigan State
March 1, 2022
The 2021-22 season failed to live up to expectations for Michigan, but Hunter Dickinson continued his dominant ways. This season featured arguably his most dominant outing of his Michigan career, and it was fitting it came against rival Michigan State. In this 87-70 victory at Crisler, Dickinson finished with a then-career-high 33 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.
Behind Hunter Dickinson’s career-best 33 points, Michigan defeated MSU, 87-70. Caleb Houstan had 16 Terrance Williams II scored nine points off the bench, making three three-pointers … Need highlights, okay … roll the
〽️ | #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/TlT3sNHjRZ
— Michigan Men’s Basketball (@umichbball) March 2, 2022
Vlad Goldin vs. UCLA
January 7, 2025
Goldin is Michigan’s current leading scorer with 16.8 points per game and is also responsible for the best game by a Wolverine this season. That performance came against Big Ten newcomer UCLA. On the night, Goldin had 36 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
His presence has been huge for Michigan all season long, and the Wolverines will need Goldin and fellow big man Danny Wolf to step up badly against Auburn’s Johni Broome on Friday night in the Sweet Sixteen.