Area 51 has popularized Michigan basketball's rebuild but, as important as the 7-footers are, it's a former SEC champion who played hero against Maryland.

Michigan Wolverines guard Tre Donaldson (3) knocks the ball from Maryland guard Selton Miguel (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) AP

Michigan basketball got double revenge on Purdue after losing to the Boilermakers in West Lafayette earlier in the season. The Wolverines not only took them down in Ann Arbor, but ousted them in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday night. Now, the maize and blue have an opportunity to take down yet another team they lost to just 10 days ago.

Wisconsin now has an opportunity to capture the Big Ten Tournament title for the first time since 2015. Before focus turns to its championship matchup against Michigan, here are three stats that defined the Badgers' big victory over the Michigan State Spartans:

The Spartans' record in Big Ten games is 18-3, and their record is 9-2 against non-conference opponents. Michigan State is 3-1 in games decided by less than 4 points. The Badgers'

The Bruins received a wakeup call as they came out sluggish, fell behind by double digits early and never recovered against the Badgers on Friday.