No. 2 Michigan rightfully has been basking in the glow of a terrific week.

The Wolverines beat a pair of Top 10 teams last week – recording a 3-point home win over then-No. 5 Nebraska on Jan. 27 before going to archrival Michigan State’s floor and claiming a 12-point win over the then-No. 7 Spartans last Friday. The latter victory made Michigan head coach Dusty May an even more popular figure among Michigan faithful.

It also propelled Michigan (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) to the top of the league standings with Illinois, a position it will attempt to maintain on Thursday when the Wolverines host Penn State in Ann Arbor, Mich.

While the game appears to be a mismatch on paper, so did the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 6 in State College, Pa. Yet the Nittany Lions rallied from an eight-point deficit with just over three minutes remaining to make it a one-point game in the final minute before Michigan prevailed 74-72.

“We’ve got a Penn State team that gave us everything and then some,” May said. “We’re focused on that game.”

While May is locked on Penn State, the Michigan fanbase gets to enjoy the big-picture excitement enhanced by Friday’s win over Michigan State.

With fewer than six weeks to go until Selection Sunday, Michigan finds itself on everyone’s short list of national championship contenders thanks largely to the four NBA prospects who transferred in during the offseason: Yaxel Lendeborg (team-leading 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game), Morez Johnson Jr. (13.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Aday Mara (10.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.6 blocks per game) and Elliot Cadeau (10.4 ppg, 5.3 assists per game).

“I love our guys last year, but we just didn’t have enough dog,” May said. “So we were able to solve that issue in recruiting. We were close. We just didn’t have enough. I think our staff did a great job of being intentional about fixing the things that needed to be fixed instead of just hoping that things change or go away.”

Penn State also comes in feeling good about itself, having snapped an eight-game losing streak on Sunday with a 77-75 home win over Minnesota.

The Nittany Lions (10-12, 1-10) will be at a size disadvantage against Michigan’s massive frontline but will try and give the Wolverines problems with the smaller, quicker lineup that trapped and pressed Minnesota effectively.

“If we play on our heels, we’re going to lose,” Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades said. “If we’re going to play little and don’t be aggressive and hawk the ball, we’re probably going to lose. It’s not rolling the dice. It’s how I always want to play anyway.”

Penn State has three players averaging double figures: Kayden Mingo (14.1 ppg, 4.7 apg), Freddie Dilione V (13.9 ppg) and Josh Reed (10.0 ppg). Mingo, who leads the Big Ten with 2.1 steals per game, did not play in the teams’ first meeting.

Penn State has lost the last three games it has played in Ann Arbor. The last time Penn State won at Michigan was a 72-63 triumph on Jan. 22, 2020.

The only road game Penn State has won this year came on Nov. 8 at New Haven, which is in the Northeast Conference.

–Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland announced Wednesday that he will vacate his longtime role as new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion arrives.

“Philadelphia, I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end,” Stoutland posted to X. “When I arrived here in 2013, I did not know what I was signing up for. I quickly learned what this city demands. But more importantly, what it gives back.

“The past 13 years have been the great privilege of my coaching career. I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”

Stoutland, 63, was exclusively a college coach before joining the Eagles’ staff in 2013 after serving as the offensive line coach at Alabama. Philadelphia went to the playoffs eight times during his run with the team and won two Super Bowls.

According to NFL Network, Stoutland will not completely sever ties with the organization, although no future role was specified.

–Field Level Media

Though the All-Star break approaches, the Detroit Pistons show no signs of slowing down.

The Pistons have won 12 of their last 15 games to maintain a healthy Eastern Conference lead over New York and Boston.

Detroit wraps up a four-game homestand with a back-to-back as it hosts the new-look Washington Wizards on Thursday and the Knicks on Friday.

The Wizards are acquiring 10-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in an eight-player trade, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

In addition to Davis, out since Jan. 8 with a hand injury, Washington gets Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, per the report.

The Mavericks receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham and Marvin Bagley III plus two first-round draft picks and three second-round selections.

The Pistons followed up a 53-point victory over Brooklyn on Sunday — the largest margin in franchise history — with a 124-121 win over Denver on Tuesday. Though Detroit never trailed, the Nuggets rallied to make things interesting in the closing minutes.

“I feel like at the end of the game, it comes down to who wants it more, who’s going to get the loose balls, who’s going to be the most disciplined, who’s going to go back to their strategy and do it best,” Pistons forward Ausar Thompson said. “I feel like we did it best (Tuesday). They’re a great team, but you know we came up victorious.”

That has been the norm for Detroit, especially on its home court. The Pistons have a 20-5 record at Little Caesars Arena.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff felt the Nuggets’ comeback was a good test for his club.

“Two really good teams competing at a high level,” he said. “Two teams that have elite players on their teams, that can make a difference, that can start runs, that can stop runs. Two teams that understand the selflessness, the physicality, the toughness that it takes to win at this level.”

The Pistons had a 26-9 edge in fast-break points, though they forced only 10 turnovers.

“Our entire team has bought into the identity that when we’re at our best, we’re the best defensive team on the floor,” Bickerstaff said.

The Wizards had won three of four before getting pounded by the Knicks, 132-101, on Tuesday.

“We didn’t play to our standard,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “We’ve been playing good basketball here for a long time and we didn’t have the necessary execution on our defensive end. And offensively, too.

“We played one of the better teams in the NBA,” Keefe added. “If you don’t have your best stuff, that can happen. It’s not who we’ve been, it’s not who we’re going to be. We were not happy with our performance. We did not uphold to our standard.”

The Wizards had posted wins over Portland, Milwaukee and Sacramento after a nine-game losing streak.

“Got to give them some credit, but that’s the deal here in the NBA. You’ve got to raise up to what you’re going to see,” Keefe said. “We didn’t have our necessary level tonight. Excited to get back at that in Detroit.”

Washington gave Detroit a strong challenge in their first meeting on Nov. 10. The host Pistons eked out a 137-135 overtime victory at home.

Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins hit two 3-pointers in the final three seconds to force overtime. Cade Cunningham otherwise carried the Pistons with 46 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and two blocks.

–Field Level Media