College basketball isn't always about the blue bloods or the massive rivalries like Duke-Carolina. Sometimes, the most electric energy comes from these weird, high-stakes neutral site games that nobody sees coming. Honestly, that’s exactly what we’ve gotten with Michigan Wake Forest basketball over the last couple of seasons. It’s become this sneaky-good series that basically serves as a litmus test for how good both programs actually are.
Most people don’t realize these two teams barely knew each other existed for decades. Before 2024, they hadn't played in 24 years. Then, they decided to hook up for a home-and-home (sort of) deal called the Deacon-Wolverine Challenge. What followed was a pair of games decided by a grand total of three points.
If you like stress, this is your matchup.
The 2025 Detroit Thriller: Aday Mara’s Coming Out Party
Fast forward to November 11, 2025. The scene was Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Michigan was ranked No. 6 in the country, and the hype around Dusty May’s second year was reaching a fever pitch.
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The game was a mess in the best way possible. Michigan jumped out to a 13-point lead at halftime (47-34), looking like they were going to run the Deacs out of the gym. But Steve Forbes has a way of getting his guys to play like they’ve been insulted. Wake Forest came roaring back in the second half, holding Michigan to a miserable 7.7% from the three-point line.
One for thirteen. That’s a tough way to live.
The game eventually crawled into overtime, tied at 80. In the extra period, it was Aday Mara—the 7-foot-3 Spanish giant—who finally looked like the lottery pick everyone expected him to be. He finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Michigan escaped with an 85-84 win, but only after Wake Forest missed a layup at the buzzer that would have silenced Detroit.
Breaking Down the Detroit Box Score
- Aday Mara (Michigan): 18 PTS, 13 REB, 5 BLK, 6 AST.
- Elliot Cadeau (Michigan): 17 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST (Hit his 400th career assist during the game).
- Juke Harris (Wake Forest): 19 PTS, 6 REB.
- Mekhi Mason (Wake Forest): 16 PTS, 7 REB.
What Happened in Greensboro?
To understand why the Detroit game felt so personal, you have to look back at November 10, 2024. That was the first leg of this series, played at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
Michigan, in their first real test under Dusty May, blew another big lead. They were up by 13 points in that one, too. Hunter Sallis, who is basically a walking bucket, decided he wasn't losing at home. He dropped 18 points, including the ice-cold free throws at the end to seal a 72-70 victory for Wake Forest.
It was a gritty, ugly game. Michigan went nearly four minutes at the end of the second half without a single field goal. Tre’Von Spillers, who ended up being the MVP of that specific challenge, had this massive transition dunk with 40 seconds left that basically broke the Wolverines' spirit.
Why Michigan Wake Forest Basketball Matters for the Rankings
When the selection committee sits down in March, these are the games they circle. Because both teams play in "top-heavy" conferences—the Big Ten and the ACC—their non-conference strength of schedule is everything.
- Metric Boost: Both games ended up being "Quad 1" or high "Quad 2" opportunities.
- Styles of Play: You have Dusty May’s high-octane, transition-heavy offense against Steve Forbes’ gap-defense and ball-screen heavy sets.
- Recruiting: Both schools are fighting for the same four-star and five-star kids in the portal. Winning this game is a massive recruiting pitch.
Dusty May actually admitted after the 2025 win that his team wasn't "ready" for the toughness Wake Forest brought. He noted that Efton Reid III and the Wake frontcourt "wiped out" Michigan's bigs in the previous year. That's the kind of honesty you don't hear often from coaches. It shows there is a genuine respect—and maybe a little bit of fear—between these two staffs.
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The Future of the Series
Right now, the all-time series is sitting at 2-1 in favor of Wake Forest, though Michigan took the most recent one. There’s no official word on a third game yet, but the ratings and the atmosphere in both Greensboro and Detroit make it a no-brainer for TV executives.
The "Wolverine-Deacon Challenge" might have been a temporary name, but the rivalry feels permanent. Fans on both sides have started traveling for this. In Detroit, there were sections of black and gold that were surprisingly loud for a Tuesday night in November.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or analyzing the next time Michigan Wake Forest basketball shows up on the schedule, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Paint: In both recent matchups, the team that won the "Points in the Paint" battle either won the game or took it to the final possession.
- The "13-Point" Curse: Strangely, the team that leads by 13 in the first half has struggled to close the door in the second half of this series.
- Point Guard Play: Keep an eye on the turnover margin. In the 2025 game, Michigan turned it over 17 times. If they don't clean that up, the Deacs' transition offense (led by guys like Juke Harris) will eat them alive.
Check the current NET rankings for both teams before the next tip-off, as this matchup consistently moves the needle for NCAA Tournament seeding. Keep an eye on the injury report for any seven-footers; as we saw with Aday Mara and Efton Reid, the "Big on Big" battle usually decides the outcome here.