"I could easily try to get myself going and force some shots up, but there's no need," Michigan basketball star Yaxel Lendeborg said Friday.

Michigan will get a long-awaited chance at some payback during its quest to defend its Big Ten tournament title.

Michigan basketball had its best regular season in program history and has locked itself into a 1-seed a week ahead of the NCAA bracket reveal.

Morez Johnson Jr., a physical sophomore who transferred from Illinois to Michigan on April 1, and his teammates appeared to be fueled by the boos each time Johnson touched the ball. Aday Mara scored 19 points on 8-for-9 field goal shooting and Yaxel Lendeborg added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball are focused on improving as their postseason starts Friday in Chicago with the Big Ten Tournament quarters.

The Spartans are 25-5 overall and 15-4 in Big Ten play coming into the game. Michigan is 28-2 and 18-1 in the league.