They’ve reached six Final Fours and own an NCAA championship, but this season the Michigan Wolverines have taken on an unfamiliar role — Big Ten spoiler.

Michigan (8-8, 2-3 Big Ten) claimed its most recent victim Saturday night with a dramatic 59-58 win over Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Wolverines needed every one of LaVell Blanchard’s career-high 30 points to ward off a late Hawkeyes rally.

Blanchard and the Wolverines had their radar dialed in all night, shooting 47 percent from the floor and building a 54-39 lead with 11:31 remaining. Yet Iowa shaved the deficit to one point and had a chance to win the game before guard Dean Oliver missed a jumper as time expired.

The victory snapped Michigan’s 10-game road losing streak and slapped Iowa with its first home loss of the season. But following the upset, Wolverines players and coaches opted for Rolaids over Dom Perignon.

“Our team overcame a lot, and we’re pretty resilient,” Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said. “We’re a young basketball team learning how to fight in every phase and especially on the road in this league. It was just good to see the guys smile after a road game.”

Michigan has been plagued by inexperience throughout the season, showing flashes of great potential amid several lopsided losses. Since they were spanked 104-61 by Duke on Dec. 9, the Wolverines have won six of their last nine games to reach the .500 mark.

Ellerbe was hesitant to dwell on the Iowa upset and expressed concern about a letdown when his team hosts Illinois on Wednesday. After downing Indiana on Jan. 9, Michigan was crushed 80-51 by Illinois in Champaign.

“Young teams have a tendency to feel like they’ve gotten over a major hurdle after a big win,” said Ellerbe, whose team faces Northwestern on Saturday. “The true test is how you respond in your next outing. That’s the mark of progress.”

A SECOND CHANCE: After the NCAA made Minnesota eligible for postseason play last October, the team has wasted no time getting in position for March Madness.

The Golden Gophers (15-3, 3-2) swept a two-game homestand last week, earning hard-fought victories over Purdue and Indiana. Forward Dusty Rychart was named Big Ten Player of the Week after scoring 23 points against Purdue and 21 against Indiana. After the Indiana game went into overtime, Rychart took control, scoring six points in the extra period to seal the deal.

Although the Gophers’ schedule was padded with teams like Dartmouth and Bethune Cookman, recent Big Ten success has solidified them as a legitimate tournament contender. Minnesota coach Dan Monson said the favorable NCAA verdict fueled the team’s success.

“The day that came out I told them that we had life now, but it doesn’t do any good if you don’t live that life,” Monson said. “(Reaching the postseason) is something our team has been very motivated to do and something that was missing last year.”

RULE MARM: Wisconsin coach Brad Soderberg said his team was “singled out” by the new NCAA regulations on physical play instituted last fall. Soderberg felt the new restrictions would limit the bruising inside game that helped the Badgers reach the 2000 Final Four.

He immediately instructed his post players to alter their play in the paint and “show the officials that we’re trying to not do what we were accused of doing last year.”

But with more than half of the season gone by, Soderberg said the new rules have helped Wisconsin (11-4, 2-3) and college basketball.

“We’re still not perfect at it, but I think it has made us a better team, particularly in the lane,” he said.

Although he praised the new regulations in the post, Soderberg criticized the NCAA’s strict policy on perimeter defense.

“The nickel-and-dimers that are called on the perimeter are really hurting the game,” he said. “If a kid puts his hand on a guy’s waist and takes it off on his first dribble, I don’t think there is any problem with that.”