M&BR’s Dennis Fithian is back with another episode of Good Afternoon, Michigan Football!

Former Wolverine Jim Scarcelli joins the show and goes over the Lions’ playoff loss, how UM is attacking the offseason, U-M hoops and the national title game tonight.

Breakdown

Open (Lions loss) 00:00-8:10

U-M offseason 8:11-20:25

Michigan players’ jersey numbers 15-30 20:26-32:51

U-M basketball 32:52-37:52

Cade McNamara 37:53-40:40:54

OSU/ND 40:55-49:09

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DETROIT (FOX 2) – Michigan drivers are paying a bit more to fill up their tanks this week than a week ago, according to data from AAA.

Gas price averages rose 12 cents from this time a week ago, bringing the price for a gallon of unleaded gas up to $3.15. This is 8 cents more than this time last month and 11 cents more than this time last year.

According to AAA, it now costs an average of $47 for a full tank of unleaded gasoline. This is down about $10 from 2024’s highest price last July.

Gas prices also rose in the Metro Detroit area, albeit a bit less than the rest of the state. Compared to last week, Metro Detroit’s average daily gas price increased to $3.18 per gallon, about 10 cents more than last week’s average and 15 cents more than this same time last year.

By the numbers:

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand fell from 8.48 million b/d last week to 8.32. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks rose from 237.7 million barrels to 243.6, while gasoline production popped, averaging 9.3 million barrels daily.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $2.54 to settle at $80.04 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 2.0 million barrels from the previous week. At 412.7 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.

What’s next:

“Michigan motorists are seeing higher prices at the pump this week,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “If crude oil prices continue to rise, gas prices will likely follow suit.”

Most expensive gas prices

1. Metro Detroit ($3.18)
2. Ann Arbor ($3.17)
3. Saginaw ($3.15)

Least expensive gas prices

1. Traverse City ($3.01)
2. Benton Harbor ($3.09)
3. Marquette ($3.12)

Following an ejection in an 80-76 overtime loss to Michigan on Sunday, Northwestern coach Chris Collins had some choice words about Wolverines big man Vlad Goldin.

In short, he thinks there was a bit of a sales job on the foul that caused Jalen Leach to be ejected.

“I’ll give him credit. If he doesn’t make the NBA, he’ll have an incredible acting career,” Chris Collins said, according to Matthew Shelton of WildcatReport.com. “I mean that as a compliment, too.”

Leach was leading all scorers with 19 points when he was ejected with 9:23 left in the second half after colliding with Goldin on a set screen, at which point Leach appeared to extend his right leg between Goldin’s, making contact with his groin.

Goldin momentarily doubled over in pain and officials began a review of the contact.

Chris Collins had as much to say about the way the game is officiated as anything else, particularly in this instance. He’s no fan of the rule as written when it comes to shots to the groin.

“Look, if it’s malicious, and a kid is going for that area with a knee or fist, then absolutely,” Chris Collins said. “But I think the people that make the rules [don’t realize] Vlad Goldin is 7-foot-1, 275 pounds, setting a moving screen and Jalen is trying to get over.”

As for the call itself, even Big Ten head of officials Terry Wymer felt compelled to comment on it.

Wymer explained the ruling to the Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz as a cut-and-dry decision, regardless of whether there was any intent from Leach’s part.

“By rule, if a player gets hit in the private area it’s an automatic F2 and ejection for the opponent who hit the player,” Wymer told Katz. “You can’t officiate intent.”

In any case, Chris Collins wasn’t very happy with the outcome.

The 7-foot-1, 250-pound Goldin went on to finish with 31 points — his second 30-point game this season — on 9-of-16 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds in the game.

It was the No. 20 Wolverines’ ninth-straight home victory as Michigan improved to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Northwestern lost for the fourth time in its last five games to drop to 11-7 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten play.

On3’s Alex Byington also contributed to this report.