Since Kurt Golder became the Michigan men’s gymnastics team's head coach in 1997, he’s led his team to one national title and two Big Ten titles.

But he’s never tasted victory in Columbus.

And frankly, he doesn’t expect things to change this year.

“I think we’re a better team, but from what I’ve learned from history, it’s not possible for Michigan to win at Ohio State,” Golder said. “If we can pull that off, I would be very happy.”

Not long ago, the sixth-ranked Buckeyes were easy to overlook — in the early part of the season, they didn’t even have enough meets to be counted in the GymInfo rankings. Without standouts Jake Bateman and Tai Lee, they scored a paltry 337.25 in a loss at California on March 6.

But last weekend, Ohio State (1-6 Big Ten, 3-7 overall) hung tough with No. 1 Oklahoma, losing by just four points. And any team that can do that needs to be taken seriously.

“Maybe some of the guys were thinking (the Buckeyes) are a little bit down this year,” Golder said. “Well, not if they’re scoring within four points of Oklahoma. I don’t know if we can do that.”

Golder said he hopes last Saturday’s Senior Night loss to Illinois removes the chance of the Wolverines coasting to the finish.

No. 5 Michigan (7-2, 10-5) beat No. 4 Illinois both times the teams met in invitationals, and Golder was concerned a third straight victory would cause his team to let up.

“Had we beat them the third time, it would be very easy — no matter what the coaching staff were to say — for them to maybe just get on easy street and just coast a little bit,” Golder said.

Golder shuffled the team for Saturday's meet, especially on pommel horse, where Michigan struggled to score well last weekend.

Junior Mel Santander and redshirt freshmen Devan Cote and Adam Hamers have been slotted into the pommel horse lineup, with Cote also taking spots on the parallel bars and high bar. Santander joins star sophomores Chris Cameron and Thomas Kelley in the all-around competition for the first time in team competition since Jan. 30 against Iowa.

The Wolverines will need all the momentum they can get. In their final regular-season meet of the year, they will compete in one of the Big Ten’s toughest atmospheres — Saturday marks the Buckeyes’ Senior Night, when the crowd will be full of the gymnasts’ family and friends.

“Nobody hates Michigan like Ohio State, so they’ll be loud,” Golder said. “That’s what we’re in the sport for, to have those kinds of situations where you have to overcome that adversity. Just like competing in a championship setting, there’s a lot of energy, a lot of distractions, and you have to overcome it.”