Michigan Hoops: The Final Push
The Wolverines are 15 days away from the start of the Big Ten Tournament (which finds itself in Washington DC this year for reasons unknown to anyone except Jimbo - but I digress). In the next 15 days, Michigan will have an opportunity to cement it's spot in the NCAA field. Michigan sits at 17-10 overall and 7th in the Big Ten Conference.
Michigan has 4 games left in Big Ten regular season play:
2/22 @ Rutgers
2/25 vs Purdue
3/1 @ Northwestern
3/5 @ Nebraska
Michigan had a chance to not only bolster their tournament resume but also gain ground on the Big Ten field on Sunday night when Michigan traveled to Minnesota. But poor free throw shooting (and perhaps some questionable calls from TV Teddy) doomed Michigan. Now Michigan has to show the committee with the remaining schedule that they deserve to be in the field of 68.
3 of Michigan's remaining games are on the road. 2 of Michigan's remaining games are against teams that are already in the NCAA Tournament. So let's tackle the easy part first: Michigan must beat Rutgers and Nebraska on the road. Neither team is formidable this year and Michigan has to convert on both of these contests. That gets Michigan to wins No. 18 and No. 19.
Every year, there is something magical about the Number 20 - as in 20 wins. If Michigan beats the Knights and the Huskers, Michigan will have 2 remaining games to get to No. 20. Unfortunately for Michigan, both of those games are against excellent teams who are already tournament bound. First, Michigan gets a home matchup against Purdue. The contest against the Boilermakers is Senior Day - meaning the Wolverines will say goodbye to Derrick Walton Jr. (savior of Michigan's season) and Zak Irvin. It will be emotional - and sometimes emotion means playing with something extra, and sometimes it doesn't. At this point in the season, Purdue is arguably the best team in the conference and a win against Purdue would not only get Michigan to No. 20, but could help solidify their spot in the field.
If Michigan can't get one against Purdue, then Michigan has to win against the Northwestern Wildcats, who are having one of the best seasons in school history and who are more than likely already in the field. Beating the Wildcats, on the road and on the purple court will not be nearly as easy as it has been in years past.
So what does all of this mean? It means that Michigan is still far from a sure thing and still has work to do. The BPI currently has Michigan at 25 which certainly helps. But let's not leave this to fate or to the Big Ten Tournament. 3 of 4 wins to finish the season, combined with the last few weeks which featured wins against Michigan State, Wisconsin, and a road win against Indiana, should be enough to get the Wolverines into the Big Ten Tournament.
And for those of you who are curious, if the Big Ten Tournament started today, Michigan would be the No. 7 seed facing Penn State on Thursday evening.
Michigan has 4 games left in Big Ten regular season play:
2/22 @ Rutgers
2/25 vs Purdue
3/1 @ Northwestern
3/5 @ Nebraska
Michigan had a chance to not only bolster their tournament resume but also gain ground on the Big Ten field on Sunday night when Michigan traveled to Minnesota. But poor free throw shooting (and perhaps some questionable calls from TV Teddy) doomed Michigan. Now Michigan has to show the committee with the remaining schedule that they deserve to be in the field of 68.
3 of Michigan's remaining games are on the road. 2 of Michigan's remaining games are against teams that are already in the NCAA Tournament. So let's tackle the easy part first: Michigan must beat Rutgers and Nebraska on the road. Neither team is formidable this year and Michigan has to convert on both of these contests. That gets Michigan to wins No. 18 and No. 19.
Every year, there is something magical about the Number 20 - as in 20 wins. If Michigan beats the Knights and the Huskers, Michigan will have 2 remaining games to get to No. 20. Unfortunately for Michigan, both of those games are against excellent teams who are already tournament bound. First, Michigan gets a home matchup against Purdue. The contest against the Boilermakers is Senior Day - meaning the Wolverines will say goodbye to Derrick Walton Jr. (savior of Michigan's season) and Zak Irvin. It will be emotional - and sometimes emotion means playing with something extra, and sometimes it doesn't. At this point in the season, Purdue is arguably the best team in the conference and a win against Purdue would not only get Michigan to No. 20, but could help solidify their spot in the field.
If Michigan can't get one against Purdue, then Michigan has to win against the Northwestern Wildcats, who are having one of the best seasons in school history and who are more than likely already in the field. Beating the Wildcats, on the road and on the purple court will not be nearly as easy as it has been in years past.
So what does all of this mean? It means that Michigan is still far from a sure thing and still has work to do. The BPI currently has Michigan at 25 which certainly helps. But let's not leave this to fate or to the Big Ten Tournament. 3 of 4 wins to finish the season, combined with the last few weeks which featured wins against Michigan State, Wisconsin, and a road win against Indiana, should be enough to get the Wolverines into the Big Ten Tournament.
And for those of you who are curious, if the Big Ten Tournament started today, Michigan would be the No. 7 seed facing Penn State on Thursday evening.
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