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Michigan Basketball Deserved Better Than a Seven Seed

By Grant Dossetto

Mar 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) reacts after the game against Purdue Boilermakers goes into overtime during the Big Ten Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) reacts after the game against Purdue Boilermakers goes into overtime during the Big Ten Tournament at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball deserved a better seed than a No.7 it got in the Midwest Region in the NCAA Tournament.

After securing a double bye as the three seed, the Big Ten got the worst of all outcomes when Maryland was bounced from the Big Ten tournament after its first game. With attendance down and enthusiasm generally low, one story gave weight to the importance of the conference championship.

Related Story: Michigan basketball's outlook in the NCAA tournament

Michigan basketball survived an aborted takeoff, arrived in DC hours before tip, and were stuck wearing practice uniforms for their matchup against Illinois. Buoyed by an appreciation that tomorrow isn’t a given, the team rattled off four wins in four days. They went through the one, two and four seeds on their way to the title.

In the process the Wolverines separated themselves from the likes of Michigan State and other mid-pack B1G teams. By the time the nets were cut down Sunday in the Verizon Center, Michigan basketball had jumped to a respectable 24-11 record.

The Wolverines are 6-0 on neutral court including the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. Most of those games have been blowouts and many of them by double digits against other teams in the Big Dance. That should take some of the sting out of their poor road record.

Pretty obvious points to anyone not on the NCAA tournament selection committee who graced Michigan with a seven seed in the Midwest regional. It is like the weekend never happened.

Michigan Wolverines Basketball
Michigan Wolverines Basketball /

Michigan Wolverines Basketball

This isn’t homerism. Iowa State is a five seed with a 23-10 record. That is what Michigan should have. I am not making the case that a nice conference tournament makes Michigan a better seed than Purdue who has been a more consistent team. Two wins over the Boilermakers in a matter of weeks though should let people know that the gap between the squads is narrow. Much narrower than a four seed versus a seven seed.

If the conference tournament carries no weight with the selection committee than why should the teams care about it? It is taxing in the extreme to grind through a long single-elimination tournament weekend.

If the weather stands to play a problem in getting schools across the country to New York City next year should they preemptively forfeit? If winning against the conference’s best doesn’t help a team like Michigan, logic would dictate that taking an automatic L wouldn’t hurt them.

The Big Ten was represented well with Michigan State Athletic Director Mark Hollis on the selection committee. It is baffling that Hollis and B1G Commissioner Jim Delaney didn’t make the point that the conference tourney is of supreme importance.

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Michigan handed them that opportunity on a silver platter.

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