Michigan Basketball: 3 things we learned in loss to Wisconsin

Michigan is off the pace in Big Ten title chase

While the Wolverines cost themselves a chance at potentially being the No. 1 team in the country, that’s not what Michigan basketball fans should be worried about. The bigger consequence is the fact that the Spartans now have a leg up in the Big Ten race.

The Spartans, who are playing as well as any team in the country, having won 11 in a row after a loss to Louisville, also had a tough road game this week. That was Thursday night at Nebraska, a team with a similar record to Wisconsin.

Yet, unlike Michigan, the Spartans were able to come away with a win. That improved them to 7-0 in the Big Ten compared to UM, which sits at 6-1. Seeing as the Big Ten is loaded with quality teams, neither the Spartans or Wolverines will have much in the way of guaranteed wins, so each loss is critical.

The two rivals will play in twice in the last four regular-season games for each school, so the goal for Michigan should be to at least be tied with Michigan State going into that closing stretch. At the very least within a game.

Of course, there is a long way to go and the Spartans will surely slip up at some point, as Michigan will too. But if the Wolverines want to win the regular season championship for the first time since 2013-14, they can’t afford any more efforts like the one they put forth on Saturday.