Michigan Basketball: Breaking down Wolverines path to Sweet 16

While most people want to look ahead to the Final Four, the first goal for Michigan basketball and any team is winning their four-team tournament.

When the NCAA tournament brackets are first released, people automatically start talking about the Final Four and Cinderallas. Yet, that is looking way too far ahead and for the Michigan basketball team, the objective is simple: Win the four-team tournament with Montana, Nevada and Florida.

That will get Michigan basketball to the Sweet 16 and the next weekend of the NCAA tournament, where the Wolverines would start another four-team tournament, one that will send the winner to the Final Four.

A tournament with 68 teams seems huge and it is. However, for each team, it’s about winning three straight, four-team tournaments. At least, that’s how they should be coached to think about.

Michigan head coach John Beilein knows all about getting past the first weekend of the tournament. The Wolverines have done it in each of the past two seasons and four times in the last six years.

As the two seed, Michigan will be a heavy favorite to advance to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season, yet nothing is a given when it comes to March Madness.

Obviously, if Michigan basketball plays up to the level its capable of, it should be able to win both games, however, other teams can impact that and here is a look at the three teams standing in the way of the Wolverines and another trip to the Sweet 16.