Michigan Basketball gets bracketology boost after Rutgers win

Not all of the bracket updates have been released but there is zero doubt that the win over Rutgers was significant for Michigan basketball.

Things can change quickly in the world of sports and Michigan basketball is a great example of that.

Look back at November, when Michigan basketball was No. 4 in the country and fresh off a win over Gonzaga. Back then, few would have expected the Wolverines to be 2-6 in the Big Ten at one point and squarely on the NCAA tournament bubble.

But after a loss to Illinois, that’s exactly where the Wolverines found themselves and with another injury to Isaiah Livers and then a suspension for senior point guard Zavier Simpson, it seemed like everything was collapsing.

However, just as quickly as it fell apart, it came together again.

Eli Brooks did an admirable job starting in place of Simpson at point guard and Brandon Johns stepped up in a big way, on the road, at Nebraska. Franz Wagner did too and Michigan basketball found a way to get a win, its first on the road this season. At least in terms of a true road game.

Then, with Simpson back in the lineup, Michigan looked like the team that rolled through the Battle 4 Atlantis back in November. The Wolverines defeated No. 25 Rutgers at Madison Square Garden and threatened to run away at times.

While it won’t be as significant on the resume as the win over Gonzaga, it was every bit as important. It gave the Wolverines a solid win, without Livers and another away from home, even though it technically counts as a home game on the schedule.

Michigan still has work to do, but in the latest bracket released by college basketball expert Andy Katz, the Wolverines are moving up and were given a No. 7 seed. Obviously, there is work to do as ESPN’s Bubble Watch points out, but before the Nebraska game, U-M was among the last four in.

What a difference a week makes.

Yet, the Wolverines can’t afford to get complacent. Ohio State and Michigan State both come to Ann Arbor this week and the bottom line is that U-M has to win at least one of those games.

Ideally, the Wolverines would get both. It’s been forever since Michigan beat Ohio State in football, so it’s really up to the basketball team to enact some sort of revenge. It’s at least something.

And then, a win over the Spartans would end this wretched four-game losing streak. A Big Ten regular-season title is certainly out of reach, but a final win for Teske and Simpson against Michigan State would not only be satisfying, but it would also go a long way towards getting Michigan off the bubble for good.