Michigan Basketball: Wolverines hold steady in bracketology updates

Following a big win over Rutgers, Michigan basketball held steady in the latest bracket projections by both ESPN and CBS.

There’s no doubt that Michigan basketball has caught fire recently, with wins in six of the last seven games, with the most recent coming Wednesday at Rutgers.

Before Michigan basketball went to the RAC and earned a win, even without their best player in Isaiah Livers, no other team had done so. It seems like that sort of win would give you some credit with the bracketologists. But, following the best road win of the season for U-M, the Wolverines held steady in the latest bracket projections.

Both ESPN and CBS dropped their new brackets Friday morning and according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Michigan is still seeded seventh. However, you have to feel good about where Michigan stands in the Big Ten race with a road game looming Saturday against Purdue.

Michigan Wolverines Basketball

And while Lunardi didn’t move Michigan up in his projections, his ESPN colleague, Jay Bilas, said the Wolverines could be the team to emerge from the Big Ten.

“It’s not just because the Wolverines have the best fight song in college sports, it’s because of they Isaiah Livers back,” Bilas said during Thursday’s appearance on SportsCenter. “Michigan has not only Isaiah Livers, who is an NBA player but Xavier Simpson, who is one of the best point guards and is a pick and roll savant. He also has the best hook shot in college basketball and he’s six feet tall.”

Anyone who has watched Michigan play over the last few weeks would have a hard time disagreeing. Michigan has beaten Rutgers twice, away from home, as well as Michigan State and Indiana.

The Wolverines still have three tough road games ahead against Purdue, Ohio State and Maryland, as well as Wisconsin at home. It’s a tough stretch, but Michigan, which is seeded sixth right now according Jerry Palm of CBS, gets the chance to improve its resume leading into the Big Ten tournament.

Most importantly, the Wolverines are in a good spot as far as making the NCAA tournament. At 8-7 in the Big Ten, an above .500 record seems likely at this point and if that happens, this team should have a solid seed, just based on the insane strength of schedule and quality wins.

The Wolverines are currently third in strength of schedule according to Kenpom and they also have six wins over teams in ESPN’s bracket seeded eighth or better, including three away from home.