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Michigan Basketball: Where Wolverines stand in polls, bracketology

By Chris Peterson

Dec 13, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard (third from left) talks to his team during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard (third from left) talks to his team during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan basketball moved up to 19th in the AP poll and we also check in on where the Wolverines stand in the latest bracketology.

The Michigan basketball team was off last week but that didn’t stop the Wolverines from making a big move in the AP top 25 poll.

Last week, the Wolverines were 25th, following a win over Penn State and after not playing this week, Michigan basketball has moved up to 19th in the AP poll. The 6-0 Wolverines will play again Saturday, with the first road game of the year at Nebraska, which is on Christmas Day.

Although it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, Michigan moving up to 19th is probably a better reflection of where the Wolverines stand right now nationally.

Michigan has been winning games by an average of 15 points so far this season and while U-M didn’t beat any teams ranked in the top 100 of the Kenpom rankings during non-conference play, which had to do with NC State having to cancel, it owns a win over No. 44 Penn State.

Overall, there are six Big Ten teams ranked in the top 20 of the Kenpom rankings, which just shows the tough road that will lie ahead. The conference also boasts eight teams total in the AP top 25. As far as the coaches poll, Michigan is ranked in the same position at 19th.

Bracketology

The newest edition of bracketology hasn’t been released by ESPN since last week but Joe Lunardi had Michigan in the tournament as a No. 5 seed and following a week without any games, there probably won’t be a ton of movement in the Wolverines projected seed.

The Nebraska game Friday won’t offer Michigan a chance to score an impressive win as the Huskers are ranked 120th according to Kenpom.

Most years, Nebraska has been very tough to play at home and that should hold in some ways still, the atmosphere will be much different without the hometown fans.

Following the game against the Huskers, Michigan will travel to Maryland and then host Northwestern, which will be the first time the Wolverines face top-100 opponents in back-to-back games. It should also help give us an idea of what this team will  look like in Big Ten play.

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