Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from lowly loss to Michigan State

3. Michigan can’t afford too many more losses

This is now the eighth loss of the season for a team who probably didn’t think they would lose that many games coming into the 2021-22 season at all. They are right in the middle of the pack of the Big Ten standings and never would have imagined that would be the case midway through their schedule either.

Michigan still has to square off with the top five clubs of the Big Ten at least once, including another probable rescheduled meeting with Michigan State that may take place on March 1. 18 wins in a 30 game docket is probably the benchmark where they need to get to if they want to feel comfortable about March Madness. That would put them squarely on the bubble heading into the postseason and very anxious about their chances.

However, racking up wins at home will suffice, and pulling out a contest or two on the road wouldn’t hurt one bit.

First things first though, Juwan Howard has to get his men to play the way they did when they unexpectedly surpassed Indiana last weekend away from Crisler. They’ll get to right the ship on Tuesday night when they take on last place Nebraska in their friendly confines.