Michigan Basketball: Jumpman Invitational must be a success

Michigan basketball has landed in Charlotte, North Carolina for the inaugural Jumpman Invitational with a 7-3 record, but has rarely looked good.

The Wolverines haven’t looked like a complete basketball team so far this season despite posting a record that is four games over .500. All three losses have come to ranked teams.

Casual fans may think the Wolverines are in a good spot, they have a star in Hunter Dickinson and an upcoming superstar in Jett Howard, but after that, there isn’t much going well in Ann Arbor. Kobe Bufkin has shown signs of his abilities but has been consistent enough to count on night in and night out which leaves the Wolverines searching for answers.

As of today, the ESPN Analytics BPI ranks Michigan 84th in the country with just a 0.6% chance to make the NCAA Tournament in March. Of course, Michigan lost some key players off last year’s roster making the need for young players to perform well bigger than ever.

The Maize and Blue are only ten games into the season which still might be too early to judge the roster, but the lack of success on both ends of the floor.

The Jumpman Invitational must be a success for Michigan basketball

Michigan will take on North Carolina on Wednesday night and beating the Tar Heels would go a long way in helping the Wovleires make the NCAA Tournament as the daunting Big Ten season nears.

Calling a game a “must-win” in December is not an easy thing to do, but the Wolverines, according to the ESPN BPI, are only favored to win six more games, averaging a 15-win season, which won’t be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan would need to win those six games and then win a couple of upset games down the stretch to make the Big Dance. That is a tough task as it is with the schedule Michigan has, but taking down the Tar Heels would be a big step in the right direction.

Michigan takes on North Carolina Wednesday night on ESPN. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm.