Michigan Basketball: 3 takeaways from a vital win at Northwestern
By Nick Popio
3. Northwestern’s crammed schedule has caught up with them
Due to a covid pause last month Northwestern had to make up a game with Wisconsin last week, that they won. Two days later they won at Nebraska and to wrap up the week they crushed Minnesota and were 15-5 with another three game week to end the month of January and begin the month of February.
They lost at Iowa on Tuesday and had one day off to prepare for a hungry Michigan squad and this was the result. Now they enter their bumpiest road of the year. Two on the road before they arrive back home to matchup with ranked schools and then five games against clubs who are also in or hovering around the tournament bubble.
Northwestern has done what they needed to do so far but losing at home to Michigan could be quite costly given this is by far their easiest matchup in this three week stretch. Very likely they move to the wrong end of the bubble.
— Jonathon Warriner (@Bracketologist3) February 3, 2023
On the other side of things, Michigan’s schedule opens up with three games that are must-win to get them to 15-10 and put them back in the bubble discussion.
Next. Final thoughts on 2023 recruiting class. dark
The Wolverines split with Ohio State in 2022. They lost to them at home, but traveled to Columbus later down the line and won without Juwan Howard and Hunter Dickinson that essentially punched their ticket to the big dance. This could be the last ditch run that this group has been waiting for.