Michigan Wolverines news: A huge hockey game, NFL draft prospects and more

Four Michigan football players are ranked in the Athletic’s top 100, looking ahead to a huge hockey game for the Michigan Wolverines and more. 

Now that the Super Bowl has concluded — with three former Michigan football players winning rings — the focus has shifted on the pro level to the 2023 NFL draft.

Michigan football is actually getting ready for the start of spring practices, which will happen next week (Feb. 20) but a bunch of former Michigan Wolverines are going to hear their names called at the 2023 NFL draft and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler rated four in his top 100.

Mazi Smith was the highest-ranked Michigan football player on Brugler’s top-100 board. The defensive tackle is ranked 38th. DJ Turner, Mike Morris, and Luke Schoonmaker are also on the list, yet there are others such as Ryan Hayes, Olu Oluwatimi and Ronnie Bell are all going to be picked.

Ever since Jim Harbaugh has been the Michigan football head coach, the Wolverines have had a big presence on draft day and that will continue in 2023.

Another rivalry week for Michigan Wolverines hockey

Last week, Michigan hockey swept Michigan State and won the second game of the two-game set in Detroit. This week, it will be another rivalry series for the Michigan Wolverines as they will travel to Ohio to square off with the Buckeyes.

It’s a big matchup in college hockey considering Michigan is ranked No. 4 right now and Ohio State is ranked 10th. The first game is tonight in Columbus at 9 PM EST. But on Saturday, the two teams will meet in the Cleveland Browns Stadium in what’s being called, “Faceoff by the Lake.”

The first puck will drop on Saturday at 6 PM EST. The Wolverines have won seven in a row and five of those wins have come against ranked teams. Michigan hockey is 20-9-1 overall compared to 12-8 in the Big Ten conference, which has the Wolverines in second behind Minnesota.

Michigan women’s basketball with a huge game too

The hockey team isn’t the only one with a ranked showdown taking place on Thursday night as the Michigan women’s basketball team will visit Indiana, the first-place team in the Big Ten.

For the Michigan Wolverines, this is a massive game for a couple of reasons. Indiana is 14-1 in the conference, while Michigan is 10-4. A win could get the Wolverines within two games of first place but winning the Big Ten isn’t that realistic.

However, a win over Indiana could help bump Michigan up in terms of NCAA tournament seeding. The Wolverines were a No. 3 in the committee’s early bracket reveal. Anything in the top four allows the opportunity to host the first two rounds as the Wolverines did last season.

But a No. 2 seed is within reach, especially if Michigan women’s basketball could upset Indiana. The Hoosiers are 24-1 this season and undefeated at home. Michigan will also be without Lalia Phelia once again but Leiga Brown has been on fire and Maddie Nolan too.

Nolan has shot the ball really well in recent weeks. A big night will also be needed on both ends by Emily Kiser. Tip-off in Bloomington is set for 7 PM EST.