Michigan Wolverines news: Positive bracketology projection, a win for baseball and more

The Michigan Wolverines notched their second win on the diamond this week, Michigan basketball got a positive bracketology projection, and more. 

Waking up on Monday morning, it’s easy to feel better about the Michigan basketball team, and not just thanks to the win over Michigan State.

Beating your rivals is always a good thing and thanks to recent wins, Michigan has won the more recent game over Michigan State and Ohio State in football and basketball. The Wolverines went 1-0 against the Buckeyes on the hardwood and earned another split with the Spartans.

Juwan Howard and Tom Izzo are 4-4 against each other. They have yet to win away from home against the other and that will be interesting to watch going forward.

At any rate, there were lots of positives from the win over Michigan State. But another positive for Michigan basketball came on Sunday when Joe Lunardi released his latest bracket projection.

No, the Michigan Wolverines aren’t in the field. But they are sitting as the No. 9 team out. That might not sound good, but that’s closer than I expected U-M to be at this point.

I broke it down here, but if Michigan wins three of its next four, plus two in the Big Ten tournament, the record would be 20-14 — better than it was a year ago.

Wins over Northwestern, Pitt, and Maryland have started to look better and better. Plus, with road games at Illinois, Rutgers, and Indiana, there are plenty of chances.

Win two of those three on the road and beat Wisconsin at home and the Michigan Wolverines just might need to get out their dancing shoes.

Michigan Wolverines earn 2-2 weekend in baseball

After starting the weekend 1-2, new Michigan baseball head coach Tracy Smith and the Wolverines evened their record after a 6-4 win over Grand Canyon on Sunday.

Grand Canyon opened the game with two runs in the top of the first, but the Michigan Wolverines answered with two in the second, including a home run by Gabe Sotres. Joey Velazquez ripped a two-run double to break the tie in the third and Jake Marti also drove in two runs on a base hit to extend the Michigan baseball lead to 6-2.

Noah Rennard came on in relief and earned the win after allowing just one run in 3 1/3 innings of work after taking over for starter Ahmad Harajli in the third inning.

Michigan (2-2) will be back in action Friday when the Wolverines will start a three-game set with Cal-State Fullerton.

Michigan Wolverines also win on the mat

The Michigan Wolverines wrestling team closed out the dual portion of their 2022-23 schedule with a 30-9 win at home over Central Michigan on Sunday.

Top-ranked heavyweight Mason Parris remained undefeated on the season as he won by decision. The Wolverines finished with an 11-4 record. The ninth-ranked Michigan wrestling team will now prep for the Big Ten wrestling tournament which will be in Ann Arbor March 4-5.