Breaking down Michigan Basketball draw in Big Ten tournament

Michigan basketball finished as the no. 8 seed in the Big Ten tournament and we take a look at the draw for the Wolverines. 

As disappointing as the losses were to Illinois and Indiana for Michigan basketball last week, the Wolverines aren’t out of the mix for the NCAA tournament just yet.

The Wolverines dropped to the No. 8 seed after the loss to Indiana. A win would have made them the No. 2 seed. However, it still feels like two more wins will do the trick for Michigan basketball after drawing ninth-seeded Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament.

The Scarlet Knights have been struggling in recent weeks and are right there on the bubble with the Wolverines. It’s possible that the loser of this game will be out of the field and headed for the NIT. Rutgers won’t be easy, especially since Michigan just beat them.

Yet, the Wolverines have had the Scarlet Knights’ number in recent years and Rutgers is a poor offensive team which is sort of a good matchup for the Wolverines.

Rutgers does have an elite defensive team, especially when healthy. But Michigan basketball has a high-level offense and in the first matchup, U-M won a 58-45 slugfest.

According to Joe Lunardi, Rutgers is the second-to-last team in the field. Michigan basketball is the fifth team out and on a neutral floor in Chicago, beating the Scarlet Knights would definitely boost the resume.

It could even knock Rutgers out of the field if Michigan won. But it still feels like Michigan would need to beat Purdue. Initially, after the Indiana game, I thought reaching the title game might be required. Michigan needed to beat two quality opponents and two teams in the field would qualify, particularly since Purdue is currently a No. 2 seed.

Obviously, winning both games is easier said than done. Michigan basketball could easily make the final, maybe even win the whole thing or it could lose on Thursday. That’s how this season has gone but with Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin, and Hunter Dickinson, a deep run is possible.

Michigan has been among the best teams in the Big Ten over the past month. The Wolverines just haven’t been able to execute down the stretch. If they figure that out and really learn how to close people out, back-to-back wins aren’t impossible.

With this team, nothing is.