With the non-conference schedule winding down it's time to evaluate how Michigan basketball stacks up with the nation's finest one month into the season. Though 11 games in Juwan Howard's farewell tour the maize and blue were 6-5 with a loss to Long Beach State. With May at the helm, they have no bad losses and multiple tournament-tested wins already.
They've climbed into the top 25, won a Thanksgiving tournament and have exceeded everyone's forecast of where they should be in the first month. It's still early, but the signing of Trey McKenney, arguably gives them the best incoming class in the Big Ten for 2025.
Michigan basketball is 2-0 in the Big Ten with a win at the Kohl Center and has a rational chance at winning the conference in May's first year. That's mind-boggling to think. The Big Ten is wide open with Zach Edey gone and no one undefeated anymore.
The Danny Wolf/Vlad Goldin two-man game has been revolutionary in their resume-building wins. During that span Goldin has become the leading scorer and the player that everyone expected him to be upon his transfer. Wolf is making NBA scouts drool with his ball-handling skills for a seven footer.
Tre Donaldson has reconciled his career in Ann Arbor. He's made people forget about Dug McDaniel. The bench doesn't really have a go-to-guy once the starters take a seat, but L.J. Cason will be a household name in no time, to those outside of Michigan.
The three losses have come to teams who are all considered to be in the dance or on the precipice of it. It's not crazy to say that Michigan basketball should be 11-0 either. They were winning by double digits in each one.
Michigan 86, Oklahoma 87
— Wolverine Chronicle (@WolverineChron) December 19, 2024
-Losses like this remind me of last year, but we all have to remember this is not the same. This team is really good and will bounce back.
-Epic performance from Vlad tonight.
-Donaldson seems to be gaining momentum as the season progresses.
-The…
Michigan basketball is 0-2 against the SEC, which is where the national champion might reside this year. Two-time defending champion UConn is starting to reclaim its form, and after the Big Ten is done beating each other up, they might not have a top-10 team at season's end.
There's only four opponents left on the schedule that are currently ranked. That will change as soon as next week. The Wolverines don't have to go to Eugene and get Illinois at home. Brad Underwood gave Juwan Howard fits.
With all things considered Dusty May has this program far ahead of schedule in year one. They were predicted to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. One thing that would derail the season would be an injury to one of the starters. So far they have been fortunate in that aspect, but at some point real adversity will hit and Michigan's response will be vital.