A Big Ten title game loss might be exactly what Michigan needed to learn what they needed to fix heading into the NCAA Tournament. Even with the loss ot the Purdue in the Big Ten Championship, the Wolveirnes were still able to earn a one-seed in the Midwest Region of March Madness.
It is clear that Michigan is the top team in the region, hence the seed they were given. There are a few teams they need to watch out for, but none more than Alabama. The Crimson Tide is dealing with some problems within the team as of right now, but that doesn't mean they aren't still a dangerous team to look out for.
If Michigan and Alabama meet in the NCAA Tournament, it will be in the Sweet Sixteen, where the Wolverines fell short in March Madness last season. The Crimson Tide is a fantastic three-point shooting team, and Michigan, at times, has struggled to defend from beyond the arc.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas on the Midwest Region: “Michigan is clearly the best team in this region, but Alabama is the one I wouldn’t want to play. Just because they’ve got talent and they can really shoot it from three.”
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) March 16, 2026
Michigan and Alabama have more history on the football field than the basketball court
If Michigan and Alabama were to meet in the NCAA Tournament this season, it would be just the second time ever. The first time they met was back in 2009 in the regular season when the Tide walked away with the win in Tuscaloosa.
Michigan will really have to tighten up its defense if they meet the Tide later in the tournament. If there is one thing Purdue exposed, it was that a big man and a guard can really get through Michigan's inside defense.
The Wolverines, however, would get two chances to clean up everything they learned from the Big Ten title game, and Alabama could have some tough matchups ahead of them. The Tide face Hofstra in the first round and then could have a date with a Texas Tech team that has learned to play effectively without JT Toppin.