3. Michigan has the toughest schedule remaining to stay atop the Big Ten
The final week of the regular season is upon us, and the madness is already in full force. Two consecutive days with buzzer-beaters by the top two teams in the Big Ten is jaw-dropping. It begs the question: Is Michigan State or Michigan a team of destiny? Unfortunately, Michigan State is in the driver's seat, while Michigan basketball will face three top-seven schools in the standings with a week to go in the frantic race.
On Sunday Michigan State hosts Wisconsin in the season's only meeting. Immediately following that, Michigan gets a club who they haven't beaten since the pre Juwan Howard days. Not to make any excuses for Michigan, but this will be their fourth game in nine days. You have to wonder if exhaustion will play a role in Sunday's matinee.
Then, to close out the regular season, the Spartans travel to Iowa, which is trying to stay afloat and make the postseason tournament in Indy. The maize and blue get rewarded by going head-to-head with a Maryland roster that can match up with them size-wise. If the Wolverines continue to survive without a bump or bruise, then they will have to pull a page from the Michigan football playbook and win in hostile territory.