Michigan basketball is back in the AP Poll, coming in at #24 this week. The Wolverines have a tough week, facing Oregon, Indiana, and Purdue within the next seven days. Despite struggling on the court, Michigan is 3-1 over their last four games, with three close wins and a blowout loss at Purdue.
Thursday, the Wolverines will have a chance to get back on track. It was great to see Danny Wolf play the way he was earlier in the season, and if the whole team can get back to playing like that, this week could be huge for Michigan. But it all starts with Oregon on Wednesday.
Michigan basketball needs a win against Oregon
The Ducks are unranked this week after losing three of their last four. Prior to that, Oregon was ranked #16 in the country. So this isn't a pushover game at all. With the upcoming schedule that the Wolverines have, this game is a tone-setter; losing this could mean a tough stretch that puts Michigan basketball in NCAA tournament trouble. But winning this game and getting hot during this brutal stretch could solidify the Wolverines as a top 5 seed in March Madness.
The Ducks are led by their 7 foot senior center Nate Bittle, who is the teams leading scorer and rebounder. Michigan bigs Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf will have their hands full, and it'll be fascinating to see if they're able to find success against another talented big man.
Crisler Arena should be rocking for this one, and it's imperative that the Wolverines find a way to beat the Ducks. Looking at the matchups ahead, the only games on the schedule that look "easier" than this game are at Indiana and at Nebraska, and you can never call a road game easy. Michigan badly needs a win as it enters the hardest part of its schedule. Let's hope Dusty May can get it done.