Michigan basketball notched a signature win on Tuesday night over seventh-ranked Purdue. The Wolverines improved to 19-5 and 11-2 in the Big Ten.
With Michigan State having the chance to play after Michigan basketball on Tuesday at home against Indiana, it seemed like the Wolverines stint atop the Big Ten standings alone wouldn't last long.
However, the Spartans failed to beat Indiana, losing by four points at home against a team Michigan basketball just beat on the road. The loss by Michigan State moves Michigan ahead of the Spartans and Boilermakers for first place in the Big Ten.
Michigan is 11-2. Purdue is now 11-3, while Michigan State is 10-3. The Spartans next two games are at Illiois and home against Purdue, while the Boilermakers will host the Wisconsin Badgers before paying a trip to East Lansing next week.
Michigan gets a slight break until Sunday against Ohio State before hosting Michigan State next Friday in a game that could help decide the Big Ten title. U-M has two games left against the Spartans and a lot of work left to do.
However, it's incredible how far the Wolverines have come. The win by Indiana is also good for the Wolverines on two fronts. Not only does it help Michigan in the Big Ten standings, it will also improve the NCAA tournament resume for the Wolverines.
At the very least, it will help Indiana from falling out of the top 75, which would make that a quadrant-2 instead of a quadrant-1 win. Now that seems like less on a concern.
So all in all, it was a good night to be a Michigan Wolverine.