With seven games to go, Michigan basketball is now the heavy favorite to win the Big Ten regular-season championship after getting some major help from Wisconsin and Purdue on Tuesday night.
Going into the evening, the Wolverines had a one-game advantage, in the loss column, on Nebraska and Illinois. Both teams ended up losing at home as favorites. Wisconsin, which beat Michigan basketball in its lone defeat of the season, knocked off the Fighting Illini, while Purdue won at Nebraska in overtime, giving both teams three losses.
That makes it a four-way tie in second place behind Michigan, as Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Illinois all have three losses. Going into tonight's game against Northwestern, that gives the Wolverines a two-game cushion with just seven games left.
Michigan basketball in strong position to win Big Ten regular-season title
The title isn't guaranteed. Crazy things happen in the Big Ten. You don't want to take any games for granted, especially since the Wolverines have three games left on the schedule against teams tied for second place.
Michigan still has to play Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue. The Wolverines have to play at Purdue, at Iowa, and at Illinois. Those wins won't be easy. There are also home games against UCLA, Minnesota, and Michigan State, plus the road game at Northwestern.
If the Wolverines win five of those seven games, they would be guaranteed a share of the league title. That means winning just one of those three games against second-place teams, and avoiding an upset.
That sounds easy enough. In Big Ten basketball, it's much easier said than done. Still, Michigan basketball couldn't ask to be in a better position with seven games to go.