After a late-season swoon that includes three consecutive losses and defeats in four of the past six games, Michigan basketball suffered a significant seeding drop in the latest bracketology projections for the NCAA tournament.
Michigan is comfortably in the field with a 22-8 record. The Michigan Wolverines are also the No. 3 seed for the Big Ten tournament, which starts on Wednesday.
Not long ago, Michigan basketball was projected as a No. 4 seed. The Wolverines were even among the top 16 teams in the NCAA bracket preview released by the selection committee.
However, the wheels have fallen off. Michigan basketball played a much tougher schedule down the strech and that finally caught up to them. It also came when Michigan was playing its worst basketball of the season.
Latest bracketology updates for Michigan basketball
Joe Lunardi of ESPN updated his bracketology projections on Tuesday morning and has Michigan basketball projected as a No. 6 seed.
According to Bracket Matrix, Michigan basketball is projected as a five-seed. Bracket Matrix is currently tracking 108 bracketology projections. U-M's average seed is 5.31. The lowest seed is a seven. The highest seed is a four.
Michigan will play Friday in the Big Ten Quarterfinals, against Purdue, Rutgers, or USC. A win could help improve or at least maintain Michigan's seed. A fourth-straight loss, especially if it's by double-digits as three of the previous four losses have been, and maybe the Wolverines drop to the seven line.
Either way, the first season with Dusty May as the head coach has been a resounding success, although you have to sincerely hope the Wolverines haven't won their last game this season.
Michigan women's basketball holds firm
The Michigan women's basketball team is also solidly in the NCAA tournament, however, their seed projection didn't improve, even after a win over a ranked Maryland team last Friday. Michigan women's basketball is still a seven seed, according to ESPN.
Michigan has won 21 games. The Wolverines were knocked out by Juju Watkins and USC in the Big Ten semifinals, but this team looks dangerous and will be a tough out in the NCAA tournament.