As the college basketball season hits its stride, Michigan finds itself right in the thick of the national conversation - and for good reason. With the calendar about to flip to February, the Wolverines are not only halfway through their Big Ten slate but also two-thirds through their regular season schedule. Through 21 games, they’ve built an impressive 18-1 overall record, including an 8-1 mark in conference play, and have climbed to No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
But if the Wolverines want to stay near the top, this week is going to be a defining stretch. Head coach Dusty May didn’t mince words, calling it a “monster” week - and he’s not wrong. Michigan is staring down back-to-back matchups against two of the Big Ten’s elite: an undefeated Nebraska squad on Tuesday night in Ann Arbor, followed by a Friday night showdown in East Lansing against a red-hot Michigan State team.
“This is the biggest game of the year, because it’s the next game,” May said on Monday, keeping the focus steady ahead of the Nebraska test. But he knows what’s coming. “It’s a team that’s as disciplined and as connected as any we’ve seen all year, so we’re excited to see how we stack up.”
The Wolverines are riding a wave of momentum. Last week, they handled business at home, first with an 86-72 win over Indiana, then pulling away late to beat Ohio State 74-62 thanks to a 24-12 closing run. That makes it four straight wins for Michigan - all by double digits - since their lone conference loss to Wisconsin.
May’s message to his team is clear: stay selfless, stay focused. “We have to avoid the urge to hunt anything individual, as far as accolades, stats,” he said.
“If we’re out there playing with any agendas at all, then we’re just pretty good. But if we share everything, we’re a really, really good basketball team.”
And the numbers back that up. Michigan sits at No. 2 in the NCAA’s NET rankings and is currently projected as a 1-seed in most bracketology forecasts. With less than two months until the NCAA Tournament tips off, the Wolverines are in prime position - but the next few games will go a long way in determining just how far they can climb.
Of course, they’re not alone in the Big Ten arms race. The conference is stacked at the top, with four teams currently ranked inside the national top 10.
Nebraska leads the pack at No. 5 with a perfect 20-0 record (9-0 Big Ten), while Michigan State (18-2, 8-1) and Illinois (17-3, 8-1) sit at No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. Purdue, after a pair of losses last week, dropped from No. 4 to No. 12, but still looms as a threat.
Michigan State, in particular, is peaking at the right time. The Spartans have ripped off six straight wins - all by double digits - since a narrow 58-56 loss at Nebraska earlier this month.
They’re up to No. 9 in the NET rankings and, like Michigan, are among the top defensive teams in the country. According to KenPom, MSU currently boasts the No. 1 defense in the nation, with Michigan right behind at No.
A big part of Michigan State’s surge has been the emergence of point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who’s playing with the kind of poise and production that turns heads in March. He recently became the first player in Big Ten history to record at least 17 points and 17 assists in a conference game - a stat line that doesn’t just pop, it explodes off the page.
So yes, this week is massive. Michigan has a chance to prove it belongs at the top, not just in the rankings but in the hierarchy of college basketball’s most complete teams. It starts with Nebraska, the last unbeaten team in the Big Ten, and continues with a rivalry game against a Michigan State squad that’s found its rhythm.
Here’s how the top 10 of the Jan. 26 Coaches Poll shakes out:
- Arizona
- Michigan
- UConn
- Duke
- Nebraska
- Gonzaga
- Houston
- Michigan State
- Iowa State
- Illinois
The road ahead is tough, but for a Michigan team that’s shown it can win with defense, depth, and discipline, this week offers more than just challenges - it offers opportunity.