Michigan Basketball Is Back on Top - And Not Just the Men
It’s official: the Michigan men’s basketball team is the new No. 1 in the country. After a perfect 2-0 week and a pair of losses from previously unbeaten Arizona, the Wolverines have taken over the top spot in the latest AP Poll - their first time sitting atop the rankings since late January 2013.
And this isn’t a case of a split vote or a narrow margin. Michigan earned 60 of the 61 first-place votes, with only Houston - now ranked No. 2 - grabbing the lone outlier.
Arizona, meanwhile, slid down to No. 4.
But this isn’t just about the AP Poll. The Wolverines are dominating across the board.
They’re now No. 1 in KenPom, NET rankings, and both Evan Miya’s and Bart Torvik’s advanced metrics. In other words, it’s not just the eye test - the analytics love this team, too.
A Statement Week
Michigan’s climb to the top wasn’t without drama. Last Wednesday, they looked like they might get tripped up in Evanston, falling behind by as much as 16 to Northwestern.
But Dusty May’s group didn’t flinch. They stormed back and not only erased the deficit - they flipped it into a 12-point win.
That kind of resilience on the road is what separates good teams from great ones.
Then came Saturday’s matchup with UCLA in Ann Arbor - a Valentine’s Day matinee that turned into a love letter to Michigan basketball. The Wolverines didn’t just beat the Bruins; they dismantled them. The 86-56 final was as dominant as it sounds, and it sent a clear message: this team isn’t just winning - it’s peaking.
A Crucial Week Ahead
Now, the real test begins. Michigan’s reward for climbing to No.
1? A brutal two-game stretch that could define their season.
First up is a trip to West Lafayette to face No. 7 Purdue on Tuesday night - a hostile environment and a team that knows how to protect its home court.
Then, on Saturday, it’s a marquee showdown against No. 3 Duke in Washington D.C. as part of The Edward Jones Capital Showcase.
Two top-10 battles in five days. If the Wolverines can get through this week unscathed, their grip on the top spot will only tighten.
The Women Are Rolling, Too
And it’s not just the men making noise in Ann Arbor. The Michigan women’s team is quietly - or maybe not so quietly anymore - building a case as one of the best teams in the country. After wins over Northwestern and a blowout victory over rival Michigan State, Kim Barnes Arico’s squad has climbed to No. 6 in the AP Poll.
They’re also No. 6 in the NET rankings, sitting just ahead of Vanderbilt - despite the Commodores holding the No. 5 AP spot and owning a head-to-head win over Michigan earlier this season.
What helps Michigan’s résumé? All four of their losses have come against Quad 1 opponents, which speaks to both the strength of their schedule and their consistency against high-level competition.
This week, the women have just one game, but it’s a big one: a Sunday road trip to Iowa to face the Hawkeyes. Tip-off is set for noon on FOX, and it’s another chance for Michigan to bolster its NCAA Tournament résumé and potentially climb even higher in the rankings.
A New Era in Ann Arbor
For both programs, the message is clear: Michigan basketball is back - and it’s not just about one team. The men are atop the national rankings, playing with confidence, depth, and toughness. The women are surging, powered by a balanced roster and a coach who’s built a winning culture.
This could be a special year in Ann Arbor. And if this past week is any indication, the Wolverines are just getting started.