Michigan Basketball Keeps Climbing: Men Hold Firm at No. 2, Women Battle Through Brutal Stretch
In a week that saw chaos hit the top of the men’s college basketball rankings, Michigan stayed steady-and dominant. While three of the top five teams stumbled, the Wolverines took care of business with wins over Penn State and Ohio State, holding firm at No. 2 in the latest AP Poll. And they didn’t just win-they overwhelmed.
Coming off back-to-back top-10 victories over Nebraska and Michigan State the week before, Michigan kept its foot on the gas. The Wolverines dismantled Penn State at home, 110-69, in a game that felt over by halftime. Then they marched into Columbus and handled Ohio State, 82-61, in a rivalry win that had all the markings of a team peaking at the right time.
What’s making this Michigan squad so dangerous right now is their depth. It’s not just one star carrying the load-it’s a rotating cast of contributors.
On Thursday, it was Nimari Burnett lighting it up for 31 points. By Sunday, Aday Mara stepped into the spotlight with a career-high 24.
That kind of versatility makes game-planning against them a nightmare. You can’t just shut down one guy-everyone in maize and blue is a threat.
The analytics are backing up what the eye test already shows: Michigan is elite. They stayed at No. 1 in KenPom and jumped back to the top spot in the NCAA’s NET rankings, boasting a spotless 8-0 record in Quad 1 games.
Other advanced metrics-EvanMiya and Bart Torvik-also have Michigan sitting at No. 1.
Right now, they’re not just a 1-seed lock-they’re looking like the team to beat in March.
Next up: a midweek road trip to Northwestern on Wednesday (6:30 p.m. ET, BTN), followed by a marquee home matchup against UCLA on Saturday (12:45 p.m.
ET, CBS). If the Wolverines keep rolling like this, they’ll be tough to knock off that top line in the bracket.
Wolverine Women Battle Through Close Calls, Climb to No. 7
The Michigan women’s team had a week that showcased both their strength and the razor-thin margins at the top of the women’s game. They opened with a solid 88-76 win over Nebraska, taking care of business in Ann Arbor.
But Sunday’s showdown with No. 2 UCLA was a heartbreaker.
Down 13 entering the fourth quarter, Michigan clawed all the way back to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds. With about 10 ticks left, the Wolverines had the ball and a chance to tie.
Syla Swords got a clean look-but the shot didn’t fall. Final score: 69-66.
Another heavyweight battle, another narrow miss.
Still, there’s a silver lining to Michigan’s four losses this season: they’ve all come against top-tier opponents, and all by three points. A November loss to No.
1 UConn, a January setback to No. 7 Vanderbilt, and now this latest thriller against No.
2 UCLA. These are the kinds of games that build tournament toughness-and the selection committee is clearly taking notice.
Despite the loss, Michigan actually moved up in the AP Poll to No. 7 and sits at No. 6 in the NET rankings. That’s good enough to keep them projected as a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and with the way they’ve been competing, they’re right in the mix with the nation’s best.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier. Michigan travels to face Northwestern on Thursday (Feb. 12, 9 p.m.
ET, Peacock), then hosts in-state rival Michigan State on Sunday (Feb. 15, 4 p.m. ET, FS1).
With March creeping closer, every possession-and every bounce of the ball-matters just a little more.
Bottom Line
Michigan basketball is rolling on both sides. The men are looking like a national title contender with a roster that can beat you in a dozen different ways.
The women, despite some tough-luck finishes, are proving they belong among the elite. If you're not watching the Wolverines right now, you're missing one of the most complete programs in college hoops.