Michigan's basketball squad has been turning heads this season, boasting a stellar 26-2 record under the guidance of coach Dusty May. Even after a tough loss to Duke, the Wolverines are still in the hunt for a coveted one-seed in the NCAA Tournament. But that path just got a bit trickier.
Fresh off a solid win over Minnesota, Michigan watched from the sidelines as UConn made a bold statement on Wednesday night. After a stumble against St.
John's earlier this month, UConn came back with a vengeance, delivering a commanding 72-40 victory over the same team. This performance has many, including CBS's Matt Norlander, believing UConn has all but secured a one-seed in the tournament.
UConn's impressive 26-3 record, despite a recent setback against Creighton, has them sitting pretty at No. 6 in the nation. They lead the Big East with a 16-2 conference record, a league not as deep as the Big Ten this year.
While the Big Ten boasts eight teams in the latest bracket predictions, the Big East has just three. Yet, UConn's path seems smoother after evening the series with St.
John’s.
Looking ahead, UConn faces Seton Hall and Marquette to wrap up their regular season. Meanwhile, Michigan's road is far rockier.
They face a tough lineup, traveling to Illinois and Iowa before hosting Michigan State. Winning out would solidify their one-seed status, but it's a tall order.
If Norlander's prediction holds and UConn and Duke nab two of the one-seeds, Michigan will need to fend off contenders like Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, and Florida for the remaining spots. It's a likely scenario, but UConn's decisive win has certainly tightened the race for the Wolverines as they approach the season's climax.