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They had their ups and their downs. They looked like world-beaters and the beaten.
Yet, Michigan basketball took the Big Ten conference tournament title and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament beginning this week.
HEADED TO DENVER? Michigan basketball tickets in 2025 NCAA tournament: Prices, how to buy
On Thursday they get to play UC San Diego (30-4), which was one of the hottest-shooting teams in the country from the Big West Conference.
How far will Michigan advance in the NCAA tournament? We asked our beat writers and columnists for their opinion and they vary as much the Wolverines' season did.
The Wolverines got a brutal draw in 12-seed UC San Diego, a capable team with great guard play. If U-M weathers the Tritons, a date with Yale or Texas A&M awaits, before a likely matchup with 1-seed Auburn.
If U-M can win the first game, it will make the second weekend, but that's where a magical season ends in the Sweet 16 in Atlanta against the Tigers.
A tough draw for the Wolverines with No. 1 overall seed Auburn in the South region. U-M will cruise past 12-seed UC San Diego (making its tournament debut), then will edge 4-seed Texas A&M in the second round when they contain guard Jace Carter.
U-M has atoned for its late-season struggles with the Big Ten tournament crown and is hitting March Madness with the momentum. But music stops in the Sweet 16 against Bruce Pearl’s Tigers, led by presumptive player of the year Johni Broome. Auburn went 28-5 while playing the nation’s second-hardest schedule for a reason.
Dusty May has done a fabulous job in his first season at Michigan, capped off with the Big Ten tournament championship. When everything is right, Michigan looks tremendous.
But this matchup screams one-and-done for the Wolverines. A classic 12-vs.-5 upset. It will be too much Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, the Big West Player of the Year. And too much UC San Diego, a former Division II school that will become the early Cinderella of this tournament.
The 5-seed drew difficult matchups. UC San Diego is a 30-win 12-seed and Texas A&M is a tough 4-seed. If the Wolverines win both — it could be Yale instead of Texas A&M — they'll likely face No. 1 seed Auburn.
The Tigers lost three games down the stretch, but their experience and athleticism will be tough to beat. U-M gets to the Sweet 16 and the season ends there.
U-M will get to the Sweet 16 before falling to South No. 1 seed Auburn.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Our experts predict how far Michigan basketball will advance in NCAAs
Continue reading...
Yet, Michigan basketball took the Big Ten conference tournament title and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament beginning this week.
HEADED TO DENVER? Michigan basketball tickets in 2025 NCAA tournament: Prices, how to buy
On Thursday they get to play UC San Diego (30-4), which was one of the hottest-shooting teams in the country from the Big West Conference.
How far will Michigan advance in the NCAA tournament? We asked our beat writers and columnists for their opinion and they vary as much the Wolverines' season did.
Tony Garcia, Michigan beat writer
The Wolverines got a brutal draw in 12-seed UC San Diego, a capable team with great guard play. If U-M weathers the Tritons, a date with Yale or Texas A&M awaits, before a likely matchup with 1-seed Auburn.
If U-M can win the first game, it will make the second weekend, but that's where a magical season ends in the Sweet 16 in Atlanta against the Tigers.
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Carlos Monarrez, columnist
A tough draw for the Wolverines with No. 1 overall seed Auburn in the South region. U-M will cruise past 12-seed UC San Diego (making its tournament debut), then will edge 4-seed Texas A&M in the second round when they contain guard Jace Carter.
U-M has atoned for its late-season struggles with the Big Ten tournament crown and is hitting March Madness with the momentum. But music stops in the Sweet 16 against Bruce Pearl’s Tigers, led by presumptive player of the year Johni Broome. Auburn went 28-5 while playing the nation’s second-hardest schedule for a reason.
Jeff Seidel, columnist
Dusty May has done a fabulous job in his first season at Michigan, capped off with the Big Ten tournament championship. When everything is right, Michigan looks tremendous.
But this matchup screams one-and-done for the Wolverines. A classic 12-vs.-5 upset. It will be too much Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, the Big West Player of the Year. And too much UC San Diego, a former Division II school that will become the early Cinderella of this tournament.
Shawn Windsor, columnist
The 5-seed drew difficult matchups. UC San Diego is a 30-win 12-seed and Texas A&M is a tough 4-seed. If the Wolverines win both — it could be Yale instead of Texas A&M — they'll likely face No. 1 seed Auburn.
The Tigers lost three games down the stretch, but their experience and athleticism will be tough to beat. U-M gets to the Sweet 16 and the season ends there.
The consensus (three out of four)
U-M will get to the Sweet 16 before falling to South No. 1 seed Auburn.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Our experts predict how far Michigan basketball will advance in NCAAs
Continue reading...
