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Michigan Basketball: Why Wolverines should be nation’s top-ranked team

By Brian Rauf

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 29: Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after a three point basket next to Isaiah Livers #4 while playing the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on January 29, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 65-49. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 29: Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after a three point basket next to Isaiah Livers #4 while playing the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Arena on January 29, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 65-49. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 16: Jon Teske #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after making a three point basket next Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at Crisler Arena on February 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 65-52. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 16: Jon Teske #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts after making a three point basket next Bruno Fernando #23 of the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at Crisler Arena on February 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 65-52. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Michigan basketball entered the week unranked but, after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis in convincing fashion, deserve to be the nation’s top-ranked team.

Michigan basketball started the season unranked and faced plenty of questions following the departures of head coach John Beilein and their three leading scorers from last year’s team. Now, a month into the seasons, the Wolverines look like perhaps the best team in the sport.

New head coach Juwan Howard‘s squad knocked off Iowa State, No. 6 North Carolina, and No. 8 Gonzaga on their way to winning the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis championship on Friday. Their leads against UNC and Gonzaga ballooned to more than 20 in the second half of their respective games, showing just how much they dominated the best competition they’ve faced.

After the win over Gonzaga, Howard discussed the impact of his team’s performance at Atlantis.

"“It’s gratifying to be able to hold up that trophy and say, you know what? All that sacrifice we put through, all the hard work we put in, it was well worth it. … I’m sure we’re on the map now.”"

They will definitely be on the map when the new AP top 25 rankings are released on Monday. They will undoubtedly be ranked for the first time this season – the only question is how high?

It’s extremely rare for an unranked team to jump immediately into the top 10, which the Wolverines should assuredly do. It’s even rarer for a team to jump into the top five after being unranked the previous week, and it’s unprecedented for them to rise to No. 1.

Yet, that’s exactly where Michigan should find themselves. They proved they’re far better than a pair of teams we know to be among the best in the country. Here’s what Michigan has done on the court to deserve that top ranking, along with how they compare with other teams competing for that spot.

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