Big Ten Basketball: 2021 power rankings heading into conference tournament

Wins

*Bowling Green
*Oakland
*Ball State
*UCF
*Toledo
*Penn State
*Nebraska
*Maryland (twice)
*Northwestern
*Minnesota
*Wisconsin (twice)
*@Purdue
*Rutgers
*@Ohio State
*Iowa
*@Indiana

Losses

*@Minnesota
*Illinois

Net ranking: 3

KenPom ranking: 2

AP ranking: 2

Reasons for Hope: Even with two double-digit losses, the Wolverines have a top-three ranking in the NET and KenPom rankings and they are still projected to receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Michigan is also one of the few teams in the country that has a good offense and defense.

They can ramp up their offense like they did when they scored over 90 points against Toledo, Bowling Green, and Ohio State and they can play solid defense like when they held Iowa, Indiana, Purdue, Wisconsin, UCF, and Penn State to only 58 or fewer points. They have played some really outstanding basketball at times and until they lose their third game, they are deserving of this ranking.

Reasons to be Pessimistic: Not many things to be pessimistic about with the Wolverines but they had had some really bad games.  One bad game was against Oakland who started their season 0-9 and on their home court, Michigan was losing by two at the half and needed overtime to beat the Golden Grizzlies. Then Michigan lost to Minnesota by 18 which at the time didn’t seem bad but now the Golden Gophers are currently in 11th place in the Big Ten.

Finally, the Wolverines lost at home to Illinois by 23 but without their best player. However, even with some bad games, Michigan is still in a very good position to do well in the NCAA tournament.

Brief Overview of the Season

2nd-year head coach Juwan Howard has done an amazing job this season and Michigan did bring a solid group back in Isaiah Livers, Franz Wagner, Austin Davis, Brandon Johns, and Eli Brooks. However, the biggest difference make may have come from two transfers and a freshman. Newcomers and transfers Chaundee Brown and Mike Smith have provided an offensive spark but true freshmen Hunter Dickinson is the leading scorer for the Wolverines and the catalyst and spark that is propelling them this season.

Howard and his coaching staff have done an excellent job guiding their players this season. Howard is a former player and Fab Five member and he has overcome a difficult task as former head coach John Beilein left abruptly for an NBA head coaching position.

Howard will look to continue to win games in the Big Ten tournament and he will do all he can to have Michigan compete for not just a Big Ten regular-season and tournament title this season but a national championship. The Wolverines next play Michigan State on Thursday.