Big Ten Basketball: Indiana tumbles, Rutgers storms up in latest power rankings
. Wolverines . 7. team. 485. . 14-11 (8-7)
The Wolverines have been the ultimate “good news, bad news” team not only in the Big Ten but for the season overall. For the most part, Michigan has been on the outside of the bubble until a massive victory over No. 3 Purdue, 82-58. Hunter Dickinson had 22 points and nine rebounds, while Devante Jones had 11 points and a season-high 10 assists.
That victory over the Boilermakers singlehandedly put Michigan right onto the bubble and a recent road win over Iowa gave them another Quad 1 victory. Freshmen Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan have been more consistent as of late, while Dickinson has continued to play at an All-Big Ten level.
Of course, the good news quickly went bad this past weekend against Wisconsin. It was close at first but the Badgers pulled away for a double-digit victory. But the brawl at the end of the game, with head coach Juwan Howard taking a swipe at Badgers coach Greg Gard, was all the college basketball world could talk about.
The aftermath resulted in Coach Howard being suspended for the rest of the regular season, while forwards Diabate and Terrence Williams each were suspended for a game. Although the next four are at home, all of these upcoming matchups are against teams currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament. A 3-2 record should be good enough to get them on the right side of the Bracketology but without Coach Howard, it’ll be a tough task.