22. Michigan (6-1)
Significant issues plagued the Wolverines last season, but former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May came to town in the offseason and is off to a fast start. The opening month of his coaching career wasn’t perfect, as Michigan did drop a tough game against Wake Forest a few weekends ago. Since then, this team has been strong and is suddenly stockpiling double-digit wins with that tight play.
Down at the Fort Myers Tip-Off, Michigan’s week started in style on Monday with a 75-63 win over Virginia Tech. Roddy Gayle Jr. scored 20 points and the Wolverines scored another nice win over a power conference program. The championship game two days later was far more impactful, with the Wolverines winning 78-53 over a ranked Xavier team for the tournament title. Danny Wolf showed out with 20 points and 14 rebounds in a dominant performance by the Wolverines.
It’s going to take more than a month for May to get Michigan into fighting shape, but they’re passing most of the early tests. They hit their shots when needed, have been strong defensively, especially in the interior, and sit in a very respectable position at the end of November. There’s still a lot to learn about these Wolverines, and next Tuesday’s test at Wisconsin will give a good reading on where they stand both nationally and in the Big Ten.