21. Michigan (13-4)
Dusty May’s first year in town has seen a remarkable rise for this Wolverines program. They’ve been in every game they’ve played this season and have had some great performances, winning three tough road games already in Big Ten play. Every single one of their losses has been by one possession, and their offense really has started humming in recent weeks.
Back from that successful Los Angeles trip, the Wolverines actually hosted Washington last Sunday and got a 91-75 win. Vladislav Goldin led five Michigan players in double-figures with a 19-point, 7-rebound performance as the team shot 53% from the field. Thursday was far less fortunate, as the Wolverines blew a 9-point halftime lead before falling 84-81 at Minnesota in overtime, losing on a buzzer beater. Danny Wolf really showed out with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists while Goldin added 18 points.
The one-two punch in Michigan’s frontcourt is a major reason for their success and you wouldn’t find a comparable group in the Big Ten. Even with their setback in Minneapolis, the Wolverines are still 5-1 in league play and all of their goals are still in front of them, with an impressive resume already taking shape. They’ll look to get back on track on Sunday against Northwestern before a highly anticipated trip to Purdue next week with major ramifications.