2. Michigan (27-2)
Last weekend was quite the event in college basketball and even though the Wolverines fell to Duke they still showed why they’re one of the best teams in the nation. Michigan has spent a large part of this season dominating great teams left and right and their resume speaks for itself. During Big Ten play alone they have great road wins at Michigan State and Purdue and also downed Nebraska and several other contenders for the Big Dance.
It wasn’t their best showing of the year, but Michigan did enough to win 77-67 over Minnesota back on Tuesday night. Elliot Cadeau scored 15 points, L. J. Cason had 14 points, and Trey McKenney added 12 points in another generic victory in Ann Arbor. Friday night was anything but generic as the Wolverines grabbed another dominant win, trouncing another Top 10 foe on the road. Michigan beat Illinois 84-70 thanks largely to Aday Mara with 19 points and Morez Johnson Jr., the former Illini big who had 19 points and 11 rebounds in his return to Champaign.
When necessary this season, Michigan has shown their best and the results cannot be ignored. The combination of talented guards and impressive big men has the Wolverines looking like one of the favorites to win March Madness. They grabbed another double-digit win over a ranked team and are riding high into the final week of the regular season, a week that sees them at Iowa before a home rematch against rival Michigan State.