2. Michigan (31-2)
We say some version of this every week but Michigan really has spent the entire season showing why they’re one of the nation’s best squads. Dusty May built something extremely impressive here very quickly in Ann Arbor and a myriad of dominant wins and Big Ten success has proven that time and time again.
The regular season finale last Sunday showed it again, as the Wolverines downed rival Michigan State 90-80 in their home finale. Yaxel Lendeborg put the finishing pieces on his fantastic regular season with 27 points in the win. In the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, the Wolverines survived a great test from Ohio State, getting a 71-67 win and a 17-point, 7-rebound effort from Aday Mara. It was all about the heroics in the semifinal, with a 3-pointer in the final second from Lendeborg sending Michigan to a 68-65 win over Wisconsin. Mara put up 16 points and 8 rebounds.
The only blemishes for the Wolverines the entire season were against Duke and Wisconsin and they just avenged one of those defeats in the toughest way possible. Michigan has proven themselves and possess a unique talented and balanced roster that can win any game in the NCAA Tournament. This team is a 1-seed that’ll be a tough out, though first we’ll see if they can finish the job with another Big Ten Tournament title right before the Selection Show.