The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 73 A fter a slight descent in its form in early-to-mid Janu- ary, Michigan men's bas- ketball has stabilized and regained its top level the past couple of weeks. The Wolverines struck down top-10 opponents back-to-back for the first time since Feb. 25, 2021, and then overwhelmed their next two foes by 41 points and 21 points, respectively. In doing so, this U-M squad has set the program record for the best start in a season with a 22-1 record, eclipsing the 2012-13 and 2018-19 teams. U-M is also at the top of the Big Ten and first in KenPom adjusted efficiency margin. Michigan is one of the two best teams in the country, with unbeaten Arizona being the other. However, the Wolverines are by no means guaranteed a Big Ten championship or a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tourna- ment. This isn't because the Maize and Blue are expected to dip in their level of performance again. It's be- cause of the gauntlet of a schedule U-M has in front of it. The Wolverines have arguably the toughest remaining regular-season schedule in the country. As of Feb. 9, five of their next seven games are away from Ann Arbor. Four of those five games are against opponents ranked in the top 20 on KenPom. They are at Purdue (No. 10 on KenPom), vs. Duke (No. 3) in Wash- ington, D.C., at Illinois (No. 4) and at Iowa (No. 18). As you can see, three of them are ranked in the top 10 on Ken- Pom. And then to top it all off, Michi- gan closes its regular-season slate with a home rematch against its nemesis Spartans, who are No. 9 on KenPom. That is five KenPom top-20 foes for the Wolverines, with only one of those being in Ann Arbor. No other team can make such a claim. Arizona is the closest. The Wildcats have four games vs. KenPom top-20 teams — two apiece at home and on the road — with two more set against teams just outside the top 20. But four such games away from home? Only U-M must take on that. As such, Michigan's record may (or should) receive a few more blemishes during this daunting stretch. Even though the Maize and Blue are currently expected to be a favorite in all their re- maining games, KenPom projects that they will lose two of their final eight. Yet given how challenging the rest of their slate is, it would not be that surprising if they lost three or even four. This would not be unprecedented ei- ther. This actually has happened, not once but twice, to Michigan within the last 15 years. Both prior U-M teams that held the school record for best start to a season faltered in the final month. The 2012-13 squad was 20-1 entering Febru- ary but closed 5-5 as a share of the Big Ten championship hung on and rolled just off the rim. The 2018-19 team was also 20-1 entering February, but it lost four at the end, including two to MSU that handed the Spartans the trophy. U-M also fell off the top seed line of the NCAA Tournament, with 2012-13 plummeting to a 4 seed (!) and 2018-19 slipping to a 2 seed. Of course, this edition of Michi- gan basketball is different than those versions. Different head coach and staff. Different players. There should not be any correlation between then and now. But the margin for Michigan is slim. The Wolverines are not well ahead of the pack in the Big Ten. There are other contenders nipping at their heels. Even though Illinois is one game back in the standings, KenPom projects U-M and the Illini to both be 17-3. Most of the Illini's tough tests are behind them. They have only one KenPom top-20 bout left: hosting U-M. Nebraska could also make a push with an expected 16-4 conference record, but it has more landmines to sidestep. There are also seven other teams clearly in the running to secure or snag a 1 seed: Arizona, Duke, UConn, Iowa State, Illinois, Houston and Nebraska. Michigan would probably hang on with one or two more losses, but it may start to get dicey for the Wol- verines if that tally is three or four. Therefore, while all of Michigan's goals are in play, there is no doubt the Maize and Blue must give everything they have to earn it. There can be no downshifting now. They must continue to build upon their winning habits if they want to emerge from this gauntlet with minimal damage. If they do it, not only should they raise a new banner with a Big Ten champion- ship and lock up a 1 seed, they would be battle-tested — more than nearly every- one — and the favorite come March. ❑ INSIDE THE NUMBERS ❱ DREW HALLETT Staring Down A Gauntlet In its last eight games of the regular season, Dusty May's men's basketball team will play five teams ranked in the top 20 according to KenPom.com analytics as of Feb. 9 — at Purdue (No. 10), vs. Duke (No. 3), at Illinois (No. 4), at Iowa (No. 18) and home vs. Michigan State (No. 9). PHOTO BY LON HORWDEL Staff writer Drew Hallett has covered Michigan athletics since 2013. Contact him at drew.c.hallett@gmail.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @DrewCHallett.