Postseason Preview: Part Two - Michigan (Updated 2/22)

On the bubble and bubble-busters

While the Big Ten will safely send Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue, and Ohio State to the NCAA tournament, there are teams fighting for their right to party postseason style: Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

Current standings through Feb. 22:

Big Ten, Conf, All, RPI
(6) Michigan State, 11-3, 21-5, 6
(18) Illinois, 10-5, 22-6, 15
(19) Purdue, 9-4, 20-6, 28
Ohio St., 7-7, 17-8, 26
Minnesota, 8-7, 20-7, 36
Penn St., 8-6, 19-8, 70
Wisconsin, 8-7, 17-10, 29
Michigan, 7-8, 17-11, 53
Northwestern, 5-9, 14-11, 82
Iowa, 4-10, 14-13, 107
Indiana, 1-12, 6-19, 184

In part two of this blog we're going to take a look at the Big Ten's bubble teams. Today we will look at the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan: Big Ten (7-8), Overall (17-11), RPI (53).

• Key wins: (3) UCLA, (6) Duke, (18) Illinois
• 2-4 against teams ranked in top 25 at the time.

Remaining Schedule:

Sun, Feb 22 - at Iowa, L - Michigan 60, Iowa 70
Thu, Feb 26 - (19) Purdue, 9:00 pm
Sun, Mar 1 - at Wisconsin, 1:00 pm
Sun, Mar 8 - at Minnesota, TBA

Michigan's strength of schedule is ranked 14 in the nation, and that is a factor that should help a struggling team get through to the NCAA tournament. However, after Michigan failed to show up in Iowa City on Sunday, they are now just 4-8 in their last 12 games. What would keep the Wolverines out of the tournament would be losing all three of their remaining road games, a feat that started today. I don't see the Wolverines beating Purdue at home or Wisconsin on the road.

In or Out: Out

You could see it in Michigan's play at Iowa on Sunday. Manny Harris sat the entire overtime period after scoring only 9 points (3-13 shooting). If the tournament started yesterday, I believe Michigan would have snuck into the tournament. But, with two of the last three on the road, and a home contest against Purdue, the Wolverines have a tough stretch of basketball to play. To get into the tournament, the Wolverines are going to have to make a run for the Big Ten tournament championship.

Who can help lead them into the NCAA tournament field: DeShawn Sims

• Sim's production has tapered off, averaging just under 10 points a game (9.8), and Manny Harris has had to carry the Wolverines' load too much lately. If Sims can give Michigan a second scoring presence alongside Harris, also opening up the arc for a team that can drain the 3-ball, Michigan may have a chance of finally getting back into the NCAA tournament as an at-large bid.

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*Source for RPI and SOS: CollegeRPI.com (released Feb. 15).