The Importance of This Week for Michigan Basketball
Michigan's win against Rutgers at a neutral site was huge for both the NCAA Tournament and for this team's confidence. Their next two games could be the most important in terms of where this team finishes the season.
At 4-6 in the conference, 2 wins against OSU and MSU would more likely than not take Michigan off the bubble for good. Moreover, it would get them back to 6-6 in the conference with their next two games also being extremely winnable (@NU, IU). It also helps that Creighton just beat Villanova on the road and are helping with our strength of schedule.
If Michigan can string together home wins this week, they are likely getting enough momentum and confidence to get up to 8-6 in the conference. This week could really be the building blocks for Michigan to peak and hopefully get Livers back with improved depth thanks to Brandon Johns.
Obviously, this can go both ways as losing both home games would keep Michigan on the bubble and make the end stretch of the season rather stressful. I would take a split on this week's games for sure, but the opportunity is there to get back into their early-season form.
That win against Rutgers was so much more important than any of us thought it would be going in to the season.
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:23 AM ^
Beat Ohio State - they will
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
Honestly, the conference is still just about wide open for anyone other than Neb and NW. Some (like us) will need much more luck/help than others to win it, but it is still possible - which really speaks to the depth this year. I really don't see us getting left out in March unless we have another multi-game collapse.
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:28 AM ^
Going 2-for-2 would be HUGE. That definitely should get them off the bubble given their strength of schedule and early-season work. But they definitely can't go to sleep afterwards. Any letdowns after this week would be dangerous.
Despite the recent struggles, this team still doesn't have any bad losses on their resume. Their worst loss at this point is either at Minnesota or at home against Penn State, both of whom are pretty good teams. And if they go on another run here in the next few weeks the committee might forget about that ugly January slide.
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:29 AM ^
I don’t think Indiana is an extremely winnable game. That’s a tough team going through a rough stretch recently. But that will be a grind it out type game as well.
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:30 AM ^
I know it didn't matter against Penn State or Illinois, but I'm extremely happy that game is at home.
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
With Livers I'd be happy with a split. MSU has issues but Michigan doesn't have someone like Winston and that feels like the difference there. OSU feels more tractable especially as Wesson has come back to earth.
February 3rd, 2020 at 9:44 AM ^
And OSU will be without stud freshman PG Carton for our game. Big time loss for O$U and tilts the balance in our favor a decent amount.
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
OSU is a MUST win game..Period
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
Need em both. Yes, we can get into the tournament without them but we need them, desperately.
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^
Split this week and they will be fine. People were ready to write this team off a week ago. There is still work to be done but they have a good chance to make the NCAA tournament.
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
Need at least one to stay in good shape for the tournament. Need both to retain a shot at Big Ten regular season title. Still think regular season champion might have 7 losses, but we already have six.
Setting that aside, though, both are MUST WIN because...Ohio State and MSU!
February 3rd, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
The game against OSU is as close to a must win game you get this early.
They won't beat Sparty without Livers and even with him I would be shocked if they won that game.
February 3rd, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
If we get some solid shooting, limit turnovers, and provide some timely defense, I think we can get past Sparty without Livers. Basically, we bring our 'A' game and I like our chances.
February 3rd, 2020 at 3:09 PM ^
Not saying it will happen, but Wisconsin just beat MSU at home without two starters. It becomes less likely if Livers is still out, but beating MSU on Saturday isn't out of the realm of possibilities.
February 3rd, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
Beating OSU can, and I'd argue should happen. Especially on the home floor after a big win at MSG. OSU has come back to Earth a bit and losing Carton hurts big time. Michigan should win, but it wouldn't be a huge shocker if OSU won, either. I'd expect a nailbiter coming down to the last few minutes, but give Michigan the edge for being at home.
As for MSU.....ehh I'm not holding my breath, even if Livers comes back. Winston is the catalyst for that entire MSU machine, and he kicks it into top gear every single time he plays Michigan. Always finds the open man or squiggles his body in between three defenders for an insane basket. If he has an off night or is just average, I could see it. But if he has another dominant performance like he's been having against Michigan, forget it.
A split is the most that Michigan can realistically hope for. But if they do somehow go 2-0, they're right back off the bubble.
February 3rd, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
Sparty just lost on the road to Wisconsin, who was without two of their best players. Sparty got bombed out at Purdue, and lost at Indiana.
Tell me again, why is it so unrealistic that we beat them at home?
February 3rd, 2020 at 2:32 PM ^
It just seems like a bad matchup. Winston eats Simpson's lunch every time they play and I have a hunch that Michigan State is going to exploit the offensive glass as well. I have watched these Winston run teams against Michigan the last two years and State gets anything they want. It appears very, very difficult for Michigan to defend this and last years iteration of MSU. I don't think Michigan State is some dream team but they really have our number right now.